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Ecommerce companies typically focus on acquiring traffic and selling a wide range of products that shoppers will actually buy. Many ecommerce firms track key performance indicators like new visitors, conversion rates, and average order values.

On Friday, UPS announced its new published non-contractual rates for 2012, which will take effect on December 31.

According to company officials, non-contractual 2012 rates will be comprised of a net increase of 4.5 percent for UPS ground packages, down from a 4.9 percent gain for 2012, and a 4.9 percent on all UPS air services and U.S. origin international shipments, matching 2012’s hike for this segment.

The mega-storm called Sandy began breaking up as it headed through the Great Lakes to Canada, leaving behind a life-altering trail of destruction that will take weeks, if not months, to repair.

By the morning of Oct. 31, Sandy's remnants had reached the lower Great Lakes region, where gale-force warnings were in effect for some areas. The storm was expected to pass over far northern New England and eastern Canada later in the day.

As per the usual both transportation and logistics bellwethers UPS and FedEx are predicting a hectic holiday season paced by heavy volumes.

UPS said earlier this week that it expects to deliver 527 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, which would top last year’s record 480 million. And it said that its busiest day of the year is expected to be Thursday, December 20, a day that UPS said it will deliver an estimated 28 million packages globally.

This year, IDS will be exhibiting at booth #457 at the Summit from Monday September 10, 2012 through Wednesday September 12, 2012 as an e-commerce/retail fulfillment and distribution center solution. If you’re in the Denver area, please stop by to say hello to our EVP/COO, Mike Jones and Sales/Marketing Coordinator, Mike DeFabis.

Online retail sales jumped 15.0% in the second quarter, to more than $43.15 billion compared with $37.50 billion for the same period on 2011, comScore, Inc. said today. The second quarter spending marks the eleventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, the web measurement firm says.

US shoppers proved resilient in July, driving a key sales figure up at retailers across the country, despite persistent worry about jobs and the global economy.

Results came in better than expected for many retailers, helped by hot weather and summer clearance sales, an encouraging sign as the back-to-school season, the second-biggest shopping season behind the holidays, kicks off.

Port Tracker expects growth to pick up following lackluster July

Retailers continue to plan for increased imports this fall despite discouraging news recently regarding consumer confidence, employment numbers and retail sales.

As e-commerce continues to become more prevalent and becomes a “go-to” shopping option for consumers, subsequent effects of that figure to impact supply chains in the sense that they might be more consumer-driven in the future. That was one of the main findings of a recent study put out by UPS and comScore.

The study, entitled the “Online Shopping Customer Experience Study,” analyzed data from a comScore survey of more than 3,100 United States-based online shoppers conducted last February.

With 92 percent of retailers selling online, 68 percent maintaining brick-and-mortar stores, and 64 percent utilizing catalogs, retailers are embracing a multi-channel approach to meet buyer expectations and battle for market share, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s latest report, Retail 3.0: the evolution of multichannel retail distribution. In addition, nearly 80 percent of retailers state that online sales have increased in the past five years with some reporting increases of 25 percent or more. This has forced retailers to change the traditional distribution network for their e-commerce models.

First quarter figures from the U.S. Commerce Department show that online shoppers spent more than $50 billion—the first time that online sales have been so high outside of holiday shopping seasons. Internet Retailer calculates that e-commerce accounted for 7.3% of all U.S. retail sales in Q1.

Holiday 2012 is closer than we think. Now is the time to talk to your package delivery vendors and find out the shipping deadlines so you can plan your delivery cut-off dates.

Knowing your cut-off dates allows you communicate with your customers as well as develop marketing strategies (whether a special flat rate for ground shipping to a special messaging for last minute shoppers who need overnight delivery.)

U.S. e-commerce sales totaled $194.3 billion in 2011, up 16.1% from $167.3 billion in 2010, according to an estimate released today by the U.S. Commerce Department.

The estimate, not adjusted for seasonality, show that e-commerce is taking a bigger portion of overall retail sales in the United States. 4.6% of total retail spending took place online during 2011, up from 4.3% in 2010, according to the Commerce Department. When excluding sales in categories not commonly bought online—automobiles, fuel, grocery and foodservice sales—Internet Retailer calculates that e-commerce accounted for 8.6% of total retail sales during the year, up from 7.6% in 2010. Total retail sales, which includes e-commerce sales, increased 7.9% in 2011 and totaled $4.2 trillion, according to the Commerce Department.

The web continues to outshine bricks and mortar as the retail channel offering the most growth potential, according to a January survey of 94 retailers by Retail Systems Research LLC. The research and advisory firm found that 63% of multichannel retailers expect the online channel to account for a sharp increase in the share of their total sales by 2015, while fewer than 10% expect web sales to decrease as a percentage of total sales.

IDS had another successful year in 2011. Our core business segments continued to grow and our financial performance remains strong. Each year we like to provide our clients and friends a review of the significant accomplishments for the year and a look forward

Looking to outsource your fulfillment services? With fulfillment services from IDS you get custom fit order fulfillment solution designed around your product, your customers, and your company. 

Deep discounts and free shipping fueled a record setting November-to-December holiday shopping season for online merchants in 2011 in the U.S., according to a new report. Cyber Monday also saw an extraordinary $1.25 billion in sales.

In the wake of mishaps that left some online customers without their holiday orders earlier this month, a new report from Aberdeen Group urges retailers to get a better handle on their supply chains. In general, the report says retailers need to improve the responsiveness of the links in their supply chains and increase their ability to see how chains operate in order to avoid both out-of-stock and overstocked items.

Having a centrally located fulfillment center does not just translate into lower delivery costs or faster delivery times, but it also helps to increase customer service.

Integrated Distribution Services (IDS) is known for delivering our customers a competitive advantage through our ecommerce fulfillment solutions. IDS provides custom fit ecommerce fulfillment solutions while still implementing our proven process to ensure your orders leave our facility accurately and on time. By providing strong capability, flexible solutions, and proven processes IDS is able to deliver a competitive advantage for our customers.

Online shoppers spent $1.25 billion on Cyber Monday, the heaviest online shopping day in history, according to new figures from comScore Inc. Consumers last year spent nearly $1.03 billion on the first Monday after Thanksgiving—meaning this year’s shopping event, invented by the Shop.org trade group, experienced a more than 21% jump in spending compared with 2010.

Cyber Monday's sales are poised to eclipse last year’s $1.03 billion spent on the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend last year, according to estimates. Online retailers report big gains for the holiday weekend, thanks to aggressive promotions and increased consumer confidence.

Online retail sales in the U.S. this holiday season will increase 15% year over year, with growth largely coming from consumers shifting more of their gift-buying budgets from stores to the web as they seek to stretch their dollars, according to an analysis released today by Forrester Research Inc.

The day starts early, while everyone is recovering from their turkey feast hangover and others are eagerly waiting in line to get the best deal in town on a flat screen TV, IDS' fulfillment center is up early preparing for the cyber-shopping day. Just like traditional retailers need to make changes during this busy time by increasing hours, increasing staff, and adding security, we will be making changes for this time of year also.

The holiday sales season is the make or break period for many merchants. When so much is riding on a short period of time, focusing on the immediate instead of the future is understandable.

Top e-retailers aren’t waiting for the day after Thanksgiving to shower consumers with discounts, sales and holiday offers. That’s because more consumers are starting their holiday shopping earlier this year, and retailers that don’t get into the game now risk being left behind.

With more and more consumers going online to buy their holiday gifts, using the right ecommerce fulfillment company is more important than ever to keep customers satisfied. In a recent survey, conducted by Accenture, 59% of consumers say they will do most of their holiday shopping online. Of the people surveyed 47% of them said they are shopping online for convenience and to avoid holiday crowds. For these consumers online shopping is only convenient if the fulfillment of their order is done correctly and in a timely manner. 

At Stonewall Kitchen, a multichannel retailer of foodstuffs, kitchenware and other home goods based in Maine, getting orders to customers throughout the U.S. in the fastest and more efficient way is forever on the mind of Aimee Roy, Stonewall's distribution manager. Having started as a retailer 20 years ago, Stonewall has worked hard to operate as a tight ship with its supply chain, fulfillment and shipping operations for store, catalog and web sales.

The struggling economy will lead 45% of online shoppers to spend less this holiday shopping season than they did last year, according to a survey from comparison shopping engine PriceGrabber.com.

Even by the standards of the supply chain software world, transportation management systems (TMS) have proved to have exceptional legs. After nearly two decades on the market, these solutions continue to sell briskly. Last year, revenues generated through TMS sales and software support grew 11 percent, according to the research firm Gartner Inc. In fact, Chad Eschinger, an analyst at Gartner, estimates that in 2010, the global TMS market reached $625 million despite the sputtering economy.

For retail fulfillment solutions that offer flexibility, cost efficiency and fast delivery times to most of the Midwest; your choice is IDS Logistics.

Looking for new strategies to enable your business to cut costs and increase supply chain efficiency? Want to boost your reputation as an environmentally conscious company at the same time? Then consider investigating how you might use the intermodal transportation network to send or receive shipments.

There are many reasons to utilize a third-party logistics (3PL) handler when you need efficient order fulfillment. IDS Logistics is a results-focused fulfillment provider dedicated to our customers and their products.

When performing order fulfillment you will enviably encounter returns processing. See why partnering with IDS will prevent this from becoming a logistics bottleneck.

Analysts say second quarter change was highest in eight years of shipper poll

Shippers shifted freight from all-truck modes to intermodal at the fastest pace in years during the second quarter, according to a closely watched survey by the Wolfe Trahan research group.

Central to any smart logistics plan is a strategically located warehouse. For the U.S, that means an Indiana warehouse. IDS Logistic has just the central distribution center for you.

IDS Logistics can provide all or parts to support your product shipping needs. One important service we provide is a Warehouse and Distribution Center that is dedicated to you.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) today introduced a bill that would require all retailers to collect sales tax. If passed, the legislation would overturn the status quo backed by a 1992 Supreme Court decision that prevents states from forcing Internet retailers to collect sales tax unless they have an in-state physical presence.

The prime objective for all supply chains is to provide clients with what they want, when they want it. Inventory management plays a central role in every supply chain’s need to satisfy its clients.

Last-minute inventory and fulfillment planning tips to prepare you for the end-of-year rush.

At IDS, we offer more than just your basic 3PL Fulfillment Company. We have proven process, systems, and personnel to increase efficiency in your supply chain. Strategically located in the heart of America, your products are swiftly delivered to U.S. residents from a single distribution center. 

U.S. industrial production rose 0.2 percent from May to June but manufacturing activity was flat, the Federal Reserve said, as supply chains struggled to recover from the Japan earthquake and housing-related industries stayed in slow gear.

IDS Logistics’ is a leading provider of customer fit order fulfillment solutions for you direct to consumer (D2C) shipments.

Outsourcing freight management to an able third-party logistics firm allows you to focus on the other vital concerns of your business. Freight management from IDS Logistics is just what you need for a comprehensive look at your supply chain from beginning to end.

Ecommerce fulfillment is a rapidly growing sector. Logistics handling done by IDS can open up new opportunities that alone you are unable to capitalize on.

California late Wednesday became the seventh state with an “Amazon Tax” law that requires online retailers to collect tax if they get customers referred from in-state affiliate web sites. As part of a budget bill signed yesterday by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, the state also clarified that web retailers must collect sales tax if they operate corporate subsidiaries in the state for purposes such as distribution centers.

For companies looking for relief from high shipping costs and market volatility, a professional, third party logistics (3PL) provider can save an extra 18 to 25% off already heavily discounted LTL freight costs if they routinely make multiple shipments to multiple locations and work with numerous freight carriers.  For every $100,000 in freight costs, that’s an extra $18,000 to $25,000 in savings.

An effective warehouse distribution operation takes dedication, best practices, and warehousing capacity. With IDS Logistics’ warehousing distribution services you have these vital areas covered and more.

An effective warehouse distribution operation takes dedication, best practices, and warehousing capacity. With IDS Logistics’ warehousing distribution services you have these vital areas covered and more.

Based on surveys and interviews, many distributors are under pressure to find low cost alternative methods to improve throughput and productivity within their order processing operations. But, an unfortunate reality is that an inefficient, well established (ingrained) process can be very difficult to change. It appears that a major deterrent is the feared “domino effect” – changes to one process will necessitate unplanned changes to associated processes setting off a chain reaction creating additional complications.

When dealing with ecommerce fulfillment you face a combination of old and new problems in logistics. Ecommerce fulfillment management is vital to your business for many reasons.

Having a centrally located distribution center can greatly contribute to lower costs in shipping and logistics. Choosing IDS Logistics as your distribution center you get just that.

When dealing with ecommerce fulfillment you face a combination of old and new problems in logistics. Ecommerce fulfillment management is vital to your business for many reasons.

Using a single method of transport as first glance seems to be the most economical way to go. An order fulfillment network can bring many benefits that traditional network can't achieve on their own. Read on to learn more...

Last week IDS attended the Direct Selling Association (DSA) Annual Meeting at the Fontainebleau in Miami, FL. This is the 9^th year that IDS has been a supplier member of the Direct Selling Association. The theme of this year’s meeting was Focus Forward. After last year celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the DSA it is now time to focus on moving the industry forward.

Finding efficiencies in daily business operation such as outsourced logistics with IDS Logistics is one way to stay competitive. Outsourced logistics results in many benefits that your company can leverage to continue its overall healthy growth.

As the direct to customer (D2C) shipping method of shipping gains more popularity finding a company that can provide cost-effective pick and pack services is vital.

Companies are increasingly considering their transportation and logistics operations to be a competitive differentiator. That has triggered an increase in demand for advanced transportation management systems.

According to the Gartner research firm, the transportation management system market should see double-digit growth this year and a five-year compound annual growth rate of 9.4 percent.

Pain at the pump? Not for these shoppers. More than 28% of U.S. consumers say they are shopping online more because of rising gas costs, according to a survey conducted exclusively for Internet Retailer by Synovate, a global market research firm.

There are 565 freight railroads in the United States. Those 565 railroads make up a nearly 140,000-mile long rail network that is used to transport imported goods that come via sea freight and air freight from far away destinations. Along with being a national heritage, the railroad is the most efficient and cost-effective way of moving goods into inner-America. Just don’t tell that to UPS and FedEx, who will try to convince you otherwise.

Savvy consumers today want only quality food products for their families. But they also want that quality to be available to them at a comfortable price point. What they might not know are the intricate and complex behind-the-scenes activities railroads, short lines, trucking companies, and logistics providers perform successfully every day to bring that quality food to market at affordable prices. Just about every food product you can find in your local supermarket can ship by rail today, moving thousands of miles from growing fields to community grocery shelves.

Members of the University of Tennessee's center for Executive Education share their five steps and a series of tips to improve your outsourcing relationship right from the start.