Cargo containers at a port representing the impact of Section 301 tariffs on logistics

Section 301 Tariffs Lawsuit Shakes Up Logistics Costs

A fresh legal challenge is putting Section 301 tariffs back in the spotlight, and logistics operators should be paying close attention. Two businesses have filed a lawsuit arguing that these tariffs, originally tied to forced labor enforcement, are being used as a substitute for duties that were previously rolled back. The outcome could reshape how […]

Row of Hoka sneakers on a shelf symbolizing the Hoka growth slowdown discussion

Is Hoka’s Growth Slowdown a Warning Sign?

Deckers Brands, the parent company behind Hoka and Ugg, just posted a Q1 that topped Wall Street forecasts. Yet instead of pure celebration, the results have sparked a quieter conversation among analysts: is a Hoka growth slowdown starting to show up beneath the surface? For a brand that has spent years as the fastest-growing name […]

Illustration showing AI task automation software helping a small business team work faster

Prentis Raises $100M Bet on AI Task Automation

A new AI lab called Prentis is reportedly in talks to raise $100 million, and its founders think the next big wave of artificial intelligence will not be about writing code. Instead, the startup, co-founded by Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus, is wagering that AI task automation, handling the repetitive computer work that fills most […]

Cargo ships near Strait of Hormuz representing disrupted plastic supply chains

Iran Conflict Disrupts Plastic Supply Chains Worldwide

Just weeks after hopes rose for calmer waters in the Middle East, renewed fighting in July has thrown plastic supply chains back into turmoil. A brief ceasefire in June had raised expectations that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen fully and that virgin material flows would stabilize. Instead, the conflict flared again, and the industry […]

Customer using an AI shopping assistant on a retail website to find products

Michaels’ AI Shopping Assistant Signals Retail Shift

Michaels has rolled out an AI shopping assistant called Ask Mike, designed to help shoppers move past basic keyword searches and toward recommendations tailored to what they actually want. Instead of typing rigid search terms and sorting through filters, customers can describe a project or a need in plain language and get suggestions back. It […]

Illustration of an AI model router selecting between image, video and audio generation tools

Runway’s AI Model Router Signals SaaS Shift

The generative media space just got a new layer of infrastructure. Runway has introduced an AI model router, a tool that automatically picks the best image, video, or audio generation model for a given task depending on whether the priority is quality, speed, or cost. For small business owners trying to keep up with an […]

Warehouse shelves representing supply chain resilience investment in food manufacturing

Conagra Bets $125M on Supply Chain Resilience

Conagra Brands is putting real money behind the idea that supply chain resilience is no longer optional for large manufacturers. The company plans to invest $125 million with the goal of keeping service levels high while trimming excess inventory and rethinking which products it prioritizes. For an industry that has spent years wrestling with unpredictable […]

Discount retail storefront representing brick-and-mortar expansion in 2024

Ross Accelerates Brick-and-Mortar Expansion in 2024

While much of the retail conversation over the past few years has centered on ecommerce and online marketplaces, one discount retailer is doubling down on a different strategy. Ross Stores is pushing forward with an aggressive brick-and-mortar expansion, adding nearly 50 new locations as part of a broader plan to open around 110 stores this […]

Chart showing rapid Corgi insurance funding rounds reaching a $4B valuation

Corgi Insurance Funding Soars to $4B in 8 Weeks

The pace of the current AI funding boom keeps producing headlines that would have seemed absurd a few years ago, but Corgi’s latest raise still manages to stand out. The insurance startup reportedly closed its third funding round in roughly eight weeks, pushing its valuation to $4 billion. For an industry as traditionally slow moving […]

Semiconductor supply chain factory representing TSMC's new $100B US investment

TSMC $100B Investment Boosts US Semiconductor Supply Chain

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has announced another major commitment to the United States, pledging roughly $100 billion toward four new advanced chip facilities. This move brings the company’s total US footprint to twelve plants and marks one of the largest single investments in the semiconductor supply chain to date. For operators across manufacturing, freight, and […]