Supply Chain & Merchandising

Online shoppers are demanding more flexibility and control in their delivery experiences — and Newegg is responding.   The electronics e-retailer now enables its Canadian shoppers to ship purchases to more than 6,000 Canada Post retail post offices. Newegg created the program through a partnership with air freight shipping company Purolator International and Canada Post.   

Payless ShoeSource filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid growing competition from off-price retailers and online.

The retailer, which has some  4,400 locations in more than 30 countries, plans to immediately close nearly 400 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico as it attempts to boost its balance sheet and restructure its debt load.

The key to delivering top-notch customer service — and responding to changes in the shopping experience — is to give associates visibility into information.   

Amazon will deploy a high-tech, green solution to help power its warehouses.     In a move to increase the energy efficiency of its sprawing network of fulfillment centers, Amazon has entered into a partnership with hydrogen fuel-cell maker Plug Power to deploy Plug Power fuel cells and hydrogen technology in its fulfillment network.    The deal includes an investment option that gives Amazon the right to acquire up to a 23% stake of the fuel-cell maker.  

  The hottest fashion trend today is speed—and retailers need to be in the fast lane to remain competitive.   That’s according to new research from Kurt  Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy, which finds that  speed and agility are the top priorities for every retailer competing in fast fashion.    

Hudson’s Bay Co. mirrored the challenges confronting the department store industry as it swung to a loss in its fourth quarter  and said it would cut costs and capital spending.   

Is Staples looking to go private?   Less than a year after its deal to acquire Office Depot Inc. fell through due to antitrust concerns, Staples is in early discussions with private-equity bidders, according to The Wall Street Journal.   Staples had no comment on the report, which said that based on typical takeover premiums, the office supply chain could be valued at roughly $7 billion or more. But the news sent its stock soaring to a four-year high on Tuesday morning   

Dollar General is set to grow its already considerable footprint through an acquisition.   The discounter will acquire all 323 stores from Dollar Express, according to the Charlotte Observer.