BCG E-Commerce Podcast: Supply chain turning into ‘supply pain’

Over the last decade, eCommerce has grown in popularity with businesses and consumers alike. BCG is at the center of it all, helping clients build strategies and implement technology to achieve transformational results. The below is a recent podcast I did with my fellow BCG Platinion colleague Jamie Hammond. Jamie Hammond: One of the biggest pain… Continue reading BCG E-Commerce Podcast: Supply chain turning into ‘supply pain’

US eCommerce and Impact on Logistics

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In our recent article  “US E-Commerce Trends and Impact of Logistics”, we assess the current state of the last mile fulfillment market and key supply side drivers of eCommerce. The US eCommerce industry is expected to post 12-14% growth in 2017, from $375B to $420B. At this rate, eCommerce is conservatively expected to account for 14-16%… Continue reading US eCommerce and Impact on Logistics

Amazon the Zara Slayer

One question we often get from clients is “Will Amazon disrupt my sector next”? – be it in Fresh, CPG, Beauty, Apparel, or even Industrials. Amazon recently made several strategic moves, that taken in unison, strongly suggest that Fast Fashion is square and center in its disruption cross-hairs. Can Amazon be a Zara slayer? First… Continue reading Amazon the Zara Slayer

Brands are Becoming Retailers

Brands are Becoming Retailers

The traditional value chain boundaries separating manufacturers and retailers are starting to blur under a digital, omnichannel setting. Brands are becoming retailers and increasingly playing an active role  in the consumer Research - Shop - Buy cycle that has traditionally been the domain of retailers. We see this "direct to consumer" as a pervasive and on-going trend across numerous industry sectors. Although… Continue reading Brands are Becoming Retailers

Muji, William Gibson and the Future of No Brand

Muji, William Gibson and the Future of No Brand

In 2003,  William Gibson wrote a prescient novel - Pattern Recognition -  that explored  the tension between art and mass commercialization in retailing, among other interestingly speculative themes.  One area of Gibson's focus was consumer  fatigue against ubiquitous brands in an increasingly global and digital market through his metaphoric protagonist Cayce Pollard - a coolhunter who experiences and uses as a consulting tool her… Continue reading Muji, William Gibson and the Future of No Brand