Product Sourcing

As we head towards a pivotal U.S. presidential election for retailers, it’s paramount that leaders in our industry pay attention to the impact it can have on their operations. The convergence of economic, political and regulatory risks presents a volatile landscape, demanding that retail leaders act swiftly to mitigate unprecedented challenges that will likely materialize…

The Biden administration announced new steps on Friday to curtail what it calls the “overuse and abuse” of a longstanding trade law that permits low-value shipments to enter the United States without paying import duties and processing fees. The steps include a new rule proposal which would bar overseas shipments of products that are subject…

In episode 463 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Rah Mahtani, head of marketing, North America at Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. Listen in as Mahtani discusses the launch of Alibaba Guaranteed (0:55), how the solution addresses global sourcing challenges (2:45), and the process of incorporating feedback from buyers…

Stricter Enforcement of the ACE Entry Type 86 program In response to findings of counterfeit goods, illegal substances and misclassified shipments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is intensifying enforcement of the ACE Entry Type 86 program, which exempts U.S.-bound shipments valued under $800 from duties and taxes. Now, Entry Type 86 needs to be…

As we approach the holiday season, retailers and logistics service providers (LSPs) like freight forwarders and warehouses are placing their respective orders to secure the availability of merchandise before shoppers add to their carts. This year, the holiday consumer landscape is slightly different. With U.S. businesses gearing up to import more goods now compared to…

Walmart said this week that it's planning on easing its requirements for in-full and on-time shipments from suppliers. According to The Wall Street Journal, Walmart said that it wants its suppliers to deliver shipments on-time 90 percent of the time and in-full 95 percent of the time, down from the 98 percent threshold the company…

Imagine you’re shopping for a new dress. You have a vision of your colorful, dream dress, but you haven’t been able to find it anywhere online or in-store. But what if you could create it yourself with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)? Generative AI is fundamentally reshaping the product development process, offering many unique…

The fashion industry is still struggling to meet the expectations of a consumer base that has become increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impact of their clothing choices. In the U.S., 80 percent of consumers indicate that sustainability is a crucial factor when selecting a fashion brand. Younger shoppers in particular have shown that…

Saks, the premier digital platform for luxury fashion, recently announced that it has extended its partnership with Lightspeed Commerce, a one-stop commerce platform for merchants to simplify, scale and create exceptional customer experiences. The platform has helped Saks streamline previously manual processes, slashing time spent on order creation by 50 percent and reducing time spent on purchase…

Consumers are posing an ultimatum to fashion and apparel brands: Start taking sustainability seriously or they’ll shop elsewhere. A new study of UK consumers found that 81 percent intend to boycott apparel brands that don’t prioritize sustainability within the next two years. These consumers are part of a clear global trend: Growing swaths of consumers…