Acxiom to Provide Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Solution for Wellmark, Inc.

Acxiom® (Nasdaq: ACXM), an enterprise data, analytics and software-as-a-service company signed a full-scale direct-to-consumer marketing program with Wellmark, Inc., doing business in Iowa and South Dakota as an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Acxiom will help Wellmark assess, understand and execute within the consumer marketplace as it relates to their focus and innovation surrounding consumer engagement by providing data and campaign management expertise and collaborating on analytics and performance reporting into 2016. The solution will include a wellness engagement strategy and acquisition and renewal campaign efforts.

Source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/07/18/2830469/acxiom-to-provide-direct-to-consumer.html

The Postmaster General Takes Issa to Task

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe today approached the House committee preparing a postal reform bill with one overriding question: “Does it enable $20 billion in savings by 2016?” 
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued a “discussion draft” of a postal reform bill in May that included compromises he hopes will win bipartisan approval.  The draft did not appear to meet the full approval of the PMG, however, who is adamant that any new legislation remove the U.S. Postal Service's obligation to prefund employee health and retirement programs. Issa's plan calls for future payments to be made on an actuarial calculation that will reduce the Postal Service's annual  $5.7 billion prefunding payment, which it defaulted on last year.

Source: http://www.dmnews.com/the-postmaster-general-takes-issa-to-task/article/303491/

DM services set for boost as Royal Mail sell-off gets green-light

Business Secretary Vince Cable is expected to outline the flotation in a statement to MPs. It is said the business will be valued at more than £2bn.
In an interview with The Telegraph, postal services minister Michael Fallon says a sell-off will “give it [Royal Mail] commercial freedom and future access to capital that a company of its size needs”.
It is likely the cash injection will allow it expand its marketing services operations, the revenue from which has helped offset the decline in income from letters.
Revenue from its letters division increased by 3 per cent in the 12 months to 31 March, with an increase in addressed and unaddressed marketing mail offsetting the 8 per cent drop in the volume of letters.

Source: http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/dm-services-set-for-boost-as-royal-mail-sell-off-gets-green-light/4007302.article

Wynright Acquires BoxLogix Automation’s Software and Controls Group

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. -- 

Wynright Corporation, the nation’s leading independent, U.S.-based provider of intelligent material handling systems, announced that, effective today, it has agreed to acquire the Software and Controls Group of BoxLogix Automation, a Wisconsin-based systems integrator with more than 20 years of experience developing turnkey systems for high-volume distribution facilities. The people and assets of the Software and Controls Group will remain in their current location in Cincinnati, Ohio, following a strategy Wynright has set in past acquisitions. BoxLogix will continue to provide mechanical material handling engineering and design services out of their Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin office.

Source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/07/16/2825178/wynright-acquires-boxlogix-automations.html

UPS, FedEx Threatened by New E-Commerce Strategies

SAN FRANCISCO -- UPS and FedEx might be worried about international shipments to slowing economies such as China, but perhaps they should be more concerned about what's going on in their own backyards.

Major U.S. retailers are experimenting with new e-commerce strategies that could dent demand for package delivery services, particularly demand for shipments over long distances, according to analysts and industry executives.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/07/15/ecommerce-threat-ups-fedex-package-delivery/

RR Donnelley Awarded Expanded Agreement to Provide Fulfillment Services for John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

CHICAGO, July 17, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (Nasdaq:RRD) today announced that it has been awarded an agreement that expands its relationship with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement RR Donnelley will provide warehousing, distribution and fulfillment services for Wiley's North American professional development and research products.
"We see innovation as a means of providing exceptional service to our customers while minimizing our fixed and other costs," said Ellis Cousens, Wiley's Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. "This initiative provides another means of accomplishing this important objective as we draw on RR Donnelley's proven and robust logistics capabilities."

