Toys-R-Us Focuses On Web Sales And Fulfilling Orders From Stores

When we think of toys, the first name that comes to us is no other than Toys R Us. A toy retail leader globally that has had to make the right adjustments to stay ahead, especially with more and more online competitors racing for market position. This is where Toy R Us decided to shift its focus last year, and for their web business, it's working.

Internet Retailer reported how the toy store's numbers from last year affirms it is on the right track on the web. Online sales went up to $1.23 billion from $1.15 billion in 2013, which is a 7% increase. Online retail represented 10% of Toys R Us' total sales versus only 9.2% in 2013. Toys R Us achieved the web sale improvements it was after, yet not the in-store sales to match, which decreased in the US by 1%. Store sales did increase by 1.8% internationally. As a whole, total sales in 2014 went down by 1.4%, from 12.54 billion in the year prior to $12.36 billion. This has called for changes by Toys R Us in order to do better this year.

Toys R Us CEO Antonio Urcelay commented to investors and analysts on all the changes the company has made to compete on all fronts. "We also made significant process and organizational improvements, addressing a number of important executional issues. As a result, during the year, global Internet sales continued to grow, benefiting from our strengthened omnichannel fulfillment model, U.S. margins improved due to disciplined promotional activity and inventory management, and customer satisfaction metrics confirmed that changes we have been making provided a better shopping experience in-store and online.”

One interesting figure from the report is the percentage of traffic Toys R Us is getting online. It stated that mobile growth is the most important driver of e-commerce traffic for the toy retailer, with 57% of its' digital visits have come from a mobile or tablet device. More shoppers have become comfortable with shopping online and even view it as a preferred way to shop, in addition to the ability to utilize a same-day courier like A1Express to get their products delivered fast.

The holiday season is big for every retailer and will be no different for Toys R Us, as the toy company plans on being ready to capture more sales this year. In the Toys R Us presentation, executives stated, “In the coming year, the company plans to further strengthen its omnichannel capabilities, including in-store pickup and ship-from-store execution, especially during the peak holiday season”. The more options for the customer, the better for any retailer to gain ground during the holidays. A number of retailers, including Toys R Us, have partnered with a courier to offer same-day delivery as a ship-from-store method.

Online retail is expected to grow to $500 billion by 2018. Couple this with technology advancements, and itseasy to see how e-commerce is the sure direction for any brick-and-mortar retailer to heavily invest in. A1Express is a New Jersey Courier that services nationwide and can aid any retailer meet the rise in on-demand delivery by shoppers, even fast shipping from Toys R Us stores.

Reference: 4.15.15, www.internetretailer.com, Bill Briggs, Web sales grow, but total sales dip for Toys R Us in 2014

Business Insider Talks Same-Day Delivery

No one thought that more companies would be making a legitimate push toward implementing same-day delivery, but they have. As the online retail industry grows at least 16% annually and tech gadgets rise, shoppers have access to buying all types of items, literally from the palm of their hands. So much so that web-based retailers finally see the light on how same-day delivery can offer the profit needed for sustainability Google and Amazon are at the top of the list, as e-retailers are getting a share of the market from physical store retailers. Now brick-and-mortar companies are fighting back, getting involved in same-day delivery themselves.

Business Insider (BI) recently reported on how brick-and-mortar stores have one major advantage versus e-retailers, which is their ability for customers to go into their stores and purchase their items the same day. Online retailers were at a lost until same-day delivery has now come into the picture and equalizing the playing field. BI mentioned 2% of shoppers that live in cities that offer same-day delivery have actually used it. This means roughly $100 million worth of merchandise will be delivered same-day in 2014 in 20 US cities. As the likes of Amazon and Google to continue to chip away at the distance between the customer and the item, more and more shoppers are expected to take advantage of the convenient service.

Also BI mentioned the expectations and interests of consumers when it comes to same-day delivery. Four out of 10 US shoppers stated that they would use the service if they didn't have time to make a run to the store themselves. Another stat was that 1 out of 4 customers said they would abandon their online shopping cart if same-day delivery was not a service option. Therefore, the time to receive items faster online is becoming a driving demand by the consumer, not just the e-retailer. The result could be any online retailer will have to offer the service to really compete on a high e-commerce level.

Physical stores do have the advantage of being in close proximity of shoppers, yet when they can combine this with e-commerce is when their retail business becomes most effective. Wal-Mart is an example of a large retailer that is offering same-day delivery in multiple US cities and testing online pick up from a number of local stores in Denver. It gives all of their customers the option of have it delivered to their home or ordering online, then going to pick it up. Same-day delivery is what is making online retailing so attractive, even Wal-Mart thought it best to offer it.

