Walmart, Wing to scale drone delivery operations to 270 stores

Following “chronic uncertainty” from increased U.S. tariffs in 2025, the impact on cargo imports in 2026 is likely to still be affected by trade policy. That’s according to the latest “Global Port Tracker,” which is produced for the National Retail Federation by Hackett Associates. “As 2026 begins, we see a world increasingly focused on protecting domestic industries and addressing perceived trade imbalances,” Hackett said. “This approach has raised questions about the future of free trade and international economic cooperation.”

The way people interact with brands is not as orderly or linear as a customer journey map seems to indicate – or a sales funnel, for that matter. I’m not implying that understanding, mapping and optimizing the customer journey, and your path to conversion isn’t mandatory – it is. But I am suggesting that it’s worth looking further in an attempt to understand the way actual, living, breathing, thinking humans experience your brand. As a human, I can attest that my journey from awareness to purchase and later repurchase is never linear or orderly. If we drill down to a closer view, we can talk about the cluster of interactions that are driven by something the customer did. Place an order? There’s a cluster of activity there. Visit the website? There’s a cluster of interactions there. Sign up for email? Ad cluster. more at source: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/look-inside-the-customer-journey/

Sustainability is no longer a one-size-fits-all message. As more consumers become aware of environmental issues, their attitudes and actions toward sustainability vary widely. A recent international report by GlobeScan, backed by a mix of global brands and environment-focused initiatives, sheds light on these differences—identifying four distinct consumer mindsets regarding sustainability. These insights can help brands, including those in the print and paper industries, tailor their messaging and products to better engage customers. Based on a survey of over 30,000 consumers across 31 markets, GlobeScan’s Road to 2025 report categorizes consumers into four groups: Anxious Inactives, Indifferents, Enthusiasts, and Minimalists. Each group requires a unique approach to encourage more sustainable behaviors. Let’s explore each mindset and how companies can effectively reach them. Anxious Inactives (28%) - The largest segment of the population, Anxious Inactives, are environmentally conscious but feel overwhelmed by the scale of the climate crisis. Many of them—especially Gen Z consumers—experience guilt and anxiety about their personal impact, which often leads to inaction.