Amazon has begun to refuse the warehousing of many items deemed to be non-essential across Europe and the USA until at least April 5th. This response is designed to help its warehouses cope with an increased demand for household essentials amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.
What this means for many retailers is that third-party sellers can list and sell ‘non-essential items’ items on Amazon, however they must manage the packing and shipping processes themselves.
For many retailers who use Amazon’s fulfilment services, this means there is a sudden need to create processes and find new partners to work with. In a time where customer loyalty and retention is vital, preventing supply chain disruption should be a priority.
Amazon explained: “We are temporarily prioritising household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfilment centres so we can more quickly receive, restock and deliver these products to customers. We understand this is a change for our selling partners and appreciate their understanding.”
One of the main ways retailers can reduce the impact of supply chain disruption is to be honest with customers, communicating effectively and thanking them for their patience at this testing time. This is, of course, in the absence of finding suitable alternatives for packing and shipping processes.
Here are just a few resources which can help you take your fulfilment to the next level:
To view Modern Retail’s Guide to Fulfilment, click here.
Rory O’Connor, CEO and Founder of Scurri spoke with Modern Retail about the ways in which retailers can choose suitable fulfilment partners. Click here to read more.
Holly brings a wealth of experience in both print and digital publishing. As Modern Retail’s Content Editor, Holly is passionate about helping independent retailers to thrive in today’s ever-changing market.
