Loadstar: FedEx LTL consolidation service will make returning retail goods easier
Soaring logistics costs, exacerbated by inflation, have forced merchants to reconsider their returns policy. Some, like fashion brand Gap, have cut their window for returns, while others, including Zara and Urban Outfitters, have begun to charge consumers a restocking or return fee.
MarketScreener: 'Incredible challenges': Shopify president talks pandemic, stock plunge and layoffs
The Seattle e-commerce behemoth wields cheaper prices and same-day shipping to dominate, making Rick Watson believe “Shopify is never going to try to match Amazon parcel for parcel and speed for speed.”
Retail Dive: Is Amazon done disrupting retail?
“It took them a long time, but Walmart is now basically copying Amazon’s playbook,” Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting, said by phone.
The Loadstar: US 'annual shopping orgy' sees record sales as retailers heavily discount
The increase in sales came as no surprise to Rick Watson, founder and CEO of e-commerce consultant RMW Commerce Consulting. For certain items, such as TV sets, American consumers usually wait for this time of the year when discounts are most attractive, he pointed out.
The Loadstar: E-commerce customers now prefer guaranteed delivery dates to speed
“This is more of a trend in retail, driven of course by Amazon. One of the things Amazon has learned over the years is that consumers dislike early delivery almost as much as late delivery,” said Rick Watson, founder and CEO of strategist RMW Commerce Consulting.
Macro factors will weigh on Shopify results this week, tech watchers suggest
Rick Watson, CEO and founder of RMW Commerce Consulting, wonders how much the first full quarter of Deliverr integration will weigh on the company's profitability and whether Shopify will announce a new vertically integrated logistics strategy to the broader market.
Logistics Management: Report points to lower holiday season volumes for FedEx
Rick Watson, president of New York-based RMW Commerce Consulting, pulled no punches in assessing this situation.
eCom Logistics Podcast: How Amazon And Shopify Are Shaping eCommerce with Rick Watson
I was featured on the eCom Logistics Podcast, where I give an insider's look into CommerceHub's acquisition of ChannelAdvisor and share rich insights on Amazon's new service called Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD).
Supply Chain Therapy: How Your Supply Chain Can Create DTC Loyalty and Accelerate Growth
On an episode of Supply Chain Therapy, Rick discusses creating a DTC channel that ensures customer loyalty, the importance of accurate forecasting, and why cross functional teams are so crucial for the success of eCommerce businesses.
Supply Chain Dive: Google harnesses Maps data as it enters last mile market
Map quality and data ownership could be key advantages in the last mile space going forward. Customers for Google’s last mile offerings are likely to only help the company improve its own mapping accuracy further, said Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting, in a LinkedIn post.
Digital Commerce 360: Google takes yet another run at ecommerce — and Amazon
“For the past 15 years, Google has been trying to figure out commerce,” said Rick Watson, the head of RMW Commerce Consulting. “And they’ve never really executed.”
Retail Innovation: 10 Retail Influencers You Need To Start Following
Through a combination of candor, business acumen, strategy and commerce technology expertise, Rick Watson helps companies quickly see and eliminate their roadblocks to growth.
How Shopify Outfoxed Amazon to Become the Everywhere Store
“The pandemic just turbocharged them. It’s ridiculous,” says Rick Watson, an e-commerce consultant and host of Watson Weekly, a podcast about online selling.
