Category Archives: retailers

Benefits of customer flexibility during the pandemic

An article in ASCM Insights (https://tinyurl.com/yyneu93x) describes reasons why retail grocery customers might be stockpiling.  The article suggests that retailers should deal with each reason separately, with appropriate steps to reassure customers.    There is also discussion of smaller retailers … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, delivery, logistics, product, retailers | Tagged , , , , | 106 Comments

Hardware Chain Growth through the pandemic

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 16, 2020 https://tinyurl.com/yxuaxu64) describes the impact of the pandemic on hardware chains such as Home Depot and Lowes.   From cancelling customer attracting, but low margin, promotions to ensure social distancing, to reordering … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, congestion, consumer, Coordination, Cost, logistics, retailers, supplier, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 49 Comments

Growing retail logistics options for customers causing confusion ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (November 18,2018) titled “Black Friday Shoppers Beware:Online Shopping Gets More Complicated” describes the many options for shopping and pickup at retail stores. At Target there are 6 options from store purchase, to curbside … Continue reading

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Walmart’s new technology intensive warehouse that is 40% more efficient

An article in finance.yahoo.com titled “Walmart’s grocery warehouse worker of the future will have a STEM background” discussed the new warehouse in Shafter, California that will use automation to get eggs, diary and frozen goods to warehouse employees pick rather … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, disruption, logistics, Operations Management, retailers, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 55 Comments

Is V-commerce by Fanatics the future of retail?

An article in Fortune (September 1, 2018) titled “Licensed to Thrill”, describes the company Fanatics that has exclusive rights to sell professional basketball and football clothing. The company describes V-commerce as a combination of manufacturing, logistics and technology capacity. Fanatics … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, retailers, technology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Should Kohl’s sell Whole Foods products in it’s stores?

An article in Business Insider (March 2, 2018 http://www.businessinsider.com/kohls-could-help-whole-foods-reach-millions-of-new-customers-2018-3) suggests that an alliance between Kohl’s and Whole Foods may provide a winning combination. Last year, Kohl’s started accepting return products for Amazon. Kohl’s has a network of 1,110 stores in … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, retailers, Supply Chain Issues, technology | Tagged , , , , | 102 Comments

Amazon’s physical store and its link to web data

A news report on NPR (http://www.npr.org/2017/08/15/540076527/be-more-than-a-bookstore-a-brick-and-mortar-shop-s-key-to-success)describes an Amazon store in New York City that sells books but uses data captured on the webstore to suggest related books, offer Amazon prime discounts etc. The physical store thus serves as an extension … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, disruption, Ecommerce, logistics, retailers | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

WalMart tests blockchain technology to track food and enable targeted recalls

An article in Bloomberg Technology (November 18, 2016) titled “Wal-Mart Tackles Food Safety With Trial of Blockchain” describes tests of a packaged produce item in the USA and pork in China using blockchain technology to track the supply chain across … Continue reading

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The supply chain impact of India’s cash crunch

An article in the New York Times (December 13, 2016) titled “India Hobbles a Cash Crisis, and Electronic Payments Boom”, describes the shortage of the new currency bills in India following its demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee notes (which … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, disruption, retailers, Service Operations, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazon’s cashierless grocery store plans

An article in Business Insider (December 6,2016) titled “Amazon’s new grocery store highlights a huge hole in Donald Trump’s promise on jobs” describes plans by Amazon to open thousands of stores where customers can check into the store with their … Continue reading

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, Cost, disruption, logistics, Operations Management, retailers, Service Operations, technology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment