Bringoz Industry Weekly 9/1

oliday sales are expected to reach $277 billion in the U.S. Walmart is opening its supply chain services to third-party sellers looking to fulfill orders from other platforms. Nearly 40% of consumers return an online purchase monthly. Read about these stories and more in our industry news roundup.

A shorter season, Chinese shopping apps and a value-seeking shopper will make for softer growth this holiday season, according to the 2024 holiday shopping forecast from Salesforce. U.S. holiday sales (from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024) will grow 2% year-over-year to $277 billion. Global year-over-over holidays sales are also expected to grow 2%, totaling $1.19 trillion, according to Salesforce. Read more.

Walmart is opening its supply chain and logistics services to third-party sellers looking to fulfill orders from other platforms, not just Walmart’s marketplace. Starting September 10, the Multichannel Solutions program will allow U.S. marketplace sellers to use Walmart’s fulfillment network for orders and returns from any eCommerce site. Sellers can choose between expedited two-day or standard three-to-five-day shipping options. Read more.

Signaling the rise of online shopping, 87% of shoppers make at least half of their purchases online, according to a recent Narvar survey. Nearly 39% of consumers return an item purchased online “at least” once a month. On average, customer returns cost companies between $25 and $30 per return due to shipping, customer support calls, product damage and other expenses, the report found. Read more.

As businesses strive for more efficient supply chain solutions, the role of 3PL providers continues to evolve. Several trends are poised to shape the future of third-party logistics, presenting both challenges and growth opportunities. Staying ahead of these trends is crucial for both 3PL providers and the companies that partner with them. Here’s a look at four trends and technologies that are set to shape the future of third-party logistics. Read more.

Last-mile delivery remains one of the most critical and challenging components of the supply chain. As consumer expectations for faster and more reliable last-mile deliveries increase, businesses are turning to third-party logistics providers to optimize their last-mile delivery operations. Here’s a look at how businesses can benefit from partnering with a 3PL for this crucial part of the supply chain. Read more.

With the new holiday season approaching soon, it’s the perfect time to look back on the top trends of the last season. Online shopping hit new records as consumers took advantage of big discounts. Shopping is growing across more channels and emerging technologies are transforming the shopping experience. Here’s a look at four takeaways from the 2023 holiday season. Read more.