Williams-Sonoma to expand manufacturing, distribution capacity by up to 30%

The company's expansion will add about 2 million square feet to its distribution network.

By Matt Leonard • March 22, 2021

6 charts show how a pandemic upended retail supply chains

Consumers moved online and retailers pivoted to move inventory locked in brick-and-mortar locations.

By Matt Leonard • March 22, 2021

Stitch Fix threads in carrier diversity after longer cycle times during peak

The CFO called carrier diversification "very important," with outbound and reverse logistics embedded in the fabric of Stitch Fix's business model.

By Shefali Kapadia • March 17, 2021

Buffer inventory, e-commerce growth buoys warehouse demand: Prologis

An additional 125 million square feet of warehousing space or more will be needed every year until 2025 in the U.S. and Europe to keep up with current levels of e-commerce-driven demand, a report found.

By Matt Leonard • March 15, 2021

E-commerce, transparency, sustainability key for CPG manufacturers in 2021

E-commerce will remain popular — redefining the consumer goods space — with 77% of consumers indicating they'll continue online shopping, said the Consumer Brands Association.

By Lauren Manning • March 15, 2021

Yeti tests Port Houston in bid to avoid congestion

Along with the port change, Yeti has also increased its use of cross-docking for its imports to help cut down on lead times and is exploring faster shipping lanes out of Southeast Asia.

By Matt Leonard • March 12, 2021

Dick's fulfills 70% of orders from stores, cuts delivery estimates 10%

The retailer's cost of goods sold — which includes shipping, freight and distribution, along with the cost of the merchandise — was up nearly 11%.

By Matt Leonard • March 10, 2021

Walmart to spend $350B on local sourcing, work to pinpoint barriers to reshoring

The retailer touted benefits such as increased support for small and diverse suppliers in the U.S., plus reduced carbon emissions, as it sources closer to the end consumer. 

By Shefali Kapadia • March 4, 2021

Inventory mismatch squeezes Nordstrom's holiday quarter

To correct the issue, the retailer is canceling orders and returning goods to vendors, the CFO said.

By Daphne Howland • March 3, 2021

Target expands sortation center model to optimize store fulfillment

The retailer will also expand its distribution-center footprint in 2021, while using predictive inventory planning on more of its assortment.

By Matt Leonard • March 2, 2021

Lowe's fulfills 60% of online orders from stores, moving 6-times faster

The retailer is transitioning to a market-based model, with distribution centers and dozens of cross docks that allow more flexible fulfillment. 

By Shefali Kapadia • March 2, 2021

Wayfair cites ocean shipping disruption, port congestion for in-stock issues

The retailer expects it could take a "few months" to get back to the in-stock levels it usually tries to maintain, one executive said.

By Matt Leonard • March 1, 2021

Crocs: Redundancy in ocean freight contracts takes priority over cost

The footwear brand's logistics director said a turbulent market with high consumer demand proves container shipping is a commodity, not a service.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 26, 2021

Kohl's investor group proposes sourcing, inventory changes to win back margins

The group said the retailer is overpaying for purchases in a sourcing agreement it has with a third-party agent, which accounts for 20% of its total purchases. 

By A.B. Brown • Feb. 25, 2021

No rate relief in sight for ocean shippers as Lunar New Year passes

If consumer spending doesn't fall off during 2021, the ocean shipping industry could be in for a busy and record-breaking year, one analyst predicted.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 23, 2021

Walgreens expands same-day delivery with Instacart

Experts say store-based fulfillment partnerships are a good fit for retailers that see modest online demand and don't wish to invest in structural changes to support e-commerce.

By Jeff Wells • Feb. 23, 2021

Walmart says its automated supply chain is 'ready to scale'

There's a limit to how much the retailer can pick, fulfill and ship from stores, the CEO said. Walmart is banking on automation to change that.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 19, 2021

Anheuser-Busch to invest $1B to expand capacity, sustainability initiatives

The company said $50 million would go toward expanding its seltzer brewing capabilities and $100 million for new lines to produce cans.

By Christopher Doering • Feb. 5, 2021

Home Depot opens automated Dallas fulfillment center with hydrogen-powered forklifts

The facility is part of the retailer's $1.2 billion supply chain investment and includes six miles of mechanized lines. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 4, 2021

Amazon says fulfillment, logistics expansion will help it return to 1-day delivery

Additional square footage allows Amazon to handle more shipments internally and have greater control from point A to point B.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 3, 2021

UPS prepares for long-term capacity squeeze, moves toward 'personalized pricing'

The peak season capacity shortfall experienced in 2020 is expected to continue in the new year, CEO Carol Tomé said Tuesday.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 2, 2021

A moral monopoly: The difference between supplier-performance management and bullying

Businesses must reevaluate the highly unequal distribution of risk and reward.

By Kim van der Weerd • Jan. 28, 2021

Eager to innovate in pickup, retailers look to lockers and kiosks

As retailers look to storage units to enhance omichannel and delivery service, they must grapple with limitations that could impede adoption.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 26, 2021

The pandemic put supply chains front and center for retailers — perhaps for the first time

Retail supply chains came under intense strain and went through wild convolutions last year. To weather the next storm, the industry must be agile and take risk seriously.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 25, 2021

Gig economy emerges as key part of the parcel ecosystem

During the pandemic, Instacart, Postmates, Roadie, Shipt and others have moved into new roles, in many cases integrating into retailers' parcel portfolios as an alternative to traditional carriers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 25, 2021