How retailers are grappling with sustainability

In an industry that inevitably generates waste, the path to a more environmentally friendly future is littered with difficult choices.

By Retail Dive Staff • June 28, 2022

DTC brands have long been vocal about the importance of sustainability. Is that enough?

As more direct-to-consumer companies find value in physical retail, they must consider how that fits into their goals.

By Caroline Jansen • June 27, 2022

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Inside retail supply chains

Companies looking to curry favor with customers, trim logistical expenses and improve efficiency, are reorganizing operations.

By Retail Dive staff

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. paid millions in extra freight costs after Vietnam lockdowns

The retailer is scheduling earlier inventory receipts after factory shutdowns pushed the retailer to rely more on airfreight.

By Alejandra Carranza , Edwin Lopez • June 24, 2022

Biden just signed a law to lower shipping costs. Will it work?

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act allows for more enforcement of rising fees. But shippers say the law isn’t a “silver bullet."

By Sarah Zimmerman , Alejandra Carranza • June 21, 2022

Lego to open first US factory

The company’s $1 billion facility in Virginia will help support a supply chain strategy that rapidly responds to changing consumer demand. 

By Kaarin Moore • June 16, 2022

Amazon drone delivery to take off in California

The e-commerce giant is still in talks with regulators for the permits it needs to deliver light packages in less than an hour.

By Max Garland • June 15, 2022

'The rip-off is over': Biden urges shipping reform during Port of Los Angeles visit

The president warned carriers that new regulations, aimed at cracking down on skyrocketing shipping costs, are coming.

By Colin Campbell , Sarah Zimmerman • June 14, 2022

Top Walmart executives talk inflation, labor and supply chain challenges

At a recent investor Q&A, company leaders detailed how they’re tackling headwinds like cost pressure and shared how they aim to leverage Walmart+.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 8, 2022

Zara now charges for some returns. Will other retailers follow?

In some regions, customers pay a fee to return online purchases to third-party drop-off points. It may mark a turning point for companies.

By Kaarin Moore • June 8, 2022

American Eagle's logistics arm adds Saks Off Fifth, Fanatics as customers

Six months after announcing its Quiet Logistics acquisition, the retailer is on the hunt for more clients.

By Alejandra Carranza • June 3, 2022

Walmart plots 4 new 'next generation' fulfillment centers

The facilities incorporate an automated storage and retrieval system while also employing 4,000 new workers, and could serve 75% of the U.S.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 3, 2022

Walmart is building capacity to deliver 1M packages a year by drone

DroneUp and the retailer aim to have delivery hubs set up at 34 facilities by the end of 2022.

By Max Garland • May 25, 2022

Walmart to deploy Symbotic's AI tech in all regional distribution centers

The retailer plans to expand its work with Symbotic in a bid to boost speed and accuracy throughout its supply chain.

By Alejandra Carranza • May 24, 2022

Walmart GoLocal expands delivery to 1,600 locations

Expanding its service to more locations should help GoLocal operate more efficiently as it competes with other same-day delivery providers.

By Max Garland • May 23, 2022

REI hires chief supply chain officer as it expands distribution footprint

A former TireHub executive is taking the reins as the outdoor retailer pursues further growth.

By Kate Magill • May 19, 2022

Best Buy just launched a $200 home pick-up recycling program. Is it necessary?

For consumers looking to avoid e-waste, retailers are filling a gap left by manufacturers.

By Kaarin Moore • May 12, 2022

Sally Beauty updates mobile app to offer 2-hour delivery with DoorDash

CEO Denise Paulonis said that 80% of the beauty retailer's customers engage with it via mobile devices.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 11, 2022

Shopify buys Deliverr for $2.1B to accelerate fulfillment network expansion

The planned acquisition is a new step in Shopify's bid to build an end-to-end logistics platform. 

By Max Garland • May 6, 2022

Target focuses on customer experience, supply chain in latest leadership shuffle

The mass merchant is operating from a position of strength, but is also likely realizing it must look harder for growth opportunities.

By Daphne Howland • May 5, 2022

Amazon hit with $6B in costs as it grapples with excess labor, warehouse inefficiencies

The company's fulfillment network "quickly transitioned from being understaffed to being overstaffed" in Q1, CFO Brian Olsavsky said.

By Max Garland • May 4, 2022

A day of reckoning arrives for ultrafast delivery services

The industry has failed to sustain the momentum it appeared to have on its side just a few months prior, writes Bob Hoyler, senior consultant at Euromonitor International.

By Bob Hoyler • May 3, 2022

UPS encounters unexpected drop in parcel volumes as e-commerce growth slows

Despite the drop, UPS' per-package revenue increased as it follows its strategy of prioritizing more profitable deliveries over pure volume growth.

By Max Garland • April 27, 2022

Joann paid $35.3M more for ocean freight to free up stranded containers

Excess costs are expected to impact the retailer's results for all four quarters of this year before normalizing, according to the CFO.

By Alejandra Carranza • April 25, 2022

Amazon seeks to expand reach with 'Buy with Prime'

The e-commerce giant continues to find ways to leverage other merchants' sales, this time including those outside its own marketplace.

By Daphne Howland • April 21, 2022

Amazon's year could be weighed down by oil prices, stimulus end: analyst

Price hikes on Prime and fuel surcharges on sellers could offset some costs. Down the road, more employee unions are a "key risk" for the company, according to MKM Partners.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 20, 2022