US-based department store chain Macy’s Inc has recently announced that it will build a new fulfilment centre near Martinsburg in Berkeley County, West Virginia, to support the continued growth of its online business.
Construction on the 1.3 mn sq.ft facility is expected to begin in spring 2011, with operations beginning in April 2012 and order shipments beginning in summer 2012. When fully operational, the Martinsburg fulfilment centre is expected to employ approximately 1,200 full and part-time associates year-round. In addition, another 700-odd temporary seasonal associates are expected to be hired each year to handle a significantly higher level of online orders from customers during the holiday shopping season.
“Our internet sales continue to grow rapidly as part of the omni-channel strategy at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s – allowing customers to shop seamlessly in stores, online and via mobile devices in a manner that meets their needs and preferences. In the first 10 months of fiscal 2010, our online sales were up by about 29 per cent compared with the same period last year. This is on top of growth of about 20 per cent in 2009,” said Terry J Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Macy’s Inc.
“The new Martinsburg fulfilment centre will represent a significant expansion of our online capacity, and will be used in particular to prepare and ship orders to macys.com customers in Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. This centre will include the very latest material handling equipment and warehouse management systems so we can fill orders quickly and efficiently,” Lundgren added.
– IndiaRetailing Bureau
