With 150 careers under her (very tiny) belt, Barbie is becoming an entrepreneur. Outfitted with a business-savvy wardrobe and accessories, Entrepreneur Barbie is making a bid for relevance in a market whose consumers keep getting older younger and abandoning their...
Pricey Shoes Nail Italy’s Share of US Footwear Imports
Italy’s standing among the top-ranked countries of origin for US footwear imports rests on pricier, higher-end brand products, Datamyne’s bill-of-lading data shows. Almost all footwear bought by US consumers is imported, with China far and away the leading source –...
US Footwear Imports Step up; Vietnam, Indonesia Step Forward
After stumbling earlier this year, US footwear imports stepped up in May, continuing a positive growth that began in April, the trade data shows. While China remains the leading country of origin, it continues to cede share to Vietnam as shoemaking shifts to...
Not Just for Bastille Day: US Toasts French Wine & Spirits
Whether it’s a champagne toast to Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité on La Fête du 14-Juillet, or an aperitif before, a bottle of wine during, or a brandy after dinner, Americans like to fill their glasses with French imports. Indeed, France is the leading source for US...
Without a Twist: Limes in Short Supply as Cinco de Mayo Nears
It’s a textbook case in the need to diversify sources of supply: The US imports about 97% of its limes from Mexico and, right now, limes are a scarce and expensive commodity in Mexico. Disease and bad weather have combined to reduce crop yields, shortages have boosted...
Growing Trade in Palm Oil Drives Quest for Sustainability
Kellogg’s announcement that all its palm oil suppliers must source the low-trans-fat oil in a way that is “environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable” is a major win for environmentalists. Kellogg will be working through its supply chain...
Air or Sea, a Rose by Either Transport Is Still a Sweet Valentine
Buying (or expecting) roses for Valentine’s Day? Your long-stems will be among 196 million roses produced for Valentine’s Day (according to Statistic Brain) and, odds are, they’re just off the plane from South America. There’s a small but growing chance, though, that...
Mexico Poised to Surpass Japan as Source for US Auto Imports
Japan, the No. 2 source for autos imported by the US since the 1970s, will likely be overtaken by Mexico this year, according to a report from Bloomberg that cites IHS Automotive estimates. Mexican auto exports have quadrupled from 1993 to 2013, says Bloomberg, while...
For Lululemon, Changes at the Top (in Supply Lines Too?)
There might have been a chance that Lululemon’s decision to return the too-sheer pants it had recalled in March to stores in October as “Second Chance Pants” would be judged a brave (if misguided) attempt to snatch merchandising victory from the jaws of a marketing...
Getting off an A-List No One Wants to Be on: FDA Import Alerts
by Peter Quinter, guest columnist The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the responsibility under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics (FD&C) Act to stop any adulterated or mislabeled food products from entering the United States. Foreign companies that...