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5 min read

Impacts of the Extended Black Friday Shopping Season

By Point To Point on November, 14 2022

For decades, shoppers have descended on brick-and-mortar retailers the day after Thanksgiving, eager to scoop up some of the year's best deals. In more recent years, Cyber Monday was added to lengthen the shopping window. Then came Amazon's Prime Day. Then came other online sales days from retailers like Target and Walmart.

Topics: Industry News Supply Chain Retail
4 min read

Final Mile & Warehousing: Shipper Needs More Apparent Than Ever

By Point To Point on January, 19 2022

During the first year of the pandemic, online shopping surged as more consumers sought an alternative to crowded marketplaces. According to Digital Commerce 360 (DC360), e-commerce sales experienced an astounding 32.4% year-over-year growth in 2020. Last year, however, the widespread availability of vaccines and periods of lower COVID-19 cases led more shoppers back out into the brick-and-mortar environment.

Topics: International Industry News Supply Chain Retail Trucking Freight Handling
4 min read

Why Reverse Logistics Matter to Your Supply Chain Success

By Point To Point on November, 23 2021

The meteoric rise in e-commerce over the last several years has led to unprecedented retail sales. Unfortunately, it has also led to an unprecedented number of returns. It’s estimated that 30% of online orders are returned, as opposed to just under 9% for goods purchased from a brick & mortar retailer. Tracking these aftermarket activities can provide insight into your overall logistics management. Which is why shippers and suppliers alike need a sound reverse logistics plan.

Topics: Supply Chain Retail Freight Handling
4 min read

The Impact Of E-Commerce On LTL Shipping

By Point To Point on March, 12 2020

E-commerce represents one of the single greatest factors impacting the future of LTL freight. In just two years — from 2017 to 2019 — e-commerce grew from roughly 11 percent of retail sales in the U.S. to nearly 17 percent. And that number will only continue to rise.

Topics: Supply Chain Retail Freight Handling
3 min read

5 Tips For a Successful Residential Delivery

By Point To Point on April, 17 2019

The demand for final mile and white glove delivery services is rapidly growing for large and heavy products that aren't suitable for parcel shipping. These types of residential deliveries generally require the use of two-man delivery teams. Pulling off a successful final mile delivery, however, will require planning and actions on behalf of the recipient. 

Topics: Supply Chain Retail Freight Handling
4 min read

Warehousing and Distribution Services: Tips For Cost-Efficient Logistics

By Point To Point on February, 27 2019

Over the past several years, two important challenges have developed for supply chains. First, the growth of online shopping has increased shipping volumes and demand for quick deliveries to consumers. Secondly, the driver shortage has strained freight capacity across multiple areas of the supply chain process.

Together, these challenges have forced shippers to rethink their warehousing and distribution services strategy. This is especially true for shippers that move mid to high volumes of freight across multiple markets.

To that point, look at Amazon's warehousing and distribution services model. Marketplace shippers (and increasingly Amazon's own line of products) sell to customers throughout North America and around the globe. To keep customer prices under control, Amazon understands the value in local and regional warehousing and distribution services.

With approximately 75 fulfillment centers and 25 sortation centers in the U.S. alone, the company's supply chain is structured to reduce final mile transit times and costs. This structure allows sellers to stage inventory across multiple key markets rather than having to ship individual orders hundreds or even thousands of miles.

Well, that warehousing and distribution services strategy is great for Amazon's sellers, but what about B2B and B2C shippers that sell and move products independently? It goes without saying that most businesses lack the capital to build a supply chain infrastructure on the scale of Amazon. Nonetheless, local and regional fulfillment solutions are increasingly becoming available to shippers to meet the growing demands of today's supply chain.

Topics: Supply Chain Retail Freight Handling
2 min read

Planning For Freight Challenges & Opportunities Ahead In 2019

By Point To Point on December, 17 2018

More than a decade after the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. economy now sits high amid a period of low unemployment and low inflation. In an October speech, Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chairman, touted economic forecasts as having a “remarkably positive outlook.” Still, many shippers and businesses are uncertain how the path to sustainable growth will look as numerous challenges to supply chains persist.

Topics: International Industry News Retail Trucking
2 min read

Managing The Surge In Post-Holiday Reverse Logistics

By Point To Point on November, 26 2018

One of the most challenging aspects of the holiday season, particularly for retail shipping, can be the aftermath. Many purchases are often returned due to damages, wrong sizes and a variety of other reasons. To recoup losses, businesses are often able to ship the returned goods back to their suppliers for a refund or rebate.

Topics: Supply Chain Retail
2 min read

3 Retail Shipping Tips For The Holiday Season

By Point To Point on September, 27 2018

As the busiest time of year for retailers, the holiday season can be a roller coaster of preparation and execution across all areas of business. From gauging the latest shopping trends to staffing temporary employees, there are several moving pieces that need to work together to succeed. One part of the puzzle that certainly can't be overlooked is inventory and supply chain planning.

Topics: Retail Freight Handling