Source: http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/17/560561/10040620/en/RR-Donnelley-Awarded-Expanded-Agreement-to-Provide-Fulfillment-Services-for-John-Wiley-Sons-Inc.html

Royal Mail is a good business but not yet a good investment

The Government stopped short of formally announcing an IPO so it is not known when the sell-off will happen. What is clear, however, is that investors will be buying into a company that is recovering from the losses the decline in letters volume caused to become a profitable media owner and a brand the public is ready to love.
Since taking over as chief executive in 2005, Moya Greene has turned the business around. Operating profit hit £403m in the last fiscal year from a loss a year earlier. Cost-cutting and round after round of efficiency programmes aside, the business has enjoyed great successes from revenue generating divisions closer to home.

Source: http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/opinion/royal-mail-is-a-good-business-but-not-yet-a-good-investment/4007348.article#commentsubmitted

Casey Gollan reveals the Science of Email Marketing: 10 Characteristics of Successful Business Emails

In his tip sheet The Science of Email Marketing: 10 Characteristics of Successful Business Emails Gollan covers topics such as making an offer via email, sending out electronic calls to action and setting up an automated e-mail marketing account.
“Business email programmes have been around since the beginning of the Internet. In fact, the concept of direct mail didn’t begin with email. Long before we were able to send electronic mail there were physical mail pieces, said the popular Australian business coach.
“Earning the right to enter someone’s private inbox is a great achievement. Take advantage of that by creating emails like the examples in my tip sheet and you’ll have a big win for your business.”

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10893339.htm

Moving Beyond the (Strong)Mail

“We go across not just email, but mobile, social, web, and display and our name is StrongMail?” David Atlas,the company's SVP of marketing, asks rhetorically. “There's nothing wrong with StrongMail as a brand. It's strong literally and figuratively. But it needs an update to reflect our [current offerings].”
Source: http://www.dmnews.com/moving-beyond-the-strongmail/article/302397/#

Canada Eliminates Tariff On Baby Clothes And Sports Equipment

In a move that could have broad appeal for U.S. retailers, the Canadian government will no longer impose tariffs on imported baby clothes and selected sports equipment.  The tariff elimination comes in response to complaints from Canadian consumers about the high cost of consumer goods in Canada, especially when compared with identical items sold in the United States.  Removal of the tariffs levels the playing field and presents an opportunity for U.S. businesses to take advantage of Canada’s growing e-commerce market.
“Elimination of these tariffs, which added as much as 18 percent to the cost of baby clothes and sporting goods, is yet another reason why Canada holds so much potential for U.S. businesses,” said John T. Costanzo, president of Purolator International, a leading provider of logistics and delivery services for shipments traveling between the U.S. and Canada.

Source: http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/Doc/canada-eliminates-tariff-on-baby-clothes-and-sports-equipment-0001

Hillsborough optimistic about Amazon, despite statewide competition

Amazon dropped big news last month when it announced plans to open distribution centers in Florida for shipping books, electronics and other consumer products.
The online retail giant said it would invest $300 million and create more than 3,000 jobs, many of them paying more than the state's average wage.
What Amazon didn't say was, "Where?''
Cities and counties across Florida were quick to extol the virtues of their communities. Enterprise Florida, a public-private economic development agency, got inquiries from every corner of the state, each wanting an Amazon facility.
Hillsborough officials are cautiously optimistic they've got a winning bid with a mix of incentives, ready-to-build space next to an interstate and a workforce looking for jobs.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/florida-counties-to-amazon-open-distribution-centers-here/2131244

Startup Spotlight: Serranoventions and the Canoodle

As a child, Serranoventions’ founder German Serrano developed an innate ability to enhance current products and toys or develop new ones in his father’s shop. After 20 years in the logistics industry and building a multi million-dollar transportation business, he decided to create Serranoventions and bring some of the never before seen products to life. “On my 40th birthday, I decided to pursue my dream,” said Serrano. “It is never too late.”
One of Serranoventions’ first products: the Canoodle, strong floatable connectors that allow children to use pool noodles to build basketball hoops, water polo goals, forts, boats, whatever their imaginations can dream up. “We’re binging back the good. We grew up drinking out of water hoses, playing outside till sunset, we’re trying to bring back those days,” said Serrano.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/14/3497656/startup-spotlight-serranoventions.html

