Unboxing Logistics

Most retailers view returns as a necessary evil. You have to offer returns to stay competitive, but accepting unwanted or damaged products—and shipping replacements—drains resources and wastes time.  What if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, Virgil Ghic, co-founder of WeSupply, makes a bold claim: returns don’t have to be a cost center. In fact, with the right strategy, they can...

So far, 2025 has kept us on our toes, especially with all the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. But in this episode of Unboxing the Trends, Lori and Tim take a break from the tariff talk to discuss three major trends from June: warehouse automation, carrier shifts, and drone deliveries. Listen to this 15-minute episode to get up to date with the latest shipping and logistics happenings!  Amazo...

Now that we’re past the halfway point of the year (can you believe it?), it’s time to get serious about peak season. When handled right, peak is an opportunity to drive more sales than ever, reach new markets, and continue to delight loyal customers.  But will tariffs, inflation, and other issues stand in the way?  Sucharita Kodali, retail industry analyst at Forrester, explains exactly...

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics , host Lori Boyer kicks off Season 5 with a fun and insightful discussion about gamification in the supply chain. Joined by Katie Brown, Senior Director of Product Management at Foot Locker, and Dylan Telford, Omnichannel Practice Lead at Summit Advisory Team, they explore how introducing game-like elements into warehouse operations can drive motivation, impro...

In this EasyPost Insider episode of Unboxing Logistics , host Lori Boyer sits down with Senior Product Manager Brittany Williams to unveil Forge, EasyPost’s newest product. Built for 3PLs, marketplaces, tech companies, and carriers, Forge offers a white-label shipping solution that makes it easy to onboard customers, manage subaccounts, and access detailed analytics—all without burdening your dev...

In this month’s episode of Unboxing the Trends , Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer dive into the latest shifts in the shipping landscape—no tariff talk this time. From the rise of regional carriers to DHL’s B2C restrictions and changes at the USPS, it’s a carrier-heavy episode packed with actionable insights. Lori also previews her upcoming appearance at the National Postal Forum and speculates on the fu...

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics , Lori Boyer sits down with Brandan Gale, CEO of Retail Shipping Associates (RSA) and Package Hub Business Centers. With decades of experience and 38 stores under his belt, Brandon shares how RSA helps small businesses succeed through training, resources, and a powerful sense of community. His big takeaway? Small retailers don’t have to go it alone! &nbsp...

You probably know Maersk as a container shipping company, but the end-to-end logistics provider now has a new offering for parcel shipping: Maersk Parcel.  According to John Kruzan, this regional service is made up of a “pickup and delivery network that can move packages … at a very competitive rate, at a very competitive time in transit.” Listen to learn what makes Maersk Parcel great for sm...

Along with recent changes to U.S. tariffs, there’s been talk about changes to the de minimis exemption that allows tax-free imports of goods worth up to $800.  How does de minimis work, and what will it mean for businesses if the rule is changed? Kate Muth, executive director of the International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG), weighs in.  De minimis defined Kate explains, “De minimis is...

Last month, Lori and Tim kicked off the Unboxing the Trends series, which features short monthly episodes covering the latest shipping and logistics happenings. In this episode, they discuss two major developments in February: new tariffs against key U.S. trading partners and the resignation of USPS’s postmaster general. Tariffs have gone into effect After a month-long pause, new tariffs against C...

Just a few weeks ago, EasyPost launched a new product: Luma, an AI tool that helps businesses understand their current shipping performance and make smarter (and more cost-effective) decisions. Joe Dieter, head of product marketing at EasyPost, explains how Luma works and what sets it apart from other AI shipping technologies. Luma in a nutshell What exactly is Luma? Joe starts with a simple descr...

With the world of shipping and logistics constantly changing, it can be hard to keep track of every trend. In this episode, Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management, catches listeners up on the world of parcel shipping in 2025—what’s changing, what will likely stay the same, and what you can do to optimize your parcel management strategy. Carrier changes lead to more complex pricing  Righ...

