New Startup Curbside Launches Mobile App For Same-Day Pick Up

Today's business market is all about getting customers their products in record time. Retailers know that if you can innovate a service that will save time and increase a shopper's convenience level, you probably are on the right track. This is what many retailers are finding out, as they make adjustments and various power moves to get their online sales to swing upward. Same-day delivery has been one of those services the big retailers like Google, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and more have all centered their efforts toward it. It has all the ingredients that appears to be giving e-retailers the boost they need.

Companies are not only limiting themselves to creating same-day delivery, but they also see extensive growth with tapping into same-day pickup. New shopping start-up company, Curbside, is doing just that, literally offering customers the ability to pickup their online products the same day--at the curb. Curbside has just announced the launching of its' mobile app for same-day pick up. The newcomer is backed by a $9.5 million seed money, plus a Series A funding. Most big retailers are headed in the other direction with same-day delivery, however, Curbside is seeking to cater to the consumer market that will locally pick up.

Curbside has store retailer Target on board, as ten stores in several greater San Francisco Bay area cities will be offering the service. Target's location in the Westfield Oakridge shopping center will also have curbside pick up available. This could very well be just the beginning for Curbside because if it's customers flock to it, more than likely it will be a hit at other US store retailers. In the report, according to comScore, e-commerce as a whole, including mobile, is growing at 11%, however, mobile commerce is growing at 47%. This is another driver for Curbside's case to go same-day pick up versus same-day delivery.

“We’re data geeks, I guess,” stated co-founder Jaron Waldman in the article regarding why they dove into creating the new mobile app. “We were really interested in the idea that nobody had figured out the real-time inventory problem in retail.” Both Waldman, and other co-founder Denis Laprise, are former Apple engineers, which speaks to their ability to create Curbside. Waldman went on to share his view on m-commerce stating, “Your phone’s a remote control...You should be able to transact against the business, rather than just find the business and be routed to it”.

Same-day pick up may not have the headlines as same-day delivery, however, the service does work. It can also promote awareness to same-day delivery by offering customers either option. Department store leader Macy's recently announced it will jump into the race for same-day delivery this fall. It will launch the service in multiple, large US cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle, D.C., New Jersey, and San Jose. Sister store Bloomingdale's will be following suit in some of these cities also. Since Macy's has the physical store locations to meet demand, it makes sense to offer same-day store pick up curbside.

This definitely appears to get physical store retailers an extra lift in sales with the same-day pick up alternative. One plus for customers is that they can use a same-day courier like A-1 Express to perform their same-day pick up from their mobile app. The Philadelphia courier has a national footprint and mobile app also, covering all major and minor cities in the US. Customers that can't pick up at the store can contact A-1 Express to pick up and deliver to wherever they are in no time. The courier can also be a viable source for companies to correct pick up errors and store returns as well.

Reference: 10.6.14, techcrunch.com, Sarah Perez, Backed By $9.5 Million, Curbside Launches A Mobile Shopping App For Same-Day Pickup, Not Delivery

Joint Venture of Alibaba And Amazon Means Same-Day Delivery Growth

If you think about online retail right now, you probably will have Amazon at the top of the list, as well as Google and eBay. Yet, there is a newcomer that is currently local to China with plans to expand. With a lot of momentum, Alibaba is becoming well-known very fast. Even to the extent of being compared to the likes of Amazon. There is even now discussion of the e-retailer teaming up with Amazon to gain more online market.

Alibaba is a China-based online retailer, similar to Amazon, that has expressed it is open to a joint venture with Amazon. CNN Money reported last week how Alibaba's co-founder and CEO Jack Ma in an interview with Bloomberg News on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, stated that he would welcome partnering with the American online giant. He stated, "I would be interested in talking because as always, anything, anybody that involves helping small business we will feel excited". It appears Alibaba is optimistic about it's current stance in the world of e-commerce and to team up with Amazon will do volumes for expanding, especially in the US.

Alibaba could gain much from Amazon's established footprint in the US. Amazon has a number of distribution centers strategically in major US cities, which Alibaba could gain from. This is one of the differences the two online retailers have. Alibaba doesn't have robust fulfillment centers and does not own most of its' sold items. Also, Amazon has 132,000 employees to support its' efficient operation, compared to Alibaba much smaller employee base. However, at a certain point, a joint venture between the two would end, if they begin seeking after the same customers. Ma wrote in a letter to employees this year, "Lying behind the massive allure of the capital market, there is unparalleled ruthlessness and pressure. In this market, only a small number of outstanding enterprises can maintain a gallop."

