Supply Chain

CDC: Elevated Cancer Risk in Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring
February 22, 2016 at 10:13 am

Certain types of laminate flooring made by Lumber Liquidators have a greater risk of causing cancer or other health problems than previously believed, U.S. health regulators said Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that exposure to formaldehyde in the flooring was greater than it had calculated earlier this month, meaning people who purchased…

4 Things Retailers Should Know for 2016
February 22, 2016 at 9:37 am

One thing retailers can count on in January is innovation. Each year, retailers across the globe gather for Retail’s BIG Show hosted by the National Retail Federation (NRF). This year’s event covered the usual topics, such as payment technologies and improving the customer experience, but also demonstrated that there’s a big shift affecting the retail…

Order Fulfillment Moves On-Demand for Manufacturers
February 19, 2016 at 9:04 am

Consumer expectations have never been higher. They want simple shopping experiences on their mobile devices, online and in person — whatever is most convenient at any point in time. Most of all, consumers want to be able to purchase the exact item they’re looking for, and they want it delivered fast. In the last decade,…

5 ‘Readiness Factors’ to Consider When Implementing a Transportation Management System
February 16, 2016 at 10:02 am

Much in the way that Uber creates headaches for conventional cab companies, transportation management systems (TMS) have become disruptive technologies, dramatically altering the way retailers approach transportation and logistics. In an era where consumers’ “need it now” mentality reigns, using a TMS dashboard to pinpoint a shipment, access a delivery time or offer an alternative…

How Predictive Analytics Will Increase Your Profits in 2016
February 12, 2016 at 10:52 am

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to start looking at your shelves — made bare by wave upon wave of aggressive holiday shoppers — and begin executing your plan for the new year. 2016 could be the year that you adopt a comprehensive solution to keep your inventory appropriately stocked with the right…

Retailers Seek Vendor Discounts After Slow Holiday Season
February 12, 2016 at 10:25 am

Apparel chains, finding it tough to coax more dollars from their customers, are now looking to pick the pockets of their vendors, The Post has learned. After a weak holiday season and a challenging year for sales, a growing number of chains are asking their suppliers to fork over discounts. The reason? Suppliers have super-sized their margins because…

Santa Claus Doesn’t Put Gifts on Backorder
February 4, 2016 at 9:12 am

With the holidays firmly in the rearview mirror, the start of a new year is the perfect time for retailers to reflect on how sales performed, whether they provided great customer service, and whether their supply chains delivered during a time that's critical for winning — or permanently alienating — customers. Retailers work year-round to…

Amazon Expands Logistics Reach With Move Into Ocean Shipping
January 15, 2016 at 10:42 am

Amazon.com Inc's China arm has registered as an ocean freight forwarder, according to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, a move that will give it more control over shipping products from Chinese factories to U.S. shoppers. The registration is the latest indication that Amazon plans to expand its logistics reach to cut costs for its retail business…

Top Fashion CEOs Fear Rising Costs From Climate Change
December 4, 2015 at 9:57 am

The chief executives of seven top clothing companies, including Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Gap, and Adidas, are calling on governments to agree to a strong climate change deal, saying they fear global warming will drive up their costs. Almost 200 nations are meeting in Paris until Dec. 11, trying to work out a deal to…

Combatting Rising Costs of Distribution
November 11, 2015 at 11:36 am

Rising freight costs — which have leaped by 14 percent since 2013 — are robbing retailers of the savings they’ve made in other links in their supply chains, a new survey from The Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) finds. As small to midsized retailers struggle against this rising tide of…