Tag Archives: Consumers

Reducing Variety to manage Supply Chain Shocks

An article in the Wall Street Journal on September 1, 2026 titled “Retailers Ditch Variety to Best Supply-Chain Costs and Tariffs”, describes how Under Armor, an athletic apparel retailer, Helen of Troy, a consumer products company and Yedi Houseware, a … Continue reading

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, manufacturer, Operations Management, product, Supply Chain Issues, Variety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

New technology to use the entire cocoa fruit – who will it benefit ?

An article in the BBC news site (August 27, 2024) titled “Have Swiss scientists made a chocolate breakthrough?” describes new technology developed at the Federal Institute of Technology at Zurich that claims to use the rest of the coca fruit … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Cost, delivery, Prices, productivity, supplier, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability, technology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Should early cash access, with voluntary tips as the cost, be treated as a loan?

An article published by the Associated Press (July 28, 2024) titled “US agency says apps that let workers access paychecks before payday are providing loans”, states that the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau wants the Truth in Lending act to apply … Continue reading

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Cocoa risks – high prices, the EU deforestation initiative, cocoa substitutes

An article in foodnavigator.com titled “Six startups rethinking cocoa for alt choc innovation” describes the combined impact of cocoa bean prices exceeding 10,000 euro per metric ton and the new European Deforestation Regulation starting December 2024 as driving substitutes for cocoa. Celleste … Continue reading

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Treating patient’s at home: good idea or potential liability?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 13, 2024) titled “Hospital’s New Push: Treat Patients in Their Homes”, describes the over 23,000 Medicare treated at home through April this year. The rules require the patients to be less than … Continue reading

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Climate change and its impact on olives, coffee and grapes

An article in the Wall Street Journal (June 10, 2024) titled “Climate Change is Coming for the Finer Things in Life” describes heavy rains causing mildew that has destroyed grapes in Italy, hot weather and drought impacting olive groves and … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, Cost, disruption, Global Contexts, logistics, productivity, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are apparel brands responsible for minimum wage levels in Bangladesh?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (November 6, 2023) titled “The Workers who make your clothes want higher pay. Who should pay up?” describes the demand by workers in Bangladesh for higher wages, $205 per month, as against the … Continue reading

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Robots support staff, increase throughout, despite fewer employees at a restaurant

An article in CNN.com (September 8,2021) titled “Robots are picking up unwanted jobs at a Latin restaurant in Texas”, describes a mobile robot with an iPad that greets customers, takes them to the assigned tables and carries the food for … Continue reading

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Calculating penalties for component design IP infringement

An article in the Wall Street Journal  (August, 4 2016) titled “Apple wins famed designer support in battle vs Samsung” describes the challenge of determining penalties for Samsung ‘ s violation of  Apple’s patents for display of apps and the … Continue reading

Posted in intellectual property, Liability, product, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Even faster fashion and its impact

An article in BBC.com (September 8, 2016) titled “Designers aim for even faster fashion” describes the option of ordering items shown on the runway as a new fashion trend offered by Burberry, Tom Ford and Tommy Hilfiger. This approach drops … Continue reading

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, delivery, Global Contexts, logistics, ordering, Service Operations, ship, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 69 Comments