Business Insider: Shopify is trying to lure sellers away from Amazon by promising seamless shipping and VIP access on container ships
Rick Watson, CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting and an expert in marketplace e-commerce, said the challenge of catering to small businesses will have to show up in the price.
The Loadstar: Returns a costly and speeding juggernaut for Amazon and parcel carriers
Although consumer surveys indicate that free returns are a high factor in determining whether or not an online merchant is picked, large retailers have introduced return or restocking fees for merchandise sent back, a strategy not viable for smaller sellers, according to Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting.
Business Insider: 2 looming problems are threatening to hammer FedEx — and that's not even counting the recession
Rick Watson, the CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting, sees another trend in the mix when it comes to FedEx. He told Insider that UPS is growing faster with small and medium businesses, and is more profitable than FedEx. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to deliver an increasingly large percentage of all the packages on the road.
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.
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).
