Sent Items #145: Thursday, October 26, 2023

It has been a very sad few weeks.

There hasn’t been a time in Jewish History since (and before) the Holocaust when Jews around the world have felt so isolated.

As Elie Wiesel famously said: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

As one who believes in the importance of sharing my voice and standing up for what is right, I have been particularly vocal on social media (mainly “X”). I appreciate those who have engaged, and the new friends I’ve made.

As many of you know, I am Jewish, one who grew up in an observant household, though in my adult years I chose the beliefs of the Reform movement. I grew up attending a Jewish Day School in Toronto where I learned English, Hebrew and French. No teacher or Rabbi ever taught me to hate Arabs or Muslims. Not at all.

I’m Canadian and as of February an American as well, and a proud Democrat. I’ve been to Israel, and while I don’t support Netanyahu and his ultra-nationalist, homophobic, chauvinist and misogynist beliefs, I, like the vast majority of Jews, view our connection to Israel as a foundational and existential pillar of our Jewishness.

This is why I’m engaged on this topic. Unfortunately Twitter and other social media has demonstrated why too much free speech is a bad thing. Elon has the algorithm tilted toward hate and anger from the far left and far right. Spreading misinformation, lies, and hate, is not what James Madison had in mind when he drafted the Constitution 250 years ago. There is so much hate and evil (and bots) online, that it has become frustrating and exhausting to scroll my feed. I have half a mind to delete it, and maybe I still will, but I continue to find rays of light and hope in connecting with decent folks, be it new friends, elected officials, or fellow logistics nerds.

Yes, my views are biased by my upbringing, friend circle, and Jewishness. It has been horrible learning of the barbarism, rape, head-chopping and baby-burning. It is equally oppressing learning of further innocent lives being killed, daily, in Gaza and Israel.

One of the most fundamental beliefs in Judaism is the concept of tikkun olam. That it is our duty as Jews, as humans, to ’repair the world’, and bring it closer to the harmonious state for which it was created. There are those who we can all agree are making it worse (e.g. terrorists). Others who some believe make it worse (e.g. maybe one with an opposing political view).

Between now and the end of this year if even one of you does one thing differently to make the world a better place, I will be so proud of the power of my free speech.

Onwards… back to our regularly scheduled news.

Amazon has broadened their logistics capabilities with Supply Chain by Amazon (link)

• Amazon announced Supply Chain by Amazon, an automated end-to-end solution that allows sellers to transport products in bulk through Amazon's network to a variety of sales channels, including physical stores.

• Supply Chain by Amazon unifies and expands Amazon's existing services to simplify the transfer of goods from manufacturers to end consumers using Amazon's physical distribution network and ML capabilities.

• The result should be simpler and more affordable supply chain management for sellers across both online and physical channels, incremental revenue opportunities for Amazon, and faster delivery times for customers.

• Slowly but surely, Amazon is replicating the AWS playbook by broadening the availability of its fulfillment network.

Venture backed logistics companies continue to struggle

• Convoy (link), Flexe (link), and Flexport (link and link) have had mass layoffs, while many once high flying D2C brands are also crashing (link)

• With money no longer free (thanks government!) the force of gravity is once again rearing its ugly, inevitable head. While I’m sad to see darlings of the last few years fade, as a card carrying capitalist it is somewhat vindicating.

• Unfortunately the worst is ahead of us as I anticipate many more logistics startups, 3PLs, and carriers struggling to survive these next few years.

Uber is joining the club of $5 package pickups (link)

• Uber is now offering return package shipping through UPS, FedEx or USPS on its Uber and Uber Eats apps. You can send up to five packages at a time for $3.

• I’ve written about Doordash’s foray into the package return business (see Sent Items #143) and my pessimism. This feels a lot like Shyp circa 2015. Mark my word…ain’t gonna work! But might as well take advantage of a subsidized service as long as it lasts.

TikTok is trying to activate its 150 million US users to think of it as a shopping destination (link)

• This is one of the more fascinating developments in Commerce. Top-selling items on TikTok Shop are already generating over 100,000+ sales a month, less than three months after TikTok Shop launched in the U.S., according to Marketplace Pulse.

• Amazon-native brand Wyze, which makes electronics like security cameras, sold nearly 40,000 units of a single $33.99 SKU on TikTok in the last 30 days. TikTok hopes to reach $20 billion in global e-commerce GMV this year.

• TikTok is quickly become an important channel and one that fulfillment providers should be aware of.

BREAKING NEWS: UPS to Acquire Happy Returns, a Leader in Reverse Logistics (link)

• Happy Returns is a software and reverse logistics company that enables frictionless, no-box, no-label returns for merchants and consumers, previously owned by PayPal. Solution will soon be available in UPS’ footprint of 12,000 locations in the U.S.

• Happy Returns offers a full stack of returns solutions, powered by software and fully scaled reverse logistics operations that facilitate frictionless returns. Users can access a returns portal, make a box-free return at the most convenient location and have their item shipped, sorted and returned to the merchant.

• With more than 800 merchant customers, Happy Returns has a strong track record of providing hassle-free, no-box returns, reducing the cost of e-commerce for all players and creating a more efficient, sustainable supply chain.

- Matt

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