What type of partnership Alibaba and Amazon could create, only time will tell. Yet, once the time comes to ultimately get the online products to their shoppers' front door, it probably would involve same-day delivery. Amazon has impacted the physical store and web-based retailers with its' aggressive implementation of same-day delivery, which gets customers their products fast. It's distribution centers have been built to support the service and now Amazon has been rolling out same-day delivery in multiple cities. This includes a launch in early August in New York City, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Also, Amazon's most recent announcement offering same-day delivery in Atlanta and a number of surrounding metro cities.

Physical store retailers are definitely gleaning from Amazon and implementing same-day delivery as well. Barnes & Noble is partnering with Google to offer same-day delivery of its' books in several cities. Google Shopping Express affords brick-and-mortar retailers a partner to offer their store products to be delivered the same day also. Brand department store leader Macy's has also recently announced partnering with Deliv and join the race for same-day delivery. It will begin this fall offering it in Chicago, San Jose, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, D.C. and New Jersey. Bloomingdale's will be doing the same in some of those cities also.

Amazon has stated it will utilize its' own fleet to perform its' deliveries, however, other retailers don't have to. A number of retailers are partnering with a same-day courier like A-1 Express to perform the deliveries for them. The Seattle courier has a national footprint and can quickly implement a same-day logistics solution. A-1 Express can be a one-stop source for same-day delivery, store returns and even shoppers can utilize the courier as well relative to their online purchases. For Amazon and Alibaba, even mentioning a partnership shows that other companies should become even more innovative to increase their online growth, or it may get hard trying to swim upstream in a dominated market.

Reference: 9.19.14, CNN Money, Jesse Solomon, An Amazon-Alibaba deal? It's possible

Macy's Joins In, Launches Same-Day Delivery

When you see a lot of others retailers make same-day delivery a part of their arsenal to compete, you definitely take notice. When the service becomes more than just a trend and multiple investments be made by large retailers, you know then its' time to join the race and see how the service can revolutionize your own business. Macy's is one large retailer that has decided to dive into the service and it appears the company is going head first into same-day delivery.

CNN Money has reported that Macy's will be launching same-day delivery this fall in a number of major US cities, as the battle for fast shipping gets even more intense. Macy's first roll-out of cities will include Chicago, San Jose, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, D.C. and New Jersey. With the established physical store locations Macy's has, it can implement a service such a same-day delivery fairly with ease, instead of just one or two cities. With the big moves by Amazon, Google, Wal-mart, and more, same-day delivery appears to be something Macy's wants to immediately offer, especially right before the holiday season. New York City has yet to be announced as a city that Macy's will offer same-day delivery, however, the big apple may come down the line.

Macy's same-day delivery approach involves partnering with Deliv to handle its' actual deliveries, which does the same for Foot Locker, Westfield Group, and General Growth Properties. It also now offers online store pick up to its' shoppers nationwide. This is another convenience that shoppers have turned to, which considerably lowers the wait time for what they've purchased online and the time spent in the actual store. Some customers will now be able to go the Macy's, pick up their clothing and go. Macy's will also soon provide shoppers upload photo capabilities to an app that match the clothes on their website, plus in some places, check for different sizes and colors.

Experts have thought Macy's would be one of the best fits for same-day delivery. The company has the longevity of demand that has resulted in the brand and popularity most retailers dream of having. Many shoppers know of Macy's and loves it. With this in mind, Macy's alone can draw online shoppers to not only go into their stores, yet also stay at home and allow the premier clothing be shipped to their front door for a change. That's what same-day delivery does and Macy's knows it. Bloomingdale's will begin offering same-day delivery in a number of the cities as well.

If any other company that could compete with Amazon regarding same-day delivery, some experts have said Macy's could do it. The retailer has numerous locations which can act as actual warehouses and order fulfillment centers for online purchases. This is why Amazon has built its' fulfillment centers strategically located nationwide to meet the goal of what it was planning to reach for a while. Now, same-day delivery is what Amazon is rolling out in major US cities, which since August, headed eastward to include New York City, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Washington DC, Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.

After seeing what Amazon has done, Macy's feels it has become inevitable that same-day delivery would be a necessary service to compete. Physical store and web-based retailers can implement same-day delivery by partnering with a same-day courier like A-1 Express. The Houston Courier has a nationwide footprint to be able to offer large and small retailers the delivery system to provide same-day delivery. If Macy's has now turned to same-day delivery, multiple retailers will now begin to launch same-day delivery also.

Reference: 9.15.14, CNN Money, Melvin Backman, Macy's, Bloomingdales to offer same-day delivery

Same-Day Delivery For Amazon, Now Atlanta

When big name, web-based retailers and physical store retailers all begin aiming for the same target, you can be assured that there has to be something profitable behind it. This is what big investments into same-day delivery mean for retailers, as the race for it heats up more. Namely, Amazon and Google are making strategic moves to get ahead with same day. As of now, Amazon has made the latest move as it stretches same-day delivery into another major city.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Amazon launches same-day delivery again. Amazon launches "Get It Today" same-day delivery in Atlanta and other Metro Atlanta cities. Alongside the big city of Altanta, the named metro cities will include Marietta, Alpharetta, Mableton, and Kennesaw. Atlantans will have until 12noon to get their online orders in and Amazon will get it to their front door the same day. Amazon will have the service available for its' customers seven days a week .

