Today’s customer-driven convenience economy requires retailers to ensure they can deliver on the promise of on-demand services, whether it be same-day delivery or in-store pickup. As Amazon and Walmart continue to set a high bar for convenience, their major retail competitors are ramping up these services by partnering with companies powered by networks of third-party drivers.
Macy’s, Best Buy and PetSmart are all expanding same-day delivery to additional markets in partnership with crowdsourced logistics provider Deliv. Macy’s and PetSmart will expand same-day delivery to 33 markets, while Best Buy will expand it to 27 in September. Best Buy expects to offer the service to customers in nearly 40 cities by the holiday season.
The fee for same-day delivery service is $8 for all online purchases that meet Macy’s ($99) or Bloomingdale’s ($150) free shipping thresholds and $8 plus standard shipping costs for anything less. Meanwhile, Best Buy is vastly reducing same-day delivery fees, from $14.99 to $5.99, and is adding more products to the eligible merchandise.
Advertisement
With Target recently acquiring partner logistics provider Grand Junction to expand its same-day delivery capabilities, these brands are actively scrambling to improve supply chain just before the 2017 holiday season kicks off.
Westfield To Host Uber Drop-Off, Pick-up Stations
Westfield is leveraging drivers in a completely different way, going out of its way to encourage shoppers to travel to and from their favorite stores at a moment’s notice. In an era with an overabundance of malls, Westfield is seeking to provide extra value for consumers visiting its 33 shopping centers.
The mall operator will host designated drop-off and pick-up stations for Uber vehicles at every one of its U.S. shopping centers. Westfield will digitally map those locations onto Uber’s rider application, meaning shoppers can see where exactly they can be picked up and dropped off.
As part of the deal, Westfield will introduce its first permanent Uber Lounge at its Westfield Century City location in Los Angeles. The lounge will feature a contemporary design, customer amenities and comfortable seating so shoppers can “wait for their Uber in style,” according to a statement.
Moving forward, Westfield centers will host between one and 10 Uber stations, with signage similar to dedicated taxi stands or ridesharing pick-up points at large entertainment and transportation venues. At select Westfield destinations, the Uber stations also will include kiosks with customer service representatives and brand ambassadors trained to engage with customers and facilitate their Uber experience.