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/14/3497656/startup-spotlight-serranoventions.html#storylink=cpy

Start-up uses Polaroid name to tap market for digital photographs

The Polaroid brand, attempting a comeback as a retail operation, opened a storefront in Union Station last week, the second in the nation of its kind.
Polaroid Fotobar encourages customers to “liberate” their photographs from their phones, laptops or digital cameras by printing them on posters, coasters or assorted hanging materials — metal, glass, canvas or bamboo. Some can be printed in as little as 30 minutes, giving tourists or visitors waiting for their trains a chance to create a keepsake before boarding.

The company’s founder and chief executive, Warren Struhl, said he started the storefront after seeing the ubiquity of camera phones but a lack of options for displaying or enjoying the photos.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/start-up-uses-polaroid-name-to-tap-market-for-digital-photographs/2013/07/07/86736302-e329-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story.html

Unified Video Technologies Launches uVOD Solution

Miami, Florida – July 11, 2013 -- Unified Video Technologies (UNIV), specialists in developing, integrating and operating complete high-performance media and broadcast ecosystems for broadcasters and enterprises, will reduce the technology burden for service operators with its new innovative, multi-screen VOD-as-a-service solution.  Called uVOD, the white-label solution empowers telcos, cable system operators (MSOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to quickly and easily launch state-of-the-art branded VOD services for their subscribers, without investing in costly in-house VOD technology. The service allows subscribers to access linear television channels as well video on demand.
Read More: http://broadcastengineering.com/unified-video-technologies-launches-uvod-solution

Lilly Pulitzer picks Manhattan for omni-channel retailing

Supply Chain Commerce solution provider Manhattan Associates announced that Lilly Pulitzer, the iconic women’s apparel brand and retailer, has selected Manhattan Associates’ Enterprise Order Management and Store Order Fulfillment solutions to aid in creating a seamless customer experience by supporting its omni-channel retail capabilities.
Manhattan’s solutions will enable the company, a subsidiary of Oxford Industries; to build on brand loyalty by improving the shopping experience for their customers across channels, create a single view of customer transactions and inventory, and allow Lilly Pulitzer shoppers to control how and when they take delivery of the brands celebrated products.
Read More: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textiles-technology-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=148529

Tribune plans to split into two companies

Tribune Company said Wednesday that it will split itself into two companies, joining several media rivals that made similar moves to shield more profitable broadcasting and other units from publishing businesses.
The announcement comes on the heels of Tribune's agreement last week to bulk up its TV station business with 19 stations in 16 markets from Local TV Holdings.
The company now will spin off the publishing unit that includes The Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. It earlier had explored a sale of the newspapers.

Read More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/10/tribune-split-2-companies/2504791/

6 Order Fulfillment Extras your Customers Will Love

Order fulfillment is a critical part of the ecommerce customer experience. As ecommerce operators, we need to ensure that our customers are taken care of even when the merchandise lands in their hands.
Here are six examples of extra services to offer customers when you ship their orders.

Invest in Special Boxes or Packaging

Having a special box for your store is a good way to stand out, and also help with branding. It can make a strong impression on your customers.
Take Little Black Bag, for example, a Los Angeles-based seller of female handbags and accessories. This subscription-based e-tailer ships items in a branded box and it even has special packing slips to enhance the customers' shopping experiences.
Read More: http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/4091-6-Order-Fulfillment-Extras-your-Customers-Will-Love

Reality TV's Carlo's Bakery Uses ShipStation to Streamline Online Order Fulfillment to Customers Nationwide

AUSTIN, Texas, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlo's Bakery, the Hoboken, N.J.-based bake shop known by reality TV fans for its custom cakes and the extended Italian-American family that creates them, has found the recipe for online order fulfillment success with ShipStation's market-leading web-based shipping solution for online retailers. Carlo's is using ShipStation to ensure fast, accurate, fresh-from-the-oven delivery via FedEx to customers nationwide in the wake of TV stardom that even has celebrities ordering its elaborate cake confections.

