FedEx Makes Major Foray Into eCommerce By Buying ShopRunner

FedEx took a big step on Wednesday (Dec. 2) toward beefing up its eCommerce capabilities, announcing a deal to acquire eCommerce platform ShopRunner for an undisclosed sum.

“We are committed to growing the ShopRunner platform and combining it with our global digital and logistics intelligence to create new possibilities in eCommerce,” FedEx President and COO Raj Subramaniam said in a press release announcing the deal.

He said the tie-up aims to “create an open, collaborative e-commerce ecosystem that helps merchants deliver seamless experiences for their customers.”

ShopRunner CEO Sam Yagan offered a similar take on the deal.

“In pursuit of our purpose of creating the future of retail, we have built the foundation of a cross-brand ecosystem to create a simple shopping experience for consumers and to aggregate the scale of our network for our partners’ benefit,” Yagan said in the news release. “The unparalleled reach and assets of FedEx will accelerate our existing capabilities and align with our goal of creating new products and services that advance a more open, collaborative e-commerce ecosystem.”

Chicago-based ShopRunner connects millions of consumers to more than 100 popular brands, providing a seamless shopping experience across merchants. Customers receive free two-day shipping, free returns, member-exclusive discounts and seamless checkout.

Once the FedEx acquisition closes, ShopRunner will operate as a subsidiary of FedEx Services, which provides a range of back-office functions, including IT, communications, technical support, billing and sales and marketing.

The deal will thrust FedEx squarely into the center of the explosively growing eCommerce ecosystem. A top FedEx Services executive recently told a trade publication that the parcel-delivery giant sees eCommerce as the major driver of growth in its sector over the next six years. The remarks came as estimates emerged that the global small-parcel market is set to more than double by 2026 to as many as 262 million packages a day.