The strategy behind turning department stores into warehouses

Rumors are circulating about Amazon converting vacant department store space into fulfillment centers — a move experts say would round out its omnichannel approach.

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 19, 2020

USPS will raise commercial parcel rates for peak season

The temporary rate hikes will take effect Oct. 18 and be removed Dec. 27. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 14, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside retail supply chains

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

By Retail Dive staff

Walmart partners with Instacart for same-day delivery

The retailer is testing a same-day grocery delivery partnership in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and three California metro areas. 

By Jessica Dumont • Aug. 13, 2020

Lowe's expands distribution network in pursuit of omnichannel supply chain

The addition of seven bulk distribution centers and four e-commerce fulfillment centers moves the retailer away from store-based home delivery.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 12, 2020

What COVID-19 did to customer loyalty

As retailers grappled with out-of-stocks, research found that 75% of consumers opted to shop alternative brands.

By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 12, 2020

Retail suppliers are still under strain — and it could hurt everyone

Stores are open, but vendors face longer payment terms and financial uncertainty, which could hit retail shelves just as the holidays ramp up.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 10, 2020

Fashion industry says purchase order cancellations will endure in Q3 and beyond

Despite reduced optimism about the industry's future, 90% of survey respondents plan to increase hiring over the next five years.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 7, 2020

Can summer BOPIS practices forecast holiday trends?

With COVID-19 uncertainty and the holidays ahead, retailers must refine their buy online, pick up in-store operations. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 6, 2020

Home Depot adds 3 warehouses as DIY demand grows

The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior and buying patterns, but it hasn't deterred the retailer from its plan to invest in its distribution network.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 5, 2020

Shippers eye struggling retail properties for conversion to last-mile, fulfillment centers

A shift to online shopping during the coronavirus outbreak has accelerated the trend of retailers retrofitting store properties for supply chain functions.

By Morgan Forde • July 29, 2020

Walgreens partners with DoorDash for on-demand deliveries

There are a growing number of partnerships between retailers and delivery providers as the pandemic keeps many customers at home.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 21, 2020

FedEx installs robotic arms for automated parcel sorting to handle rising e-commerce volume

The carrier is partnering with Yaskawa America and Plus One Robotics, starting with four robotic arms sorting small parcels in its Memphis hub. 

By Morgan Forde • July 17, 2020

NRF forecasts lowest peak season since 2014

While some impacts of the pandemic are fading, retailers are being cautious with the amount of merchandise they import, the trade organization said.

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2020

Amazon preps for peak with restrictions on third-party seller warehouse space

"Even though it's July, we're preparing early for the holiday season to meet sustained increased demand," the company wrote in an announcement. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 14, 2020

Rouses Market will pilot drone delivery this fall

Drones have yet to take off in the grocery industry but, much like autonomous vehicles, they promise to save retailers on costs associated with delivery. 

By Krishna Thakker • July 10, 2020

Will sustainability take a backseat to COVID-19 challenges?

Procurement leaders from top brands see the tools gained through sustainability work as assets against pandemic supply chain disruptions.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 10, 2020

Target will roll out fresh grocery pickup nationwide

Following successful tests, the company will add the service to more than 400 stores by the end of this month and to 1,500 by the holidays.

By Jeff Wells • June 25, 2020

How to prep reverse logistics for an upcoming 'flood of returns'

Technology and warehouse worker safety are critical as state reopenings could prompt an uptick in retail returns.

By Jen A. Miller • June 24, 2020

Staples introduces same-day delivery via Instacart

The office retailer joins other companies in offering a delivery option for customers still looking to socially distance.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 15, 2020

Sam's Club rolls out curbside pickup across the US

The service will be free for Plus-level members of the Walmart-owned warehouse chain.

By Sam Silverstein • June 12, 2020

Big Lots adds delivery service from Instacart

The deal expands Big Lots' customer base to those who prefer the convenience of delivery or aren't comfortable visiting stores during the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • June 9, 2020

How the pandemic could fundamentally alter grocery store layouts

Backrooms will grow to fill online orders and retail floors will become smaller and more focused on shopper experiences, according to one expert.

By Jeff Wells • June 9, 2020

FedEx follows UPS with peak surcharges beginning Monday

Many shippers will have to absorb or pass on the extra cost in an already fraught environment, especially those experiencing a marked uptick in volume.

By Emma Cosgrove • June 5, 2020

Drones and delivery trucks could work together, but regulatory hurdles remain

Using drones and trucks for a hybrid delivery system could be the future of last-mile logistics, according to an MIT research paper. 

By Morgan Forde • June 4, 2020

From shipments to cash flow, pandemic uncertainty makes reopening harder

Nobody really knows how to forecast the next phase of the COVID-19 crisis without precedent. Getting it wrong could wreak havoc on retailers' operations.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 3, 2020