The bakery selected ShipStation to keep online orders moving efficiently out the door because of ShipStation's cost-saving cloud-based architecture, ease of use, pre-integration with FedEx online systems as well as Carlo's shopping cart solution, and bi-directional data sharing with the bakery's Salesforce-based order management and customer service applications. 

Read More: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reality-tvs-carlos-bakery-uses-shipstation-to-streamline-online-order-fulfillment-to-customers-nationwide-214720881.html

Market Leader Inc : Market Leader Integrates Targeted Mailing Lists for More Effective Direct Mail Campaigns

KIRKLAND, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/01/13 -- Market Leader (NASDAQ: LEDR), a leader in online marketing and technology solutions for real estate professionals, has made reaching prospective local sellers and buyers with direct mail as quick and easy as a few clicks.
With this latest addition to Market Leader's Smart Lead Technology, customers can now send postcards and other direct mail campaigns to precisely those homeowners they want to target via integrated mailing lists that can be filtered by ZIP code, homeowner demographic information, value of the home, length of time in the home and much more.
More than 75 percent of real estate professionals use direct mail as part of their marketing efforts, according to a 2012 Market Leader and ActiveRain survey, despite the typical expense of blanketing an entire neighborhood. Market Leader's new Mailing List feature solves this with easy-to-use, customized filters to make the lists cost-effective by enabling professionals to target just the consumers they most want to reach.

Source:  http://www.4-traders.com/MARKET-LEADER-INC-4236914/news/Market-Leader-Inc-Market-Leader-Integrates-Targeted-Mailing-Lists-for-More-Effective-Direct-Mail-C-17061532/

You Can’t Hide From These Prying Eyes

The government’s knowledge of the lives of individuals is little more than the equivalent to a children’s coloring book compared to the library that private companies have on everyone.
Doubt that? Just open your mail any day; chances are good you’ll have more junk mail—the corporations prefer to call it “direct mail”—than anything else. Check your email; if you’re not being spammed hourly, you are probably one of the few people in the U.S. who is living in an underground bomb shelter with no access to the outside world.
And don’t complain. You caused this.
Americans routinely fill out myriad forms that ask all kinds of personal information. Buy an appliance—or just about anything—and some database company learns not just the name, address, and where and when the customer bought that item, but also family income, what pets the family has, and the family’s hobbies. Some “warranty” cards ask more than five dozen questions, the data coded and stored on computers accessible by junk mail advertisers.

Source: http://themoderatevoice.com/183931/you-cant-hide-from-these-prying-eyes/
 

Direct Marketing Veteran Launches Managed Direct Response

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pat Mercuri announced today the launch of Managed Direct Response, the next generation of Direct Marketing firms in Southern California. Mercuri is a direct marketing industry veteran with over 20 years of industry experience. During his career he has designed, produced and mailed over 80 million lead marketing pieces. His firms have worked with large and small clients to develop campaigns with high response rates for the industry.
“Our goal with Managed Direct Response is to provide our customers with the highest response rates in the industry. In today’s economic environment clients want immediate results from prospects. We have a unique ability to partner with the industry’s best data compilers to achieve those goals,” said Mercuri, Founder and President.

