Specialty Building Products reached a deal to purchase OrePac Building Products, a family-run distributor based in Oregon that operates 13 locations across the Western US. Expected to be finalized by the end of the year, the deal will expand Georgia-based SBP's product offerings and geographic reach. OrePac will retain its brand name, management team and employees.

Retailers are increasingly adopting a business-to-business-to-consumer model to reduce tariff costs. The model involves intermediaries, which purchase goods at wholesale prices and pay tariffs on those prices rather than retail prices. While companies have maintained stable prices amid the model, some experts question its long-term viability.

The 2025 Global Industrial Trade Show was held at Disney Coronado Springs Resort, gathering over 1,000 attendees and 165 exhibitors. Highlights included demonstrations of innovative equipment, recognition of vendor partners, and opportunities for attendees to explore the latest exclusive offerings from Global Industrial and its collaborators. CEO Anesa Chaibi, who emphasizes customer-centricity, detailed the company's efforts to better understand and anticipate customer needs.

The adoption of AI and robotics from 2020 to 2022 had minimal overall effect on employment levels among businesses, according to recent US Census Bureau data. When technology did impact workforce numbers, AI and specialized software were more likely to increase employment, while robotics showed no significant difference between increased or decreased employment. These findings challenge the widespread belief that AI and automation are eliminating jobs in the immediate term.

Amazon is expanding its Multi-Channel Fulfillment service to include Walmart, Shopify and Shein, allowing merchants to manage inventory across more sales channels. Amazon has also introduced Global Warehousing and Distribution, enabling sellers to store products near manufacturing sites at lower costs, and is using generative AI to streamline customs clearance.

US reliance on imports from the EU has surpassed that on China in terms of total value and product variety, according to a study from Germany's IW economic institute. The study shows that the number of product groups in which at least 50% of imports come from the EU has risen to more than 3,100, with a total value of $287 billion, while China accounts for 2,925 product groups worth $247 billion.

Marketing teams must adapt to rapidly changing skills, with those succeeding fundamentally rewiring their approach to problem-solving and decision-making, Meet The People CEO Tim Ringel writes. Teams must integrate systems thinking, data analysis and cross-cultural fluency to quickly identify microtrends, tailor messaging to diverse segments and update creative in real time, Ringel writes.

Fred Ende introduces the concept of "time-lapse leadership," emphasizing the value of insights that only become apparent over time. Ende discusses three key lessons: the importance of understanding people as whole individuals, the cyclical nature of careers and life and the necessity of gaining diverse perspectives. By reflecting on personal experiences, Ende highlights how time can shape leadership and personal growth, urging leaders to use time effectively while accepting its uncontrollable nature.

FedEx expects to take a $1 billion hit to its fiscal 2026 earnings as a result of recent US tariff changes. The company reported $6.1 billion in adjusted operating income in the previous fiscal year, highlighting the significance of this anticipated impact. The loss is largely attributed to the end of the de minimis provision, which had previously exempted lower-value packages from tariffs.

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