Online shopping booms, ushering in four major changes in US e-commerce

During the COVID-19 pandemic, stores closed, large numbers of consumers moved online, and retailers are constantly seeking changes to meet consumer needs.

Online sales and offline delivery

The CEO of US retailer Build-A-Bear said that it has accelerated the development of its infrastructure, allowing consumers to shop online and ship from stores, in order to fully utilize offline and online resources. Data shows that while Build-A-Bear's full-year sales fell 23% year-on-year to US$249.2 million, its e-commerce demand increased 133% year-on-year.

It can be seen that e-commerce is a larger part of its sales growth, and Build-A-Bear said that in order to change this situation, it will achieve the goal of increasing omni-channel sales by increasing warehouse throughput, last-mile delivery and accelerating omni-channel plans.

Retailers step up curbside pickup services

Compared with closed retailers, curbside pickup not only simplifies retailers' supply chains but also reduces retailers' costs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick's Sporting Goods and Hudson's Bay are taking advantage of this fast and convenient pickup method to give consumers a better shopping experience.

More shoppers choose curbside pickup

Consumers are increasingly demanding omnichannel products, and curbside pickup has become a major way for them to pick up their orders. Lee Delaney, CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, said that in the fourth quarter, more than 50% of his company's BOPIC orders were delivered curbside, which is enough to show that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way they operate.

Amazon orders delayed

In fact, due to the epidemic, economic, political and other issues, the increase in shipping and delivery times in the United States has overwhelmed Amazon warehouses and labor. Coupled with the slowdown of Amazon's network, which has led to an increase in delayed shipments, this has changed dramatically to a certain extent.

USA

E-commerce

Supply chain changes