Large scale brick-and-mortar retailers like Wal-Mart and Macy's have made the shift into investing more into online sales, implementing same-day delivery. Wal-Mart offers it in several US cities, including "Wal-Marttogo". The program offers customers the online option of picking up their purchase from a local participating store. The retailer started testing the program in Denver this year. Macy's has taken the retail world by storm with its' aggressive move to roll-out same-day delivery in multiple large US cities at one time. The cities will include Chicago, Houston, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, D.C., Seattle, and New Jersey.

More and more brick-and-mortar retailers are joining in, especially with Google to deliver items picked up from stores like Target, Wal-Green's, BestBuy and others. Whether a company is web-based or a physical store, same-day delivery is proving to be necessary to thrive within today's technology-based market. A same-day courier like A-1 Express can partner with any company and deliver same-day any where in the US. The New Jersey courier can quickly implement a same-day logistics solution for any retailer after more market share, especially as the holiday season approaches.

Reference: 10.25.14, Business Insider, Cooper Smith, Same-Day Delivery Services Are Going After Brick-And-Mortar Retailers’ Last Big Advantage

A1 Express Selected To Deliver American Flag To MetLife Stadium For Super Bowl XLVIII!

A-1 Express, a superior leader in same-day delivery, distribution and transportation services, was selected to deliver the American flag to MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl XLVIII. The courier has performed a variety of delivery services throughout its' successful business life all over the country. Yet, being a part of the highly prestigious and excited Super Bowl is one of the highest regarded deliveries to have performed. Out of all the courier services that could have been selected, A-1 Express was partnered with to be involved with the event. It indeed informs customers of the nationwide courier's recognition as a trusted and reliable source for same-day delivery services. A-1 Express is a courier company that pursues to be the best choice in courier and same-day logistic solutions throughout the US.

A-1 Express delivered the American flag to MetLife Stadium on January 25th, over a week prior to the Super Bowl. A-1 Express was requested on January 24th by the client, Colonial Flag, to perform such an honored service. The flag was picked up at 8:15 am in the morning from Delta Cargo at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Once secured, it was than delivered to Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford after 11:22 am. The client received an e-mail once it was picked up and delivered to the final destination.

After the service was performed, A-1 Express was applauded and appreciated for the superior service done by a seasoned, professional courier. "I would like to thank you and your driver for the awesome job you guys did delivering the flag for this years Super Bowl. My customer is most pleased with us. My customer also called your driver to commend him for his patience for waiting 2 hours. The customer wants you to know that on Super Bowl Sunday when they sing the National Anthem, you and your staff can look at it and know that you were responsible for getting it there", stated the satisfied client.

The courier received outstanding remarks in regards to the service provided and the professionalism in which the flag was handled for such an important event to millions of NFL fans. A-1 Express was pleased to have participated in making the Super Bowl a great success and looks forward to future deliveries. The courier prides itself in assisting its' customers in meeting all of their event and occasion delivery goals efficiently as possible and on time. The New Jersey Courier is able to be contacted by various individuals, businesses and large corporations to deliver many types of packages and freight for them nationwide. From small packages to palletized freight, A-1 Express delivers fast and on-time!

Many companies need a courier that has a proven ability and track record of to be able to handle sensitive items or freight in an effective manner. The courier does it all, including local and nationwide courier services, same day services, bike messenger services, long distance freight deliveries, scheduled deliveries, mailing route services, multiple location delivery solutions, daily bank deposit solutions, and more. A-1 Express is also available 24/7 for any after-hour service requests, order questions, quotes and order adjustments, meeting all of its' customers'' same-day delivery needs.

A-1 Express is a premier same-day courier offering transportation and distribution services throughout the US. From small packages to palletized freight, A-1 Express delivers fast. As a leader in the courier industry, the company goal is to create optimal courier logistic solutions and provide superior customer service every time. The courier provides same-day delivery successfully for over 1,500 clients, including Fortune 500 companies nationwide.

Wal-Mart Partner Yihaodan Launches Same-Day Delivery Of Fresh Food In China

Wal-Mart hasn't always been a major player in the global market, but now thee retail giant services 28 countries and show no signs of slowing down. Wal-Mart Global is growing tremendously by investing and utilizing e-commerce. The past week showed the direction Wal-Mart is going relative to expanding its' e-retail products in China via its' e-commerce partner Yihaodian.

Internet Retailer has recently reported China online retailer Yihaodian has launched selling fresh fruit in Beijing. Yihaodian began selling online to Shanghai shoppers only five months ago, and now, it has expanded to same-day delivery of fruit of 1,200 order daily. The report also stated the company is seeking to offer the service in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are two more large cities that would be profitable.

