Logistics

Chesapeake, Va. – Dollar Tree Inc. is not slowing down after finalizing its $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores Inc. last week. The retailer plans to open a 1.5 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in the vicinity of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Retailers are investing heavily in their supply chains in order to cope with surging e-commerce volumes, but customer experience enhancements must be planned carefully if profitability is to be maintained.

Chain Store Age recently published a list of the top 10 most-read stories of the first half of 2015, and eight are directly focused on brick-and-mortar stores. This is no great surprise because even as retail and society and general enter a true “Digital Age,” physical stores remain as crucial as they were in the pre-industrial era.

Here are three reasons that brick-and-mortar stores are still a vital part of any retailer’s omnichannel strategy.

Seattle – Retailers of oversized items like barbecue grills and large-screen TVs may want to consider offering same-day delivery services.

According to a survey of 615 U.S. adults by same-day delivery provider Fleetzen, 25% of respondents said a same-day delivery option would increase their likelihood of a purchase of an oversize item, while another 39% indicated it would give a significant boost to their chances of purchasing an oversized item.
 

Salt Lake City – Overstock.com is expanding the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for its customers. The off-price e-commerce retailer already makes fresh farm-grown produce available to nearly half of Americans through its online farmers market store, which serves customers in 35 states.

Lowe's is getting some recognition for its efforts to aid communities with money, supplies and manpower in times of disaster.

Hangzhou, China – Nobody can accuse Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. of sitting back and resting on its past success.

The global e-commerce giant is constantly making investments and launching new businesses, and in the past 24 hours has made two new business moves of significant interest to its online retailing competitors.

Washington, D.C. – Kids may be unhappy about back-to-school season, but importers are surely thrilled.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 7.3% in July 2015 month from the same time last year as retailers stock up for the busy back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.