Eric Lewis

Regardless of how the U.S. trade war evolves, we see impacts for retailers reliant on overseas sourcing. In the face of uncertainty over tariffs, many business leaders are choosing to wait and see, hesitating to act—often without realizing that inaction may be riskier than making a few imperfect decisions. In this article, AlixPartners' experts examine the second-order effects of today’s volatile environment and offer a practical framework for decision-making for retailers. Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/uF4t50VUuMG

11

Regardless of how the U.S. trade war evolves, we see impacts for retailers reliant on overseas sourcing. In the face of uncertainty over tariffs, many business leaders are choosing to wait and see, hesitating to act—often without realizing that inaction may be riskier than making a few imperfect decisions. In this article, AlixPartners' experts examine the second-order effects of today’s volatile environment and offer a practical framework for decision-making for retailers. Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/SIQ750VU35S

6

The Real Impact of Tariffs on Our Business The recent tariff increases have hit our business in a very real way. When you’re operating between U.S. retailers and overseas manufacturing partners, those added costs don’t just sit on paper — they show up in every quote, every order, every margin review. That pressure forces tough decisions. We’ve had to look hard at expenses across the board, and unfortunately, that’s led to a reduction in some higher-salary U.S. positions. It’s never an easy call, but when tariffs drive up cost at the source, the only place to find relief is in operations. The challenge is to make those adjustments without losing the core of what makes the business work — the creativity, the speed, the relationships, and the collaboration between teams and partners that have been built over years. Pressure like this makes you sharper, but it also reminds you how interconnected everything really is. The focus now is on adapting, staying lean, and finding new ways to add value — because while tariffs may be temporary, the need to evolve is permanent. Curious how others in the import and retail world are navigating these cost pressures. What strategies have helped you offset or adapt to the latest tariffs?

11

One quiet advantage in business is operational discipline. It’s not the most exciting part of building a company. It doesn’t get headlines or social media attention. But over time, disciplined operations tend to outperform fast momentum. Reliable supply chains, consistent product quality, and strong systems allow companies to scale without breaking. That’s something you learn quickly once a brand starts growing across markets. #OperationsExcellence #Manufacturing #SupplyChainManagement #GlobalMarkets #BusinessGrowth #OperationalLeadership

8

Trade pressures are reshaping US manufacturing. Companies that once chased the lowest costs overseas are bringing production closer to customers. Why? James DeMuth, Seurat’s CEO and Co-Founder, explains, “As manufacturers look for ways to combat tariffs and reestablish supply chain stability, we’re seeing companies shift toward:  - Bringing critical production closer to where demand exists.  - Reducing dependence on tooling that slows iteration and locks in risk.  - De-risking brittle supply chains with systems that can flex and scale." Discover the full story on how these changes are driving innovation in the U.S in our latest blog. 👉 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecN68Jc9 #SupplyChain #manufacturing #tariffs

25

1 Comment

Saks Global recently missed a significant interest payment on its debt. The company is actively considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Heavy debt load stems largely from the $2.7 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group in 2024, aimed at creating a luxury retail powerhouse with cost synergies and better vendor leverage. Post-merger performance has been weak: Sales failed to revive, with revenue dropping over 13% in the quarter ending August 2025 (to ~$1.6 billion), leading to lowered full-year guidance in October 2025. Luxury shopping is inherently personal and high-touch: Clients expect concierge-level service, precise recommendations, and seamless experiences across online and in-store. Traditional department stores rely heavily on human stylists and personal shoppers, which are expensive to scale and inconsistent at digital speeds.Agentic AI evolves basic chatbots into "proactive personal shoppers". https://lnkd.in/grRdZ8vf

11

3 Comments