United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)

Just a few short years ago, many people predicted that physical stores would all be replaced by pure-play e-commerce sites.  By now, they thought, brick-and-mortar would be a thing of the past. Though we’ve seen some physical stores close, we’ve also seen some traditionally online retailers open storefronts. The demise of the physical store was greatly overestimated.   

Online retailers who want to offer physical pickup of their goods have a new option.   Partnering with various retailers including 7-Eleven, UPS is expanding its “smart locker” program from nine locations in Chicago to 300 locations nationwide. UPS is adding 300 new Access Point locations nationwide. The lockers are usually outside and accessible 24 hours a day at convenience stores and other sites.  

Don’t overlook the impact that batteries have on retail operations and the bottom line. That’s the advice of IPT’s Ken Murphy, who told Chain Store Age that most retailers don’t realize how much money they spend — and productivity they lose — by constantly having to replace dying batteries in wireless barcode scanners. The problem, he says, is the continued use of subpar OEM batteries.

What is the biggest challenge retailers face regarding the batteries in barcode scanners and other devices?

In what has been described as an historic rate reduction, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will roll back postage rates on April 10.

The reduction – the first stamp prices have fallen since 1919 – is prompted by the removal of the 4.3% exigent surcharge. It will apply to several mail classifications, including letters, large envelopes, flats, and postcards.

Chain Store Age recently spoke with Daphne Carmeli, CEO of Deliv, to get her perspective on what’s going on in the rapidly growing online delivery space.

What is driving growing consumer interest in online delivery?
We’ve got a bunch of players in the industry who are aggregating inventory in a simple, flexible and cost-effective way for last-mile fulfillment. Companies like Amazon and Google are resetting customer expectations of what’s possible.

Chain Store Age recently spoke with Daphne Carmeli, CEO of Deliv, to get her perspective on what’s going on in the rapidly growing online delivery space.

What is driving growing consumer interest in online delivery?
We’ve got a bunch of players in the industry who are aggregating inventory in a simple, flexible and cost-effective way for last-mile fulfillment. Companies like Amazon and Google are resetting customer expectations of what’s possible.

Recent rate increases for shipping services by UPS and FedEx and the pending Jan. 17 rate increase for U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping services, are challenging businesses -- especially small retailers and e-retailers -- to look for new and innovative solutions to optimize their shipping operations, according to Pitney Bowes.

Here is an update from Pitney Bowes on the latest increase by each major carrier:

UPS
• On December 28, 2015, the rates for UPS Ground services increased an average net 4.9%.

Amazon is on track to acquire the 75% of the French package-delivery company Colis Privé that it doesn’t already own during the first quartet, according to the Seattle Times. Some analysts believe it’s only the beginning of a move by the Internet giant to eventually launch a package-delivery service that will one day compete with UPS, FedEx and others. [Seattle Times]