The de minimis exemption has played a major role in the rise of Chinese fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu. The exemption works like this: if an imported good has a value of less than $800, it is exempt from tariffs. The loophole has been around since the 1930s, but in recent years, it has given e-commerce brands that ship many smaller orders an advantage. 鈥淎 retailer like Wal-Mart buys in bulk, and imports are much more than $800, so they pay tariffs,鈥� Prof.
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Published on: 30 Jul 2025
When people an affinity for a brand, they can feel as though it鈥檚 their friend. And Lego has a powerful brand. For many, the mere mention of the Denmark-headquartered maker of plastic building bricks evokes memories of wholesome childhood play. And the warm and fuzzy feelings that a brand like Lego catalyzes can have real effects on how people interact with it.
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Published on: 23 Jul 2025
Until recently, the most common way that customers interacted with a company鈥檚 customer service was via human agents on the telephone, the web or a mobile app. But increasingly, customer service is being provided by chatbots. Even though chatbots offer instant availability, 24 hours a day, more than two-thirds of people still prefer to speak with a human agent, according to research by PWC, an accounting consultancy. Most companies use chatbots as the first line of customer service, writes Prof.
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Published on: 23 Jul 2025
A de mimimis exemption allows goods below a certain value threshold to be traded internationally without paying duty. And on May 2 2025, the United States eliminated their de minimis exception for Hong Kong and China. That will drive up prices for shoppers on ultra-budget fast fashion platforms like Shein. With the changes to the rules, the price of a $20 dress on Shein could increase to more than $30.
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Published on: 23 Jul 2025
A Canadian clothing company has recently come under fire for using provocative slogans on some of its clothing. The company claims its target demo is now a confident shopper in their mid-twenties, but Professor of Marketing Vivek Astvansh argues that a company might use controversy to sell, even if their customers aren鈥檛 of age.
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Published on: 15 May 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the least controversial cabinet appointments made by President Donald Trump. During this turbulent time in geopolitics, the stature of the former Florida senator is rising, according to Newsweek. It鈥檚 a high-stakes role, and for countries like Canada, Rubio has become a kind of interlocutor that helps interpret information coming out of the White House.
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Published on: 27 Mar 2025
As U.S.-Canada tariff disputes escalate, New York鈥檚 economy faces serious risks, with over $42 billion in trade at stake. 9I制作厂免费 professors Preetika Joshi and Vivek Astvansh warn that rising costs on goods like aluminum, barley, and auto parts could lead to inflation, job losses, and disruptions across key industries.
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Published on: 21 Mar 2025
As President Trump鈥檚 latest tariffs send markets into turmoil, 9I制作厂免费 Desautels Professor Vivek Astvansh provides insight into the potential long-term impact on trade and investments. Amid uncertainty, experts suggest diversification as the key to stability. Read more on how Canadian markets and investors can navigate this shifting landscape.
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Published on: 21 Mar 2025
With the United States both threatening and imposing tariffs, Canada has responded with counter-tariffs of its own. But could these measures do more harm than good?鈥淩etaliatory tariffs are just a bad decision. They increase the prices that Canadian importers pay to bring goods into the country, and increase prices for consumers鈥� says Vivek Astvansh, an Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at 9I制作厂免费 Desautels.
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Published on: 12 Mar 2025
When Canada and the United States faced off in the NHL鈥檚 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament, the game held at the Bell Centre was the hottest ticket in Montreal, with some asking prices topping $10,000 a ticket on online ticket selling services. The intense demand was likely driven in part by the political tensions between the long-time allies.
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Published on: 25 Feb 2025
During the first Trump administration, the US imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. And though those tariffs were lifted, they鈥檙e doing it again. Even though Canadian producers had more than four years to diversify their clientele, they remain heavily reliant on the US market.
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Published on: 21 Feb 2025
It is not yet clear whether US President Donald Trump will follow through on his threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada鈥攐r even what the motivation for that threat really is. Inconsistent messaging could be a deliberate tactic by the US president, Vivek Astvansh told canadianfamilyoffices.com. 鈥淲e should care less about the reasons Trump is threatening tariffs, because they keep shifting,鈥� says the Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at 9I制作厂免费 Desautels.
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Published on: 13 Feb 2025
Amazon Canada is closing all of its Quebec warehouses, affecting nearly 2,000 employees. The company claims the move is to provide long-term savings to customers and is unrelated to recent unionization efforts. However, industry experts, including 9I制作厂免费 business Professor Vivek Astvansh, suggest the closures are a response to union activities.
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Published on: 31 Jan 2025
At Caf茅 Origine on Sherbrooke Street, oat milk costs extra鈥攁nd there鈥檚 a reason for that. Non-dairy milk substitutes like oat milk cost more than cow鈥檚 milk does. Some large chains like Starbucks have stopped charging extra for milk substitutes, but independent cafes can struggle to absorb the costs. 鈥淎 local caf茅 doesn鈥檛 have the sales volume,鈥� says Vivek Astvansh, Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics.
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Published on: 31 Jan 2025
In January 2025, the Montreal-based retailer Frank and Oak filed for creditor protection for the second time in recent years. A company statement said it was to protect employees, assets and operations from creditor claims while exploring options to restructure. 鈥淭he brand is not standing out in an environment where other brands have done well,鈥� said Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.
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Published on: 17 Jan 2025
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