OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Holiday shipping to get more expensive: UPS to charge extra during peak times
For the first time ever, UPS is going to add a surcharge for orders delivered to homes during peak holiday times. The surcharges, which apply only to residential deliveries, could boost the buy-online-pickup-in-stores (BOPIS) strategy deployed by many store-based retailers. The move comes as the shipping giant look to combat its escalating costs, which include increased investments in hiring, in the wake of the shipping boom caused by rising online package volumes.
Study: Retailers experiencing e-fulfillment growing pains
Retailers are thrilled with their surging online sales, however the same can’t be said for associated fulfillment operations. Business is booming online as sales across 82% of e-commerce and multichannel businesses increased in 2016. Only 6% reported a decrease in orders. While many voiced concerns over increasing competition, Brexit and currency fluctuations, the majority of companies (88%) expected a further increase in e-commerce orders during 2017.

Survey: Employee theft on the rise

In a sobering statistic, one out of every 27 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer in 2016. That's according to “The 29th Annual Retail Theft Survey,” conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, a loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm. The survey is based on reports on over 380,000 shoplifting apprehensions that took place in 23 large retail companies, representing 16,038 stores with combined 2016 annual sales in excess of $370 billion.
Who is cheaper: Costco or Amazon?

A new market study finds that Costco Wholesale Club's online prices are lower than Amazon's -- and not by an insignificant amount.
Washington Spotlight: Attorneys general may be the ultimate ‘Trump’ card

The actions this week by two state attorneys general over the constitutionality of President Trump’s overseas business dealings have very little to do with the P&Ss of retail and restaurant owners. But here’s why it matters to your business and employees: In the grand scheme of things, their legal maneuvering it is a stinging reminder of the role attorneys general play and how, in other circumstances critical to our business models and industry, they can have a seriously negative impact.
Amazon training program hits milestone

Amazon’s innovative re-training program has hit an all-time high.
Sears cutting jobs; key digital exec to leave

Sears Holdings is reducing headcount as part of its ongoing effort to deliver $1.25 billion in annualized cost reductions. It's also losing a key online executive. Sears is eliminating some 400 full-time jobs at its corporate offices, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and from its support functions. In addition, certain positions at the chain's field operations will be impacted. The eliminated jobs represent less than half a percent of the 140,000 full-time and part-time employees Sears had as of the end of January.
Robots, humans to staff online giant's new fulfillment center

Amazon’s newest distribution center will use robotics to streamline operations. The online giant plans to open its second Colorado fulfillment center in Thornton. This will be the first Amazon Robotics facility in the Centennial State.
Fast-food giant turns to Snapchat to attract millennial job seekers

McDonald’s is leveraging a hot app to encourage teens to join its workforce. The fast food giant is embarking on an aggressive summer hiring spree that aims to employ 250,000 restaurant employees across more than 14,000 restaurants operating in the United States. Eager to get the attention of millennials — its sweet spot — McDonald’s is taking a new approach.
Report: Lowe’s outsourcing tech jobs

Lowe's is making another round of job cuts. The home improvement chain is laying off some 125 information technology workers and many of the jobs to India, The Charlotte Observer reported. Lowe’s currently employs approximately 1,000 people in information and technology and analytics in Bangalore, India.