Recently in Logistics; this edition rounds up the latest strategies and case studies from industry leaders to help you plan with confidence for 2027. Canadian shoppers are budgeting more carefully for the holidays and planning around major sales events, while cross-border truck capacity remains tight heading into peak season. Meanwhile, Groupe Dynamite is investing in upgraded stores, a new Penske study shows AI becoming embedded in supply chains, and Nintendo and EB Games are showing what a partnership-led physical retail space can look like.
Canadians Plan to Spend Less on Holidays as Budgets Tighten
Canadians plan to spend an average of $911 this holiday season, down 6.5 percent from last year, according to the ninth annual RCC x Leger Holiday Shopping Survey. Inflation is the leading influence, and shoppers are responding with more deal hunting, earlier buying, and purchases timed around major sales, with 88 percent ranking Black Friday among their top three shopping days. Even so, stores still account for 58 percent of holiday budgets, and 84 percent of Canadians are more likely to buy a gift marked Made in Canada. For 2027 planning, value, timing, and local sourcing deserve a seat at the strategy table.
Source: Retail Insider
Cross-Border Truck Capacity Remains a Challenge for Shippers
Cross-border freight conditions eased slightly in October but remain tighter than normal, according to the latest NAX Index from TRAFFIX. The Canada index slipped to 57 from 58 and the Mexico index to 54 from 55, which TRAFFIX reads as stabilization rather than deterioration. Truck availability remains the main operational challenge, and limited backup capacity leaves shippers exposed to missed pickups and higher spot market costs, while duty costs and product classification continue to complicate planning on Canada-US lanes. Building carrier depth and contingency capacity now is a sound priority heading into 2027.
Source: Inside Logistics
Groupe Dynamite Reinvents Its Canadian Stores With Dynamite 3.0
Groupe Dynamite is reinvesting in its established Canadian banner through Dynamite 3.0, a premium-inspired store concept that pairs refined interiors and curated merchandise with complimentary personal styling. Introduced at Royalmount in Montreal in 2024, the format has since reached West Edmonton Mall and several Quebec shopping centres. The company’s broader results are strong, with second-quarter revenue up 29.8 percent and sales per square foot up 28.9 percent, though the return on the new format itself has not been separately disclosed. The lesson for 2027 is that store investment must earn its place through productivity, not appearance alone.
Source: Retail Insider
3PL Study Finds AI Adoption Accelerating Across Supply Chains
The newly released 2027 Third-Party Logistics Study from Penske Logistics, supported by NTT DATA and researcher John Langley, finds AI becoming more embedded in supply chains, with 66 percent of shippers using it for predictive analytics and risk planning compared with 43 percent of 3PLs. Data quality, legacy systems, and budgets remain the biggest barriers to wider adoption. Transportation capacity disruption is the top resilience concern, and shippers are leaning on multi-carrier and multimodal strategies, alternative sourcing, and inventory buffers. Notably, only 36 percent of shippers are highly confident in their defences against freight theft, versus 69 percent of 3PLs.
Source: Inside Logistics
Nintendo and EB Games Share the Strategy Behind Their Toronto Store-Within-a-Store
Nintendo and EB Games executives say the new 1,500-square-foot Toronto space, Nintendo’s first store-within-a-store in North America, grew out of a longstanding partnership and a shared belief that playing and discovering products in person offers something online buying cannot. The format gives a specialty retailer a new destination inside an existing flagship, with playable demos and refreshed assortments encouraging repeat visits. Neither company has shared investment figures, sales targets, or expansion plans, and success is being framed around engagement and return visits. It is a case study in partnership-led physical retail worth watching as you plan for 2027.
Source: Retail Insider
Are your logistics needs being addressed? Let’s explore your eCommerce fulfillment strategies. You can book a brief call with our team of seasoned logistics professionals to evaluate your needs and formulate a customized plan to propel your business forward.
For quick and easy scheduling, here’s a link to my full calendar.
Check out our other bi-weekly updates here.
