No Retreat, No Surrender
Analyzing and commenting on the hot topics in business, politics, and economics globally
I do not play favorites nor do I criticize to be malicious or disrespectful. My goal is simple: Provide opinions that help cut through noise, educate, uncover lies and half-truths, and provide clarity.
What Can Replace the Pizza Box?
One of the more interesting aspects of the pizza business is that pizza is round, the boxes are square and the pizza is cut into triangles or squares. Pizza is round because it's easier to make a round pizza than a square pizza; it's also easier to make a round cake...
The Autonomous Supply Chain is Real
The topics I am asked to provide consulting and advisement on the most are supply chain management followed by robotics, technology, logistics, transportation, retail, innovation, and strategy. What I find interesting is that over the last 18 months, one thing has...
CEOs and Trust: Why it’s Easier Said than Done
I thoroughly enjoy watching movies about business. There are several films this year that portray the facts around several pivotal companies. Blackberry is the story of the rise and dramatic fall of the first smartphone, the Blackberry. Personally, I...
Will Walmart Acquire TikTok?
Walmart held its annual investor meeting today where the company said that by the end of fiscal year 2026, it aims to have 65% of its stores be serviced by automation, approximately 55% of the fulfillment center volume to move through automated facilities, and as a...
Autopsy: What Killed Boxed?
Boxed, which sells bulk pantry items to businesses and households, on Sunday said it has filed for bankruptcy and will wind down its retail e-commerce operations in the next few weeks. The company combined with a blank-check firm to go public in December 2021, near...
The Brutal Truth About Quiet Platforms
The following is my opinion only. Shekar Natarajan has been forced out as President of Quiet Platforms, a logistics company purchased by American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) in 2021 for $360M. AEO acquired the company AirTerra also in 2021. The news of Shekar's departure...
Introducing Buncha: Grocery Delivery for $1.45
Arguably the worst business model ever created is grocery delivery in 10 minutes. Known as rapid grocery delivery or RGD, companies such as Gorillas, 1520, Fridge No More, and many others, burst onto the scene in 2020 only to be out of business or on their deathbed by...
Alibaba to Split Into Six Business Units: Will Amazon Split up?
According to reports from CNBC and the Wall Street Journal, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., said it plans to split itself into six independently run companies that could seek separate IPOs, effectively dismantling a business empire built over two...
Free Shipping Is Coming To An End
According to a report from Reuters, and several other publications, retailers have finally come to the realization that free shipping isn't free. Amazon popularized the concept of free shipping as a unique selling proposition, leveraging their profitable Prime...
Opossum on a Stick
The topic of banking has been in the news due to the collapse and subsequent bailout of Silicon Valley Bank. Two of the nation’s top economic policymakers said they were focused on determining how the failure of Silicon Valley Bank had happened and suggested changes...