Distribution

Macy’s is gearing up for the holiday by hiring approximately 86,000 seasonal employees at its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers — a 3.6% increase from last year. In particular, the company’s seasonal workforce has grown in its network of online fulfillment centers thanks to increased sales generated by its omnichannel business strategy.

Newgistics, a leading provider of end-to-end e-commerce solutions for top retailers and brands, is making it easier for U.S. retailers to access the largest markets overseas — including the U.K., Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia, China and South America — by expanding its parcel delivery and return services and reducing the costs of cross-border delivery.

Key features of Newgistics’ international solution include:
Delivery to 34 key global markets with plans for future expansion
Full end-to-end tracking

By Bill Davis, Director, MB&G Consulting

Imagine it’s a breezy Friday morning and tonight is your nephew’s birthday party. It’s completely slipped your mind, and there just isn’t time in your day to go shopping. But you don’t panic because this solution is routine. You go online, find the hottest toy, and hit Amazon Prime Air. Not too long after, a small “Octocopter” touches down on your doorstep to save your day.

A captivating scene. But when you scrutinize the feasibility of this concept, there are many challenges that may push small package drone models into the realm of wishful thinking.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Southern California, on Oct. 11. The store is located in the La Mesa Center in the city of La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego.  

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

Dublin, Calif. – DD’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores Inc., will open a new store in Houston, on Sept. 27. The store is located in the Mission Bend Shopping Center in the Mission Bend neighborhood.

Including this new location, DD’s Discounts will operate more than 150 locations in 15 states and is on schedule to complete its expansion plan to open approximately 20 locations in 2014.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Kmart Corp. will close at least eight stores by the end of 2014 as part of broader cost-cutting moves by parent company Sears Holding Corp. Kmart spokespeople sent emails to media outlets in Michigan, Indiana and Iowa announcing that Kmart will close at least five stores in the Detroit area, two in the Indianapolis area and one in Ames, Iowa.

Grapevine, Texas – GameStop plans to hire approximately 25,000 employees nationwide as the company prepares for the upcoming holiday shopping season. This year’s total number of seasonal hires is approximately 47% higher when compared to the same period in 2013.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the California Central Valley on Oct. 11. The stores are located in Bakersfield Plaza in Bakersfield and the Delano Marketplace in Delano.  

These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

GameStop plans to hire approximately 25,000 employees nationwide as the company prepares for the upcoming holiday shopping season — nearly double the number of people it hired last year.