Retailers Adapt Strategies for Yearround Holiday Shopping Demand

Retailers Adapt Strategies for Yearround Holiday Shopping Demand

In an interview, Roadie executive Will Walker highlights the challenges of an 'always-on' holiday shopping season for retailers. He emphasizes the need to start promotions early, optimize last-mile delivery, and leverage flexible crowdsourced driver networks to meet capacity demands. Key to success is maintaining simplicity, flexibility, and a customer-centric approach, while also addressing returns. The last mile has evolved from 'Amazonification' to personalized service, requiring retailers to adapt and offer tailored delivery solutions to meet increasingly specific consumer needs.

01/16/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Retailers Use Data to Optimize Valentines Day Supply Chains

Retailers Use Data to Optimize Valentines Day Supply Chains

This paper delves into the challenges that seasonal holidays, such as Valentine's Day, pose to retail supply chains. It emphasizes the importance of data-driven supply chain design, cross-functional collaboration, and technology enablement. Through the Albertson's case study and expert insights, the paper illustrates how to leverage forecasting tools, optimize operational processes, and flexibly respond to market changes to achieve success in a highly competitive environment. The focus is on strategies for retailers to effectively manage demand surges and ensure optimal inventory levels during peak seasons.

01/28/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Retailers Form Alliance to Rival Amazon in Ecommerce

Retailers Form Alliance to Rival Amazon in Ecommerce

The MonarchFx alliance integrates resources to provide retailers with efficient and flexible 'post-click logistics' services, competing with Amazon to achieve same-day and next-day delivery, and enhance competitiveness. This strategic alliance aims to empower retailers by streamlining their fulfillment processes and improving delivery speed, ultimately enabling them to better serve their customers and thrive in the evolving e-commerce landscape. By offering a robust and agile logistics solution, MonarchFx helps retailers overcome the challenges posed by Amazon's dominance in the market.

01/26/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Target Invests 7B in Supply Chain to Boost Customer Experience

Target Invests 7B in Supply Chain to Boost Customer Experience

Target is investing $7 billion to optimize store experiences, expand its sortation center network, and integrate Shipt for last-mile delivery, building a customer-centric supply chain. The strategy emphasizes balancing automation with employee needs, focusing on inventory flow and visibility, and collaborating closely with suppliers to address future challenges. This investment aims to enhance the overall shopping experience for customers by improving efficiency and responsiveness throughout the supply chain. The focus is on creating a seamless and convenient journey from order placement to final delivery.

01/30/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Retailers Face 850B in Postholiday Returns by 2025

Retailers Face 850B in Postholiday Returns by 2025

Holiday season returns in 2025 reached a staggering $849.9 billion, with online return rates hitting 19%. Consumer behaviors like 'comparison shopping' and 'wardrobing' are exacerbating the return surge. Faced with cost pressures, 72% of retailers are implementing return fees or restrictions, yet 82% of consumers value free returns. Retailers must balance cost control with a positive consumer experience. Optimizing return processes, strengthening regulations, and enhancing brand loyalty are crucial to navigate this complex landscape.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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US Retailers Prepare for Import Surge As Supply Chains Waver

US Retailers Prepare for Import Surge As Supply Chains Waver

Facing the year-end import peak and potential supply chain risks, the US retail industry is actively adjusting its strategies to seize opportunities amidst uncertainty. Diversifying supply chains, proactive planning, technological innovation, and robust risk management are becoming crucial for businesses to navigate these challenges. Retailers are focusing on building resilience by sourcing from multiple regions, leveraging data analytics for demand forecasting, and investing in automation to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on single points of failure. These measures aim to ensure consistent product availability and mitigate potential disruptions during peak season.

02/05/2026 Logistics
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Hyvee Adopts Microfulfillment to Boost Ecommerce Efficiency

Hyvee Adopts Microfulfillment to Boost Ecommerce Efficiency

Hy-Vee is partnering with Takeoff Technologies to deploy micro-fulfillment centers across its operating region. This initiative aims to enhance online order fulfillment efficiency through automation, providing consumers with a more convenient and efficient shopping experience. This move signifies a significant strategic shift for Hy-Vee in the fresh e-commerce sector and heralds a new wave of innovation in the retail industry. The deployment of micro-fulfillment centers is expected to streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction by enabling faster order processing and delivery.

11/03/2025 Warehousing
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Retailers Prioritize Supply Chain Visibility Amid Global Disruptions

Retailers Prioritize Supply Chain Visibility Amid Global Disruptions

Facing unprecedented challenges, supply chain visibility is crucial for enhancing retail resilience. This paper explores its three key values: revealing truth, enabling rapid response, and informing strategic decisions. Through case studies, it demonstrates the impact on cost reduction, efficiency improvement, crisis management, and optimized reverse logistics. The paper emphasizes the need for retailers to connect existing system data to achieve end-to-end visibility, ensuring competitiveness in a constantly evolving market. By leveraging data-driven insights, retailers can proactively adapt and thrive in the face of disruption.

11/03/2025 Logistics Industry Insights
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Walmart Expands Drone Delivery to 18M Dallas Homes

Walmart Expands Drone Delivery to 18M Dallas Homes

Walmart is significantly expanding its drone delivery service in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, now reaching an additional 1.8 million households. This expansion, in partnership with Zipline and Wing, is enabled by FAA waivers for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, extending the delivery range to 10 miles and offering a wider variety of goods. Despite facing challenges, Walmart's initiative signals a future trend in retail logistics and delivery, showcasing the potential of drone technology to improve speed and convenience for customers.

11/03/2025 Logistics
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Royal Mail Expands Parcel Lockers to Enhance Delivery Services

Royal Mail Expands Parcel Lockers to Enhance Delivery Services

Royal Mail is partnering with Quadient and NewRiver to launch a parcel locker network in shopping centers and retail parks across the UK. This initiative provides convenient parcel drop-off and label printing services for customers. The new network aims to enhance the overall shopping experience and create additional sales opportunities for retailers by driving foot traffic and offering a seamless delivery solution. The lockers provide a secure and accessible alternative for parcel collection and returns, catering to the growing demand for flexible delivery options.

11/03/2025 Logistics
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