The Stockout

Selling profitably on Amazon becomes even harder

Amazon imposes inventory-placement fees and low-inventory fees

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

For anyone involved with selling through Amazon, I recommend going through the latest newsletter published by Cartograph, a company that helps brands sell profitably on Amazon. I interviewed Chris Moe, Cartograph’s CEO, on past The Stockout shows. Those discussions impressed upon me that brands must understand, and play by, Amazon’s numerous and frequently changing rules in order to sell profitably...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/selling-profitably-on-amazon-becomes-even-harder

FreightWaves’ Baltimore coverage spans segments

O little town of Baltimore

I lived in Baltimore City for 12 years so it’s impossible for me to not have a lot of mixed thoughts about the town. It has a vibrant financial community and I loved the local running groups. It’s also the only place where I was ever punched in the head on my way home from work.

I toured the container and ro-ro terminals and the coal export terminals at Baltimore on separate occasions. What was memorable to me is that the Lamborghinis and luxury European imports are not...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-baltimore-coverage-spans-segments

Subscription boxes — wow them or they’ll bounce

Subscription boxes are down but not out

(Photo: FWTV)

On Monday, Grace Sharkey and I interviewed Paul Jarrett, co-founder and CEO of Bulu, a 3PL and fulfillment provider for subscription box services and other direct-to-consumer offerings. The company’s customers include Disney and GNC, and it has helped clients launch over 50 subscription boxes.

Virtually every consumer-facing company should make every attempt to offer a valued subscription box. Subscription boxes allow brands to engage with...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/subscription-boxes-wow-them-or-theyll-bounce

Do we really need another retail subscription service?

Target joins the subscription club

Image: FWTV

On Monday’s episode of The Stockout, Grace Sharkey and I discussed last week’s announcement that Target is launching a subscription-based fast delivery service. For an introductory price of $49 a year (rising to $99 a year starting in May), customers receive free two-day shipping and free same-day delivery on orders over $35. The company’s ability to offer such speedy deliveries is made possible by its recent investments in local sortation and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/do-we-really-need-another-retail-subscription-service

Recent shows highlight CPG companies’ concerns

More suppliers, more supply chain complexity

Monday on The Stockout show, Grace Sharkey and I interviewed Christine Barnhart, chief marketing and industry officer of Nulogy. 

(Photo: FWTV)

Nulogy is a company that helps consumer packaged goods companies manage data that is coming from suppliers, especially third-party contract manufacturers and co-packaging companies. While contract manufacturing and outsourced packaging were areas of great focus during the pandemic in the context of CPG demand...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/recent-shows-highlight-cpg-companies-concerns

Amazon and the FTC don’t agree on much

FTC, Amazon far apart on lawsuit issues

(Federal Trade Commission)

It’s clear from the latest on the Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against Amazon that (1) it’s likely to be ongoing for a long time, and (2) the parties don’t agree on much. The FTC asked the court to set a deadline to start the trial in May 2026, while Amazon asked for a December 2026 start date. What takes so long is the massive scale of the information involved — upwards of 100 terabytes’ worth, or the equivalent of 50 million...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-and-the-ftc-dont-agree-on-much

Is Amazon a distributor?

Another government agency zeros in on Amazon Marketplace

Most everyone who shops online buys from Amazon, but, presumably, few shoppers give much thought as to whether the products are being purchased from the retailer itself or one of the sellers on the Amazon Marketplace (AM). AM, which represents 60% of Amazon’s sales, is the portion of the e-commerce giant where Amazon facilitates sales of products owned by third parties without taking ownership of inventory. Unless shoppers receive the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/is-amazon-a-distributor

J.B. Hunt highlights improved intermodal volume but also rate pressure

J.B. Hunt kicks off earnings season

On Thursday’s analyst call (see Todd Maiden’s earnings writeup here), J.B. Hunt highlighted both improved intermodal volume and pressure on intermodal rates. Intermodal volume exceeded most industry participants’ expectations for a lack of peak season in the fourth quarter of last year. The carrier’s intermodal volumes were up 6.5% year over year in the fourth quarter, which implies market share gain when compared to the 5% y/y increase in loaded containerized...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/j-b-hunt-highlights-improved-intermodal-volume-but-also-rate-pressure

Pepsi/Carrefour divide the latest among retail/CPG disputes

Retail, CPG pricing disagreement boils over in Europe

Depending on whom you believe, either European grocer Carrefour stopped selling Pepsi products in certain locations, or Pepsi pulled out and decided to stop selling at the grocer. Whatever the specifics, the parties couldn’t agree on the value of potato chips, and it’s clear that retailers and CPG companies have become even more at odds than usual as commodity prices have fluctuated. Even if the Carrefour impasse persists, it isn’t going to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/pepsi-carrefour-divide-the-latest-among-retail-cpg-disputes

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