Walmart plans high-tech consolidation center

The facility in Colton, California, will receive shipments from suppliers before sending them to distribution centers and reduce the numbers of orders suppliers have to fulfill from 42 to 1.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 14, 2019

FedEx pilots home delivery service for bulky goods

The carrier joins the likes of XPO Logistics seeking to take advantage of a bustling e-commerce market for furniture and appliances.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 14, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management as an effective strategy against tariffs.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Think peak season was hard work? UPS exec says 2019 will be harder

Flexible capacity and collaborative planning will be paramount for growth this year, as retailers and 3PLs face a peak season five days shorter than in 2018. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 14, 2019

What drives retailers to seek supply chain visibility?

The majority of retailers appear to have gotten the message that visibility is a must whether trying to withstand new tariffs or exploring new fulfillment models. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 13, 2019

Lowe's to hire 50K seasonal workers for springtime rush

Sourcing workers in the tight labor market, however, could prove challenging.

By Morgan Fecto • Jan. 10, 2019

Tiffany adds diamond origin to store displays

Diamonds, like palm oil or cocoa, have a complicated supply chain that has become notorious for controversy and ethical issues.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 10, 2019

Imports expected to slow after rush to beat tariffs

The National Retail Federation's import forecast shows a slow start to 2019 as China and the U.S. have wrapped up three days of trade negotiations.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 9, 2019

Out-of-stocks are more costly than losing a sale — but there's a fix

In an exclusive op-ed for Supply Chain Dive, A.T. Kearney’s Sameer Anand and Sumit Chadha outline four strategies to push stock-outs to zero.

By Sameer Anand and Sumit Chadha • Jan. 8, 2019

Sears Holdings reportedly preps for liquidation

Eddie Lampert has until Tuesday to make adjustments to his bid, but anonymous sources told multiple media outlets that a liquidator is lined up.

By Corinne Ruff • Jan. 7, 2019

How Walmart hired 1,400 drivers last year

Shorter hiring cycles and referral bonuses helped Walmart meet its driver needs in a tight labor market. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 3, 2019

Gift cards' true value: A post peak season inventory rush

Gift card sales are growing and can be a goldmine if pricing and inventory are on point.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 2, 2019

Supply Chain Dive's 10 best stories of 2018

Stories of transformation and disruption prevailed in the supply chain landscape.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 21, 2018

Need for speed: How fulfillment got faster in 2018

Retailers spent 2018 figuring out how to reconfigure their existing distribution networks and operational strategies to meet the goal of faster delivery, without giving up their margins in the process.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 21, 2018

Shoppers are judging retailers by their returns process

Almost all shoppers said the return experience influences whether they shop at a given retailer again, according to a study from Voxware.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2018

UPS: Returns to peak on Dec. 19

The initial spike in returns will precede a second wave in early January, driving retailers to cement their reverse logistics strategies.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 19, 2018

DHL to offer small shippers speedy delivery in 3 US cities

Vendors in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City will benefit from DHL eCommerce's new partnership with Easyship.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 19, 2018

Ulta's inventory reduction strategy on a 'multi-year path'

Like so many retailers adjusting to the new pace of omnichannel retail, Ulta finds building the supply chain it needs to compete comes at a cost.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 17, 2018

Lowe's supply chain overhaul starts in Nashville

The retailer opened a warehouse large enough to contain 22 football fields, which strategically positions it to ship to 75% of the country within two days.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 14, 2018

Rapid price changes make retailers more vulnerable to shocks

A Harvard Business School professor found retailers are now shifting prices every 3.6 months and said the practice may have an impact on margins.

By Craig Guillot • Dec. 11, 2018

In-store tech can help after operations mishaps, survey says

Shoppers cited out of stock inventory and long checkout lines as the top reasons for abandoning their in-store shopping journey.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 11, 2018

The supply chain behind turning unusual materials into textiles

Businesses are mining waste products for fiber production, giving rise to dozens of new alternative fibers on the market made from everything from mushroom roots to spoiled milk. 

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Dec. 11, 2018

Imports reach record 2M TEUs as retailers rush to beat tariffs

The National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates expect a slowdown in January 2019, as tariffs take a toll on consumer and industry confidence. 

By Barry Hochfelder • Dec. 10, 2018

Will automation take online grocery to the next level?

Using robots to fill and deliver orders promises to save retailers money and boost consumer demand, but with the technology still in its test phase, the broader impact remains unclear.

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 10, 2018

Tariffs will test low-margin business, Dollar Tree CEO says

Since the discount store's customers will not abide a price increase, CEO Gary Philbin said that when it comes to tariffs: "We've got to be just better buyers."

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 5, 2018

A tale of 2 peak season inventory strategies

Based on the steps taken for peak season preparation described by Target and Kohl's, fulfillment strategy doesn't necessarily match inventory strategy. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 4, 2018