Retail

Shipping less air is only the beginning.

In our latest Special Digital Issue, Modern Materials Handling has curated several feature stories that encapsulate the automation, software and hardware that are revolutionizing how retail fulfillment works.

How supply chain and delivery has become a core part of the consumer value proposition beyond function.

How the shifting values of today's modern consumer will impact the warehouse solutions of tomorrow.

The holiday sales forecast numbers are encouraging, with NRF forecasting holiday retail sales for increase 6%-to-8% annually, coming in between $942.6 billion-to-$960.4 billion. In 2021, retail sales were up 13.5% compared to 2020, due likely to the timing of the pandemic in 2020, at $899.3 billion, setting a new all-time record. What’s more, it said that over the last 10 years, holiday retail sales have seen an average increase of 4.9%, with the caveat that pandemic-related spending over the last couple of years represented a large portion...

Commerce reported that September retail sales—at $684 billion—were flat compared to August while posting an 8.2% annual gain, and NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to September retail sales increasing 0.3% over August and...

Commerce reported that April retail sales—at $677.7 billion—saw a 0.9% increase over March and an 8.2% annual gain. It also noted that total retail sales, from February 2022 through April 2022, increased 10.8% compared to the same period a year ago. Based on its Commerce’s data, retail sales have seen annual gains every month going back to March 2020. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to sales...

Ahmed Ali, co-founder of Robomart, has a new take on retail he calls store hailing. The idea is simple: Instead of you going to the store, he’ll bring the store to you.

David Levitt, Party City's VP of information technology, discusses the company's digital transformation.

Amid shortages and disruptions, e-commerce orders are on fire at the same time as brick-and-mortar sales are heating up. Retailers are looking to technology and innovative strategies to keep up.

Commerce reported that December retail sales—at $626.8 billion—were off 1.9% compared to November, while seeing a 16.9% annual increase. And it noted that total retail sales, for all of 2021, saw a 19.3% annual gain, and retail sales, from October through December, rose 17.1% annually.

On this episode, Millwood’s Doug Gaier discusses why pallets are in short supply. SCMR’s Editorial Director Bob Trebilcock hosts.

Listen in as Marc Wulfraat discusses why micro-fulfillment is taking off in grocery and e-commerce.

First tech-enabled micro distribution hub at Deer Park Center in New York is anticipated to be a model for other Tanger Outlet locations going forward

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $619.1 billion—were up 9.8% compared to February, while rising 27.7% annually, and the National Retail Federation reported that its calculation of March retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to a 7.4% seasonally-adjusted increase, from February, and a 17.7% unadjusted annual gain.