Logistics

New York -- According to a Monday report by Reuters, Staples will install Amazon lockers inside its U.S. stores, providing consumers an alternative location to receive packages from the online retailer.

According to the report, customers are sent an email code with a pickup code for opening the locker. Shoppers then have three days to retrieve the package.

UNION BEACH, N.J. — In partnership with the American Red Cross, beginning Nov. 6, the P&G Mobile Relief Center will be stationed in Union Beach, N.J., to provide showers, personal care kits, household products — including Bounty, Charmin, Tide and Dawn — and baby products, including Pampers diapers and wipes, to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Procter & Gamble announced Monday. This service will be free to all victims, responders and their families.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group said Tuesday it has launched international shipping and payment options for online sales via a relationship with global e-commerce expansion platform FiftyOne Global Ecommerce.

The move will allow Neiman, which has only a domestic bricks-and-mortar presence, to expand its online reach to 100+ countries. It kicks off with a promotional flat-rate shipping offer on all international purchases through Dec. 10.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. announced Thursday the acquisition of 810 AC LLC, which owns the corporate headquarters of DSW, as well as its 700,000-sq.-ft. distribution center and trailer lot on its home office campus in Columbus, Ohio.

Purchase price was $72 million.

The company recently completed the $15 million installation of an automatic sortation facility in the distribution center to support its size replenishment program.

Seattle -- Nordstrom said it plans to open a Nordstrom Rack in Birmingham, Ala. This will be the retailer's first location in the state.

The approximately 35,000-sq. ft. store is scheduled to open in spring 2013 at River Ridge Shopping Center. The center is owned and operated by DDR Corp.

This holiday season promises to be the most digital of all time with forecasts calling for e-commerce growth to handily outpace overall industry sales. At UPS, the multi-channel movement is a trend we have watched intensify and helped facilitate during the past decade. Chances are good one of our delivery vehicles will visit your home or that of a family member this Christmas.

By Chris Merritt, Ryder

Natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy are devastating. They impact people’s lives and livelihood. In addition, as we’ve learned from recent years, they can result in significant supply chain disruptions. Following the storm, we are seeing three issues impacting retail supply chains – power, fuel, and people.

New York -- Hurricane Sandy is likely to result in shipping delays and an increase in third-party carrier rates due to fuel shortages, according to Chris Merritt, VP/GM, retail supply chain solutions for Ryder.

"While most retailers should have enough inventory for their regular replenishment items, we expect to see out-of-stock situations up and down the East Coast for promotional items retailers have ordered and advertised for Black Friday," Merritt said.