The Friday Report: May 1st, 2020
Quick wrap up of a few hot topic newsworthy stories in the supply chain logistics industryMacy’s Anticipates Reopening All Its Stores within 6 Weeks
Anxious to get back to business, Macy’s announced that it would reopen 58 of its retail stores on Monday, May 4th in states that have eased stay at home restrictions. This includes Georgia and South Carolina. A second wave of store re-openings is planned to occur one week later on May 11th.The big box retailer stated that all of its roughly 775 retail stores will be reopened within six weeks, presuming that restrictions are eased in areas where the stores are located.
Macy’s stores would operate with reduced hours from 11 AM to 7 PM and impose new restrictions on employees including performance of wellness checks prior to reporting for work, wearing masks at all times and wearing gloves at high traffic registers.
On March 18th, Macy’s temporarily closed all its stores nationwide and furloughed most of its 125,000 person workforce.
Consumers Boost Online Pet Supply Ordering During COVID-19 Outbreak
With the recent coronavirus outbreak, consumers started stockpiling household essentials food and-pet food.
Online sales at both Petsmart and Petco increased over 40%. Even during challenging economic times, consumers tend to spend on their pets, securing food and medicine supplies. In the past few years, there has been a definitive cultural shift in which pet owners have transitioned to become pet parents and view their pets as essential members of their family.
Pet food dollar growth exceeded 24% for the four weeks ending March 28th as compared to a 10.1% increase the previous year during the same time period.
Drone Delivery of Prescriptions in Florida? Yes, Via UPS Freight Forward and CVS
The Villages, the largest retirement community in the United States serving 135,000 residents will soon be the test market for prescription delivery via drone. CVS is partnering with UPS Freight Forward to accommodate the deliveries.
Routes of less than half a mile between a CVS pharmacy and a central drop off point within The Villages community will be serviced by drone. Once in the community, a manned ground vehicle will handle the deliveries to consumer homes. The project may eventually include two additional CVS locations and transition to D2C drone delivery. The effort is part of an initiative to expand at home delivery options to seniors.
UPS Freight Forward is coordinating the project with the Federal Aviation Administration initially through receipt of special permissions to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Makes Datex Different?
1. Revolutionary low code/no code flexible workflow-driven warehouse management software
2. Most configurable, user-friendly WMS on the market today
3. End-to-end solution provider: software, hardware, EDI, and managed services
4. White Glove Concierge Service
5. Executive-level attention and oversight