Source:  http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/07/01/4990772/direct-marketing-veteran-launches.html

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/07/01/4990772/direct-marketing-veteran-launches.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/07/01/4990772/direct-marketing-veteran-launches.html#storylink=cpy

Tribune To Acquire Local TV, Creating Content and Distribution Powerhouse

Company Adds 19 Stations in 16 Markets, Making Tribune the #1 Local TV Affiliate Group in America 
 

CHICAGO and NEWPORT, Ky., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Company and Local TV Holdings, LLC, today jointly announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Tribune to acquire all of Local TV's 19 television stations in 16 key markets for $2.725 billion in cash. Coupled with Tribune's current 23 television stations, superstation WGN America, Tribune Studios, Tribune Digital Ventures and its eight major market newspapers, the transaction makes Tribune a multi-platform content and distribution powerhouse. Local TV is principally owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners.
Upon closing, the acquisition will immediately transform Tribune into the country's largest commercial TV station owner, with a total of 42 stations from New York to Los Angeles and Miami to Seattle. Importantly, because most of Local TV's stations are ranked #1 or #2 in revenue share in their respective markets, the transaction will generate significant free cash flow and be immediately accretive to Tribune's earnings.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130701-903402.html

Content Meets Commerce: How Thrillist and Refinery29 Turn Brand Loyalty into Sales

Founded in 2004, Thrillist started as a guide to New York City for recent male graduates. Today, Thrillist Media Group generates over $40 million in revenue , 45 percent of which comes from its e-commerce site, JackThreads, which it acquired in 2010 to complement its content offeringson its Thrillist and Crosby Press sites.
Unlike most media companies, Thrillist has over half a million credit card numbers on hand. The seamless shopping experience, where men can discover and purchase product on the same site, means that the user is more engaged and more likely to have intent to buy. “They’ve got their wallet in hand. They’re looking for recommendations and what to do and what to buy,” Eric Ashman, Thrillist Media Group's strategic advisor told brandchannel. “Reading GQ, your feet are up on the coffee table, you’re leaning back. And when you’re [on Thrillist], you’re leaning forward and looking for ideas and looking for recommendations and things to share with your friends.”
Refinery29, like Thrillist, is also at the forefront of seamlessly joining content and commerce. With 5 million visitors per month, Refinery29 focuses on building brand loyalty for the brands advertised on its site, but without a major complementary online store.

Source: http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2013/07/05/Thrillist-Refinery29-Content-070513.aspx

Global womens e-tailer Modnique acquires TOTSY to expand into kids

For most ecommerce companies, international expansion is an afterthought until well into establishing a successful business. Prevailing wisdom is that it’s imperative to achieve product-market fit – which for those in the fashion category means building a compelling brand, honing merchandising, and developing a sustainable business model – before attempting to duplicate this success across multiple markets. Apparently, not everyone agrees. Los Angeles-based Modnique took the complete opposite approach, launching from day one in multiple countries, and yet, somehow, created what looks to be a successful business in the process. The company’s name is even international, as a play off “modnik,” the Russian word for fashionista.

Source: http://pandodaily.com/2013/07/05/global-womens-e-tailer-modnique-acquires-totsy-to-expand-into-kids/

Sonoco Products: A 3.60% Yield And Potential H2 2013 EPS Growth

Sonoco Products (SON) is a diversified manufacturer that is mostly involved in the consumer packaging industry and other related fields. The company is also a dividend champion, with 31 consecutive years of dividend growth. Like many dividend stocks, Sonoco Products' stock has been an outperformer, with a YTD gain of over 17%. Sonoco Products currently offers a $0.31 per share quarterly dividend and yields about 3.60%.

Read More:  http://seekingalpha.com/article/1534352-sonoco-products-a-3-60-yield-and-potential-h2-2013-eps-growth?source=feed

Working Relationships: Virgin Galactic and Business Travel Direct

IN THE EARLY HOURS of Monday, April 29 this year, Mark Stucky and Mike Alsbury successfully landed back at base after what must rank as one of the modern world’s shortest flights – all ten minutes of it.
So far, so mundane – until one discovers that their trip actually began 8.9 miles above the Mojave desert, piggybacking a carrier craft, peeling off to climb 1.6 miles at Mach 1.2 before making the 10.5-mile descent to the runway, landing without a hitch.
Read More: http://buyingbusinesstravel.com/feature/0521045-working-relationships-virgin-galactic-and-business-travel-direct

