The scarcity is real, and for most retailers – the occasional backorder went from a low-grade and fairly infrequent problem to major outages, much of the time, and backorders of 3-4 months are increasingly common. Customer reactions range from anger and frustration to panic that they won’t get what they need. Believe it or not, it’s possible to make the best of a bad situation. A brand’s response to trying situations: returns, backorders, and out-of-stocks, can make or break your customers’ perception. So what moves make sense? First, your customer has an immediate need. So when possible, sell what’s available today (SWAT). Something that can fill that is far superior to a perfect solution that’s available in 4-6 months. You need a reliable inventory system, and a knowledgeable staff that’s empowered and capable to direct customers to the right solution that’s available on hand, or smart website algorithms that can suggest an appropriate alternate product. But what if offering an alternative product is not possible? Then it becomes about managing expectations, communicating early and often, and empathizing with the customers’ likely frustrations. More at: https://www.brandunited.com/article/supply-chain-woes-communicating-customers/

We're thrilled to share something years in the making: the solar farms we co-funded are now generating renewable electricity to match energy used in our Canva Print supply chain. Four solar farms are now live, each producing 4–5 MW of renewable energy. It's a milestone we're proud of, and one we couldn't have reached alone. Built in partnership with Watershed, a sustainability AI platform, these projects show what’s possible when we invest in climate solutions together, rather than asking individual suppliers to take on a global challenge by themselves. Print is one of the largest contributors to our carbon footprint, from the materials and manufacturing to the energy required to bring physical products to life. If we want to make meaningful progress, this is an impactful place to start. In 2024, we committed to funding a portfolio of community solar projects in Illinois, USA, helping add new power to the grid in regions where renewable power is still limited. Now, as these projects begin generating electricity, they’re supporting a shift toward lower-emissions Print production.

Amazon passed the U.S. Postal Service as the largest domestic parcel carrier in 2025, anchoring a broader market shift away from traditional couriers, as it in-sourced a large amount of last-mile delivery work previously handled by UPS, according to data published Monday by ShipMatrix Inc. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) handled 6.7 billion parcels last year, up 9.8% year over year, compared to an 8.3% decline for the U.S. Postal Service to 6.6 billion pieces. UPS (NYSE: UPS) also experienced an 8.3% volume decline at 4.4 billion deliveries. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) delivered 3.6 billion parcels in 2025, up 5.9%. Amazon’s parcel growth isn’t just fueled by its own online orders, but new contracts from third parties that don’t sell on the retailer’s platform.