Exciting news! In our new Unboxing Logistics segment, Unboxing the Trends, the EasyPost team will be doing a monthly recap of the most impactful shipping and logistics trends in 2025.  During this episode, Lori Boyer and Tim Ranagan discuss January’s port strike resolution, the devastating California wildfires, and President Trump’s brand-new tariffs.  What do these events mean for your...

Many businesses have perfected their outbound logistics. Products are picked, packed, and shipped with near-perfect accuracy, and customers are delighted. But some merchants haven’t put enough thought into the question posed by Amena Ali, CEO of Optoro: “What happens when all this stuff comes back?” In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Amena and Lori discuss the challenges of returns—for both cu...

Going into the new year, your customers, investors, and partners all have one thing in common: sustainability is a big concern. As natural disasters rage across the world, people are increasingly committed to preventing climate change—and they expect your business to do its part by reducing carbon emissions.  Tom Raftery, host of the Climate Confident and Sustainable Supply Chain podcasts, jo...

Last January, Chris Caplice joined us to discuss the top supply chain trends of 2024 . This year, he’s back to talk about what the world of shipping and logistics will look like in 2025.  As executive director at MIT Center for Transportation Logistics and chief scientist at DAT Freight and Analytics, Chris is deeply immersed in the supply chain industry, and he shares some great insights abo...

If you’re thinking about diving into ecommerce for the first time, you have a lot to consider. To succeed in the digital world, you may need to rethink inventory management, the customer experience, and more. But as Filipa Almeida, chief customer officer at Onport, points out, you’ll also expand your businesses’ reach exponentially.  Why move to ecommerce?  Plenty of business owners are...

Having worked in the logistics industry for 22 years, with 10 of those focused on ecommerce, Steve Syverson has had countless opportunities to hear from small business owners about the challenges and uncertainties they face. In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, he answers some of their most common (and pressing) questions. Should you use staffing agencies during busy times? How can you choose th...

Porch piracy isn’t fun for anybody. But that doesn’t stop Lori and Eric from having a little fun discussing it! In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, they react to videos of porch pirates getting caught in the act. At the same time, they bust some of the most common porch piracy and package protection myths, including these three:  Myth #1: Once a package is marked as delivered, your job is...

What comes to mind when you hear the term AI? For some, artificial intelligence is an exciting step forward, bringing possibilities of error reduction and cost savings. For others, it’s little more than a marketing buzzword.  Henrik Bergsager and Kushal Pillay of Powerhouse AI are in the first camp. In this episode, they discuss how AI tools can significantly improve warehouse operations for...

The holiday season is often the most profitable time of year for small businesses, but it comes with many challenges. How can small ecommerce businesses create a great purchase experience for customers? What logistical hurdles will they face?  In this episode, Maxwell Bonnie, co-founder of Saltbox, answers these questions and shares tips to help SMBs successfully navigate the upcoming peak se...

In the words of John Golden, vice president of sales at ParcelShield, “Shipping medication is a risky business, but it's also critical to hundreds of millions of those that are depending on pharmacy services.”  In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, John and Lori discuss the risks pharmaceutical shipments face and how the right technology can protect healthcare businesses and patients alike....

In today's episode, host Lori Boyer is joined by Jonathan Salama, CEO and co-founder of Transfix. With a unique background in tech and data science, Jonathan sheds light on how data is revolutionizing the logistics industry. Join us as we explore the intersection of technology and logistics, unraveling the complexities and uncovering the opportunities. Leveraging data for efficiency Jonathan empha...

In the latest episode of Unboxing Logistics , Lori Boyer engages with the insightful team from Better Trucks, including Josh Fredman, Mike Koleno, and Tom Butt from EasyPost. Recorded live at Parcel Forum 2024, this discussion dives deep into the transformative power of analytics in enhancing customer experiences within the logistics sector. The experts share actionable insights on how data can st...

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics , Lori Boyer from EasyPost welcomes Julian Van Erlach, Senior Vice President at FabFitFun. They dive into the complexities of scaling logistics while maintaining a superior customer experience. With a unique model that generates four peak seasons annually, FabFitFun’s operations are a masterclass in efficiency, cost management, and customer satisfaction. Julia...