India is positioning itself as a smartphone-production hub amid a U.S.-China trade war that has disrupted global supply chains and left tech firms such as Apple and Samsung looking for alternatives to China to manufacture their products. Photo: Olivier Le Hellard for The Wall Street Journal
Category Archives: Business
Online: ‘Inside Amazon’s Smart Warehouse’ (Video)
Amazon is the world’s biggest retailer, and its CEO Jeff Bezos the world’s richest man, for one very good reason. His company is better than anyone else, ever, at giving people what they want, quickly. Amazon acquired its undisputed status as heavyweight champion of the retail universe thanks largely to its lightning-fast delivery times.
The astonishing feat of ferrying hundreds of millions of items, from guitar strings to saucepans to car parts, directly to your door, inside 24 hours, is nothing short of a modern logistical miracle. So how does Amazon do it? A super-smart army of slave robots, for one. Ingenious, if occasionally unscrupulous, management practices are part of the answer too.
And the modern-day voodoo of deep-learning AI – all of which are made flesh in the most advanced stockrooms the world has ever seen. So join us today, as we button up our hi-vis jacket and journey inside Amazon’s smart warehouses.
Clothing: ‘The Rise Of Patagonia’ (CNBC Video)
The Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Vest is by far one of the brand’s most popular products. It’s also one of its most divisive. Over the last five years, the vest became a must-have accessory for Wall Street workers in Manhattan’s financial district to tech bros in Silicon Valley.
The company says at its height, it was fielding 60 requests for co branded vests, a day. But Patagonia, a private company that values environmental and political activism, never sought out to become the go-to status symbol for some of the biggest and richest corporations in the world.
The combination of hefty price tags and a professional-class of super fans earned it the nickname “Patagucci” prompting it to reevaluate which companies it allowed to put a moniker on the vest as a way to ensure their partners align with their progressive culture.
Patagonia even discouraged consumers from partaking in Black Friday sales and snuck political messages into the tags of its clothing. Here’s how Patagonia’s anti consumption philosophy helped it build a billion dollar outdoor brand.
Foods: ‘Expert Beekeepers Harvesting Honey From Two Million Bees’ (Video)
Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm owners Kam and Summer Johnson started keeping bees after learning how raw and local honey could benefit their son, who suffered with asthma and seasonal allergies. After studying how to best keep bees, harvest honey, and keep up their own bee farm, they were able to sell their local honey to restaurants around NYC, and even have a shop in Chelsea Market. https://zachandzoe.co/
Travel: Can Airlines Recover In 2021? (Video)
After losses of €100 billion in 2020, will next year see air travel take off again? We speak to Alexandre de Juniac, the head of industry body IATA.
Retail Stores: ‘The Rise And Fall Of Macy’s’ (WSJ Video)
Macy’s has long been identified with the start of the holiday shopping season. But the company was hurting even before the coronavirus crisis hit the retail industry, raising questions about how far Macy’s star could fall.
Photo Illustration: Jacob Reynolds/WSJ
Aviation Industry: ‘How Boeing Suppliers Plan To Survive Crisis’ (WSJ Video)
Boeing’s production cuts have sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, forcing suppliers to lay off thousands of employees. Tool Gauge reconfigured its operations just after opening a new facility in Tacoma, Wash., designed to manufacture Boeing parts.
Photo: Joel Winter for The Wall Street Journal
Covid-19: How To Spark Economic Recovery
Governments will have to deal with the economic fallout from the pandemic for decades to come. If they get their response wrong, countries risk economic stagnation and political division.
Read more here: https://econ.st/3ojORKY
Economics: ‘Universal Basic Income Experiment In South Korea’ (WSJ Video)
To stimulate its pandemic-hit economy, a province in South Korea has been experimenting with universal basic income programs by regularly giving out cash, no questions asked. Now, some politicians want to go national with the concept.
Illustration: Crystal Tai/WSJ
Business: ‘Why The USPS Loses Money’ (CNN Video)
It’s no secret that the United States Postal Service has been losing money for a long time, but that’s not entirely its fault. Here are the real reasons it’s in the red.
Produced by John General Supervising Producer Bronte Lord
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