Innovations in Offline Retail! (Infographic)

There is no escaping the fact that offline retail has changed over the last number of years. The predominant reason for this is advancement in technology but specifically with the emergence of the Internet and associated devices which allow consumers to literally shop from the comfort of their couch.

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Warehouse Fulfillment – Move Material to the People, Not Vice Versa!

“Here Come The Bots!”

Wow!  This was the headline caption on the presentation I was about to see.  I had just joined the company.  I had just spent the last few years in Retail.  I had done a lot of research on how to improve efficiencies and productivity in Online/E-Commerce Fulfillment Distribution Centres.  And I had lived through the agonizing process and resource challenges of fulfilling E-Commerce orders during the Holiday season, which is far and away the busiest time of the year in Retail.

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Competing against Amazon? You Need A Blue Ocean Strategy!

Amazon is far and away the leader in the E-C0mmerce space.  Their growth continues at an exceptional pace.  And they continue to expand their products, services, and capabilities.  In short they continue to press their advantage and make it difficult for anyone else to compete with them.  You need a Blue Ocean strategy!

But if you are in the E-Commerce space that is your reality.  Amazon is the biggest shark in the room.  So how do you compete in the face of such an overwhelming adversary?

One technique is to consider creating your own Blue Ocean Strategy to create competitive advantage!  If you can define dramatically different space in which to do business you may be able to keep this shark, and others, at bay (at least for a period of time).

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ECommerce SEO : How Online Stores Can Drive Organic Traffic!

ECommerce and ECommerce SEO has seen a staggering growth in 2021. But what should be attributed to this growth? Few bets on pandemics, others say it’s technology, but if you take our perspective, it’s completely – the Internet.

The penetration of the Internet, the economical pricing of the same as well as the ease of networking has led to a growth of mutual trust, confidence as well as ease of purchasing.

As per the recent study, more than 60% of the users have been purchasing any product after reading or watching a testimonial.

And this is interesting!

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The Importance of Comparison Shopping and Making Informed Decisions!

In today’s fast-paced consumer market, making smart purchasing decisions is crucial. With countless options available, consumers need a reliable way to ensure they are getting the best value for their money. This is where comparison shopping comes into play.

Comparison shopping involves researching and comparing similar products or services from various sellers to find the best deal.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of comparison shopping and how it empowers consumers to make informed choices, save money, and discover high-quality products. https://www.shipnetwork.com/post/the-importance-of-comparison-shopping

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The Amazon Effect is the New Walmart Effect!

In 1994, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos read a statistic that the Internet had been growing at 2300 percent annually. He fashioned that changing tide into a business plan that has been breaking barriers across supply chain and e-commerce that has left an indelible mark with the Amazon effect.

Beginning with booksellers, the e-commerce giant has expedited the closure of many retailers and threatens to redefine the standards of shopping in a digital world. Retailers are forced to lower prices, optimize their systems and processes, and reduce profit margins in favor of competition; meanwhile, Amazon continues its trek toward dominance.

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Inventory Management vs Product Information Management (PIM)

For the company buried in product data trying to navigate the waters of ecommerce, PIM software comes in like a gust that fills the sails.

Eureka!

There is a way to aggregate, organize and clean-up data without all the manual toil.

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Featuring Our 10 Best Warehouse Order Fulfillment Articles!

Our latest “Featuring” series article covers the topic of Warehouse and Distribution Centre order fulfillment. With the exponential growth of E-Commerce and online shopping the backbone of activity that makes it all happen is order fulfillment.

Every time you place an online order someone somewhere is picking up those items and placing them in a box for delivery to you. Given that hundreds of millions of people are doing the same thing at the same time it is imperative that companies have the most efficient fulfillment process possible, whether they do this work themselves or outsource it.

We have had the opportunity to lead the implementation of some world class fulfillment processes, even surpassing the speed of Amazon. So take some time and check out our very best Warehouse and Distribution Centre fulfillment articles!

Enjoy!

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The Top 7 Best Online Retailers to Watch!

We are all familiar with names like Google, Microsoft, eBay, and Johnson & Johnson, yet each of these companies was once a startup. So, each new business has the potential to develop into a global powerhouse and gain a competitive advantage in its industry. 

To be genuine market leaders, businesses must use cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and virtual reality. In this post, we examine some of the most cutting-edge startup businesses and online retailers that are worth following, outline their advantages, and highlight any potential advantages for you.

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Amazon Supply Chain Strategies!

Amazon offers sellers fulfillment options. One is FBA and the other is FBM.

As a growing seller, you may already know what fulfillment options work best for you. With newer technologies being founded, Amazon continually offers new services and breaks the rules of supply chain management to improve their service, margins, and for sellers.

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8 Reasons Your Business Should Use Eco-Friendly Shipping Mailers!

Product packaging significantly contributes to the modern world’s waste problem. They’re commonly made of plastic, which pollutes bodies of water and harms the planet’s biodiversity. Many businesses are now switching to eco-friendly packaging and shipping mailers to solve this problem. 

Switching to eco-friendly materials for your product packaging and shipping is a major shift for most businesses. The initial costs are usually higher than the readily available plastic and poly mailers. However, taking a step toward this environmental initiative has more advantages that are worth the effort and budget. 

Here are eight reasons your business should use eco-friendly shipping mailers: 

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PayPal as a Payment Processor: Challenges for Store Owners!

When it comes to running an online store, one of the crucial aspects that store owners must consider is the payment processing system. The ability to seamlessly and securely accept payments from customers is fundamental to the success of any e-commerce business.

In this article, we will explore the challenges faced by store owners when using PayPal as their chosen payment processor.

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Turn your Brick And Mortar Stores into E-Commerce Distribution Hubs!

Retailers with Brick and Mortar stores continue to be under tremendous pressure.  Competition is intense in the fast growing Omnichannel E-Commerce world.  Every week there seems to be news about how one Retailer or another is closing more of their stores when they could be using them as Distribution hubs.

And very few Retailers with Brick And Mortar stores have been able to make a profit in E-Commerce.  Competitors who only sell online without physical stores appear to have an advantage with lower overhead costs.

So how can Brick And Mortar Retailers turn their stores into a competitive advantage plus a source of greater profitability?

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What are Ecommerce Shipping Zones?

Carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and USPS use shipping zones to determine the shipping cost of a package. Zones relate closely (but often not exactly) to distance traveled. In the continental US, most carriers break down the country into seven shipping zones, (numbered 2-8).

ECommerce businesses need to pay attention to shipping zones. Zones affect your fulfillment costs and delivery time.

A clear understanding of shipping zones should inform your fulfillment strategy. When you use zones to your advantage, you can reduce shipping costs and even offer free shipping.

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The Final Link in Supply Chain: Start Your Own Delivery Business!

The global supply chain has so many links. The last one is the delivery of the product to the end customer. Modern technology allows everyone to order nearly anything they think of online and wait for the product on their doors.

With billions of online store users, there’s a constant shortage of the final supply chain – the delivery. Starting a delivery business, in most cases, means success. Even big companies like Amazon and Etsy constantly lack people to handle their shipments, so starting your own delivery business means working alongside them.

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