Delivery drivers sue Amazon over contractor status

Three drivers in the retailer’s “Amazon Flex” program say their work requirements mean they should be compensated as employees.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 7, 2016

How Hurricane Matthew is impacting retail — and how retailers are responding

The most dangerous storm to hit the Atlantic Coast in years is bearing down fast. From emergency supply shortages to logistical disruptions, the ripple effect is already being felt.

By Jason Ankeny • Oct. 6, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

The state of retail returns

Retailers of all sizes are streamlining operations so customers can have a smooth return experience. 

By Retail Dive staff

Wal-Mart doubling e-commerce warehouses, stake in JD.com

The brick-and-mortar behemoth is doubling its web-focused warehouses to 10 by the end of this year and installing automated product sorting and item tracking technologies.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 6, 2016

Social eCommerce Gathers Steam

Small and midsized businesses that can’t afford mass media advertising stand to benefit by building active, e-commerce-enabled social media sites.

Oct. 4, 2016

Survey: Consumers reward premium packaging, same day delivery

As consumer expectations shift, distributors offering premium packaging and delivery services may see a competitive advantage.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 3, 2016

FedEx, UPS invest in regional, technology-filled hubs; hiring remains flat

Companies are investing more in capital and labor to meet consumer demands. A FedEx spokesman said there is no link between the technology spend and its flat hiring.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 3, 2016

Feds: Package delivery drone regulations still years away

A Federal Aviation Administration advisor is starting to define technical standards, but it will be closer to 2020 before they actually impact delivery drones.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 29, 2016

Report: Amazon to take on FedEx, UPS with ambitious plans to enter shipping business

The e-commerce giant has built a fulfillment and delivery infrastructure to serve its own needs, but it has bigger plans than just that, sources told The Wall Street Journal.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 28, 2016

Maximizing holiday sales with endless aisle

As the busy holiday season gets closer, many big box retailers and major e-tailers are looking at drop ship as an alternative to offering faster, cheaper delivery options.

Sept. 27, 2016

UPS, CyPhy launch drone delivery test program

The companies completed their first test flight late last week, staging a mock delivery of medicine to a remote island about three miles off the Atlantic coast. 

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 25, 2016

FedEx foresees record holiday shipments driven by e-commerce growth

The shipper plans to hire about 50,000 seasonal employees for the holidays, roughly the same as last year.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 21, 2016

Blackstone re-enters logistics space with $1.5B deal

The largest private real estate owner in the world is back in the logistics game after cutting a deal to acquire a portfolio of distribution centers on the West Coast.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 21, 2016

Speed to Market: Meeting Customer Expectations for "Last Mile" Delivery

The UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper™ study for 2016 revealed that customers are more patient with online delivery than one might think — but their patience is not endless, and it’s growing shorter. 

Sept. 20, 2016

Bucking trend, JC Penney hiring many more seasonal workers

Kohl’s and Target, meanwhile, are keeping holiday hiring relatively steady, and outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas says that will be the norm.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 20, 2016

Costco, Sam's Club target businesses via new express delivery offerings

Costco Business Center in San Diego will start offering two-hour grocery delivery, while Sam's Club is offering next-day delivery in the Dallas, Tulsa and Miami markets. 

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 19, 2016

Retailers breathing easier as Hanjin unloads more cargo

Crews have unloaded 28 of the bankrupt shipper's 97 vessels, easing fears that merchandise needed for the holiday shopping season would be left stranded.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 19, 2016

August import volume shifts to East Coast ahead of holidays

The volume of imports at two of the country’s major ports fell overall in August, even as retailers are already leery of complications wrought by the bankruptcy of South Korean shipper Hanjin.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 16, 2016

Target's turnaround emphasizes omnichannel, in-store efforts

Facing a surprise slump, the retailer is getting assertive in grocery, pricing and omnichannel.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 16, 2016

UPS hiring 95,000 for holidays for third consecutive year

In recent years, more than 37% of staffers hired for UPS seasonal package handler jobs were hired into permanent positions following the holidays.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 14, 2016

Google scales Express last-mile delivery, dumps perishables sales

The company is also is increasing its retailer partner ranks, although different merchants have signed on in various areas of the country.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 14, 2016

NRF: Cargo volume steady despite Hanjin bankruptcy

But the cost of moving merchandise is rising as retailers scramble to stock shelves and warehouses for the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 13, 2016

Bankrupt Hanjin begins unloading cargo at Long Beach port

There are some encouraging signs that the merchandise retailers need for the holidays will get moving again despite the financial troubles plaguing the world’s seventh-largest ocean shipper.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 12, 2016

Wal-Mart pulls some Welspun sheets after cotton controversy

The retailer joins Target in giving customers refunds on the sheets, whose provenance the Indian supplier can’t verify.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 12, 2016

Amazon to make Prime Now tailgate deliveries to 49ers' stadium

Prime subscribers can order deliveries directly to the Levi's Stadium parking lot in the hours preceding San Francisco 49ers home games this football season.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 8, 2016

Tommy Hilfiger makes runway fashion instantly available

The brand is the latest to abandon the tradition of making shoppers wait for new designs introduced during fashion shows.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 8, 2016