Rent-A-Center Engages in Some Risqué Business

Marketing isn't always funny business. But rent-to-own company Rent-A-Center is ditching the typical product pitch and relying on comedy to drive brand awareness in its new multimillion-dollar television campaign.
To promote the message that customers can acquire quality home items without a credit check, Rent-A-Center is running two national TV spots for the next 13 weeks.  The first commercial, done in partnership with marketing agency OCCAM, features a male shopper wearing too-short short-shorts and accusing a Rent-A-Center employee of checking him out. The employee explains that Rent-A-Center never checks anyone out because they don't require a credit check. The airing date of the second TV spot will be dependent on the performance of the first commercial. In addition to the television spot, Rent-A-Center is also promoting the campaign via radio, online, and social.

Read More: http://www.dmnews.com/rent-a-center-engages-in-some-risqu%C3%A9-business/article/300598/#

Direct Marketing Veteran Launches Managed Direct Response

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- 

Pat Mercuri announced today the launch of Managed Direct Response, the next generation of Direct Marketing firms in Southern California. Mercuri is a direct marketing industry veteran with over 20 years of industry experience. During his career he has designed, produced and mailed over 80 million lead marketing pieces. His firms have worked with large and small clients to develop campaigns with high response rates for the industry.
“Our goal with Managed Direct Response is to provide our customers with the highest response rates in the industry. In today’s economic environment clients want immediate results from prospects. We have a unique ability to partner with the industry’s best data compilers to achieve those goals,” said Mercuri, Founder and President.

Read More: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/07/01/2795955/direct-marketing-veteran-launches.html

Rackspace Hires New Sales Leader to Drive Customer Acquisition

SAN ANTONIO, Jun 20, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rackspace(R) Hosting RAX +5.59% , the open cloud company, has hired IT industry heavyweight Todd Cione to lead the firm's Americas Acquisition Sales division. Cione brings more than two decades of experience developing successful sales and support teams across broad geographies. He spent his last 15 years at Microsoft, most recently based in Singapore and responsible for $4 billion in annual revenue for software, cloud services and enterprise services.

At Rackspace, Cione's mission is to accelerate market-share gains and acquisition of new customers in the Americas, via both direct and channel sales. Cione will take the lead in leveraging Rackspace's unmatched value proposition. Rackspace is a world leader in hybrid cloud, which offers customers the best fit for each of their workloads, whether on public cloud, private cloud or dedicated servers. Rackspace is the founder of OpenStack, the open-source cloud operating system, which enables hybrid cloud by allowing customers to move workloads seamlessly from one platform to another, free from vendor lock-in. All Rackspace services are backed by its industry-leading customer service, known as Fanatical Support(R). 

Read More: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rackspace-hires-new-sales-leader-to-drive-customer-acquisition-2013-06-20

Customer Acquisition Via Email Is Skyrocketing Compared To Other Channels

Custora has a new report out looking at ecommerce customer acquisition, finding that email continues to trend upward rapidly from year to year, and is well ahead of affiliate, banner ads, Facebook and Twitter. In fact, email had quadrupled over the past four years, according to the firm.
“The last few years have spawned massive changes in the world of online marketing,” the report says. “With U.S. e-commerce sales now topping $200 billion annually, digital marketers are getting savvier than ever. Customer acquisition trends reflect this evolution. Organic search still leads as the largest channel for online customer acquisition. But as more retailers move towards a ‘free-to-paid’ subscriber model and rely on third parties to help drive visitors to their sites, email and affiliate channels have seen an explosion in growth over the past few years.”

 Read More: http://www.webpronews.com/customer-acquisition-via-email-is-skyrocketing-compared-to-other-channels-2013-07

PFSWeb - Do You Remember When E-Commerce Was The Buzzword?