Amazon "Prime" customers will have the benefit of their membership with paying only $5.99 per order. Non-members will pay $8.99 per order, with an additional $.99 cents per item within their order. Within the Amazon product selection on its' website, shoppers will have the "Get It Today" option, which shows all of the items that can be ordered and delivered the same-day. Amazon also has a "Get It Tomorrow" delivery option, which will filter millions of more items that can be delivered next day.

No other big name retailer has rolled out the service in Atlanta, which makes Amazon the first to do it. With this paving the way, more than likely, more e-retailers will implement it there as well. Google Shopping Express is being offered in a number of California cities and recently was launched in the big apple New York. Google also has partnered with Barnes & Noble to fulfill online order for books, which could be instrumental in the book companies efforts to turn their sales upstream. EBay also has same-day delivery in several cities, as well as retail leader Wal-Mart, which has surprisingly several cities offering same-day delivery.

Amazon already announced early August that its' same-day delivery service programs would expand into 6 more US cities. The cities included New York City, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Now, Atlanta becomes another big city that Amazon is implementing same-day delivery. At this pace, Amazon probably has a number of other cities in its' sights by the end of the year. Just as in the other cities, the e-retailer will be offering a million eligible items, including movies, video games, last-minute travel items, toys, quick fix-it needs, sporting goods, electronics, and more.

No details were given in the report on whether Amazon was going to be performing the actual deliveries itself. Google has partnered with a same-day courier for its' deliveries. However, Amazon has always touted that it will utilize its' own delivery fleet. However, a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express is a viable option to partner with for servicing Atlanta and any other major city in the US. A-1 Express is a nationwide courier and can quickly implement a delivery logistics solution to fit Amazon's strategy. The Atlanta Courier will also be an immediate source for customer returns and error deliveries.

References: 8.26.14, www.ajc.com, Leon Stafford, Amazon brings same-day delivery to Atlanta

Uber Announces Launch of New Drug Store Delivery Service

If there is one thing that people will continue to need is to take care of themselves, and drug stores have been strategically placed locally to do just that. No matter how close they are, the reality is some people don't have the means to get there and sometimes, they simply don't have the time. As the buzz for same-day delivery continues to flourish, Uber offers a new same-day delivery service to the drug store industry that appears will help heavily to meet this demand.

Taxi app company Uber has announced the launch of its new drug store on-demand delivery service. The service will pick up and deliver common items from the local drug store such as medicine, toiletries, and other drug store products. The name of Uber's new feature called "Uber Corner Store", is currently being tested in Washington, DC. Last year, Uber started a courier service in Manhattan to deliver flowers, ice cream and Christmas trees. Uber is pulling out all the stops to compete in the same-day delivery market.

The service is simple. A shopper can go on Uber's app, go to the "Corner Store" option and request a driver. Uber then sends a text message to a link with a list of items that they can purchase. An Uber driver then calls the shopper and takes their order, which is charged to the customer's Uber account. "The more you love it, the more likely it will last", said Uber in a blog post. The company just completed a funding round valued at $18.2 billion, which should easily help get the foundation for the service solid and active.

The once only personal transportation company, is looking to branch out from this business sector in hopes to expand into new markets. The delivery and transportation industry, combined with online business, has created an opportunity to create a niche in this area. The company that innovate, will be the e-retailer that thrives, as e-commerce continues to grow itself. By all means, e-retailers are rushing to see how fast they can get their products into a shoppers' hands without them having to lift a finger themselves.

As online retail grows over 16% annually, there is no doubt that same-day delivery is the solution for retailers, especially physical stores. Target, Macy's, BestBuy, Toys-R-Us, and others are all engaging in some form of same-day delivery. Phone provider Verizon Wireless also offers same-day delivery for itstelecommunication products. One of the most notables is Wal-Mart, which has launched same-day delivery from its' stores in a number of US cities. It also is testing "WalMarttoGo" in Denver, involving online customers picking up their orders at participating stores.

Big drug store retailer Wal-Green's has partnered with Google to get their items moving out the door. Uber appears to be doing the same and is entering this sector with high expectations. Retailers can partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express and get it done. The New York Courier has a national footprint and the ability to implement an optimal delivery system quickly, which is needed in order to keep stride with the growth of online retail innovations.

Reference: 8.19.14, CNN Money, James O'Toole, Uber launches drug store delivery service