The retail company has been able to quickly expand its' services largely due to its' partnership with Wal-Mart. Vice President of Yihaodian Guo Dongdong stated, “Since Yihaodian can get the support of the logistics networks of Wal-Mart China, we could enter the fresh food section faster and easier than others”. Wal-Mart operates 390 stores in 150 cities in China, which communicates they are having a high level of success there. The partnership appears to be long-term, and Wal-Global will probably use China as a blueprint for the service in other countries.

Wal-Mart Global's partnership with Yihaodian didn't just recently forge. The companies began working together on the e-commerce front in February 2012. At the time, Wal-Mart Global made a heavy investment into the well-known Chinese e-commerce based company, which sales not only fruit, but also daily consumer items such as groceries, consumer electronics and apparel. Wal-Mart has a 51% stake in Yihaodian. This means Wal-Mart Global is making strong efforts to utilize e-retail to sell its' products.

Yihaodan has gained various advantages by its' Wal-Mart partnership. The company utilizes Wal-Mart warehouses to store the fresh fruit. Wal-Mart also holds import licenses for fresh food, which Chinese consumers prefer them import, especially due to reports of contaminated Chinese food products. Yihaodan has to provide the delivery system of their foods, which does require same-day delivery for its' perishables. Yihaodan has been growing at a double-digit rate since its' joining with Wal-Mart last year.

Wal-Mart Global's success with Yihaodan's fruit and fresh food sales is contingent upon how well the products can be delivered. Same-day delivery courier services such as A-1 Express area viable option for companies that are venturing into expanding their e-retail efforts. Companies like Wal-Mart, eBay, Target, and can use A-1 Express on a a national scale and meet all their same-day delivery needs. Whether fruits or groceries, this New Jersey Courier can create an innovative e-retail courier solution fit for your business strategy.

References: 9.11.13, Internet Retailer, Frank Tong, Wal-Mart’s Chinese e-commerce partner starts selling fresh food

CVS Creates Virtual 3-D Drugstore App for Online Shopping, Will Offer Same-Day Pick Up

CVS is one of the largest drugstores in the US and many people enjoy being able to not have to drive far to reach one. Their location strategy has brought huge competitive advantages and their new app created appears to be just another tool to help the longevity of their success.

CVS has developed a virtual 3-D drugstore application for Apple's iPad that shoppers can use reported Internet Retailer. The application offers a layout just like a actual CVS store, in which customers can use right from home. Shoppers can browse a CVS store through virtual aisles for an array of products and services. They can also manage their own prescription accounts. This creates a value-added service for those who may be ill or enable to commute to the the physical store.

The new app comes with many tools customers can use to shop relative to their prescriptions. Customers can scroll through their prescriptions, schedule refills, and view them for pick up. Caregivers can manage prescriptions for multiple patients at the same time by sorting by patient and refill status. Through the app zoom function, patients can also read their prescription labels right from the virtual store for any prescription details and information they need.

Brian Tilzer, senior vice president and chief digital officer, appears to be very pleased and excited about the new app. He stated, “About a year ago, we began to notice more and more significant traffic from tablet devices and decided we needed to start thinking about providing an easy-to-use experience geared towards iPads. Early on the plan was to create a 3-D virtual store that would feel intuitive to navigate as our customers are so familiar with our store layout. Our plan is to continue to test, refine and augment the app. Customers should check back for updates to this app as additional safety features and interactive functionality will be launching later this year.”

The emergence of mobile commerce is at the core of this new app being so attractive. Online business is growing at 16% annually and shows no signs of slowing down. More shoppers are using mobile devices such as iPads, iPhones, and more to make their purchases. This appears to be the first drugstore app of its' kind. CVS loyalty program customers can manage their rewards and coupons from the app as well.

Many companies have begun initiatives enabling their customers to pick up their online orders. Target, eBay, Macy's, and more are currently testing same-day delivery in various markets nationwide, along with pick up options. Wal-Mart will be testing an in-store locker system for online orders, in which shoppers will and come pick up their products from local participating stores. With the continual growth of e-commerce and mobile shopping, a sound delivery system will be a value-added service for customers who desire to have their products delivered also.

Whether CVS or other drug store companies, same-day courier services like A-1 Express can assist with a same-day delivery solution to meet their customer pick up needs. This New Jersey Courier could partner with CVS as a delivery option for customers, caregivers and patients that aren't able to pick up their store prescriptions themselves. A-1 Express is an experienced, professional courier servicing over 1,500 clients, including Fortune 500 companies with courier logistic solutions.

Reference: 3.28.13. Internet Retailer, Katie Deatsch, CVS takes its drugstore to the tablet