Did you ever have one of those stocks you bought years ago, watched it go down, never sold, and occasionally wonder what to do with it? Do you hold, ever the optimist, expecting a miraculous recovery? Do you sell for tax losses? Wait for it to disappear when it either goes out of business, is eventually sold, or merged into another company?
I have held onto more than my share. One of these, PFSWeb (PFSW), has been hanging around in my portfolio for more than a decade. It was a company that was spawned during the Internet bubble out of a supplies company called Daisytek International Corporation, a company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May of 2003. But that's starting to get a bit ahead...

Read More:  http://seekingalpha.com/article/1531332-pfsweb-do-you-remember-when-e-commerce-was-the-buzzword?source=google_news

Georgia-Pacific barbecue team earning respect

Many people enjoy outdoor grilling and licking their fingers after eating barbecue. They may not realize that May was National Barbecue Month.
Although this is an unofficial holiday, May marked the kick-off to the annual outdoor grilling season.
In addition to being known for manufacturing paper products that enhance the outdoor cooking and dining experience including absorbent Brawny paper towels, and paperboard that is manufactured into sturdy Dixie food and beverage containers, the company’s Naheola Mill in Pennington has a competitive cooking group, called the Naheola Pride Cooking Team.

Read More:  http://www.demopolistimes.com/2013/07/01/georgia-pacific-barbecue-team-earning-respect/

How a two-store Chicago boutique handles e-commerce growth

Merz Apothecary, a two-store retailer of health and beauty products founded in 1875, has enough charm in its old-Europe-style boutiques to attract busloads of tourists in Chicago, president Anthony Qaiyum says. It also gets rushes of customers on its 15-year-old e-commerce site, Smallflower.com, he adds, for hard-to-find products like $200 Dovo straight razors with wooden handles and $6.50 bars of Vinolia soap, billed as “the official soap of the Titanic.”
But until the retailer upgraded its order and inventory management systems along with a new e-commerce platform a few years ago, it was unable to handle sudden spikes in online orders, Qaiyum says. And for a retailer that had built its reputation for more than a century on customer service as well as unusual products, being unable to fulfill orders was a tough pill to swallow, he adds.

Read More: http://www.internetretailer.com/2013/06/26/how-two-store-chicago-boutique-handles-e-commerce-growth

Crowdfunded Men’s Denim Startup Gustin Now Does Button-Down Shirts, Too

San Francisco-based men’s denim startup Gustin changed the way dudes buy jeans, by creating a fully crowdfunded model for determining which jeans it makes. That cuts out a lot of costs, making high-quality denim affordable. Now it wants to help dress men in stylish button-down shirts that follow the same model.
Gustin got its start on Kickstarter, becoming one of the first fashion companies to do so. It raised nearly $450,000 from more than 4,000 backers to shift its high-quality denim brand from the traditional retail model to a fully online, direct-to-consumer and crowdfunded model.
In doing so, Gustin has turned the business on its head. Rather than producing a bunch of jeans it hopes people will want to buy, it makes sure they do before it even orders the materials. Each new type of fabric is put up as a crowdfunding campaign, essentially testing whether or not customers will want those jeans.

Read More: http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/02/gustin-button-down-shirts/

Xyratex's CEO Discusses Q2 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Second Quarter 2013 Xyratex Earnings Conference Call. My name is Philip, and I will be your operator for today. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded for replay purposes. I would now like to turn the conference over to your host for today, Mr. Brad Driver, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please proceed, sir.

Read More: http://seekingalpha.com/article/1530472-xyratex-s-ceo-discusses-q2-2013-results-earnings-call-transcript

How Well Does Your Order Fulfillment Partner Know Your Customer?

Finding the right order fulfillment partner is important for your business.  What is also important is that the order fulfillment partner you are working with knows your brand and your customers in order for the operations side of your business to run smoothly.
Here are three tips from a blog post by Fifth Gear’s Nate Wiersema.
Have proper training: Make sure your fulfillment partner knows your brand or product in order and be able to communicate with you and your customers.  Make sure you educate your fulfillment partner about your market, the product and business strategy.

Read More: http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/how-well-does-your-order-fulfillment-partner-know-your-customer-24062013/#_