Logistics

Stamford, Conn. -- Online retailer Bluefly, which sells discounted brand name apparel and accessories, has selected Pitney Bowes to help expand its global reach.

The retailer is using Pitney Bowes's global ecommerce software and international shipping services to help offer a seamless and convenient cross-border purchasing experience for consumers. Pitney Bowes will handle global shipping, including customs, taxes and pricing.

By Chris Horacek, VP, BravoSolution, the supply management company

Overstock.com is looking to improve its supply chain, and to that end the company has launched Supplier Oasis Fulfillment Services, a wholly owned subsidiary that provides multichannel fulfillment services.

Boise, Idaho - WinCo Foods LLC will begin shipping from its newest distribution center in Phoenix, on May 14. The center, which includes more than 900,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, will initially service 19 WinCo Foods stores located in Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California.  

Devastating sourcing and supply chain disasters, including the Bangladesh factory collapse in April 2013, have increased the push for retailers and other businesses to implement sustainable and responsible practices across the global supply chain. Tamara Saucier, VP industry – retail solutions, GT Nexus, discussed the topic, and proactive measures retailers can take, with Chain Store Age.

What can retailers be doing to ensure ethical and sustainable supply chain practices?

St. Louis - Build-A-Bear Workshop has reached an agreement with Horizon Toy Company of Turkey as a new international franchisee. The first Build-A-Bear Workshop store in Turkey is expected to open in Mall of Istanbul in June 2014.

With the store opening in Turkey, Build-A-Bear Workshop will now operate in 15 countries through franchisees. Those countries include Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and United Arab Emirates.

In general, the top acquirers of 2013 logged big gains over 2012

Editor’s Note: The 25th annual Chain Store Age survey of Fastest-Growing Acquirers surveyed retail square footage purchased during the 2013 calendar year.

Lenders are lending again, the equity markets are investing again, and buyers and sellers appear to be moving retail real estate faster than last year — which was a relatively good recovery year.

The ABF Freight division of Arkansas Best Corporation was named a “Carrier of the Year,” for the second consecutive year by a leading supply chain organization.

The Fort Smith, Ark.-based company received the National LTL Carrier of the Year Award from the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC). ABF also won the award in 2013, 2011 and 2010.