David Lidsky's Blog, page 155

What is a Labubu, and why are people lining up for hours to get one of these ‘ugly’ plush toys?

The new furry collectibles from Chinese brand Pop Mart have sparked a buying frenzy from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago.

Ugly might be the new cute: Just look at Labubu, a “kind of ugly” plush toy that has sparked a buying frenzy across the world, especially in Asia, reported CNN. People from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur flocked to shopping malls on Friday to get the latest edition of the oh-so-collectible furry, while they quickly sold out online.

Amazon’s book sale crashes Independent Bookstore Day—and readers are pushing back

As more than 1,600 indie bookstores prepare for their biggest day of the year, Amazon’s overlapping sale draws sharp criticism.

Independent bookstores have long been champions of community, curiosity, and culture—and on Saturday, April 26, they get their moment in the spotlight. Independent Bookstore Day, a nationwide celebration of indie bookstores, invites readers to shop locally and support the spaces that keep storytelling vibrant. But this year, the festivities come with a wrinkle: Amazon is holding a major book sale at the same time, and many booksellers and readers aren’t having it.

Families demand action from Meta over children’s deaths linked to platform harm

Dozens gathered in Manhattan this week to call for accountability.

“Meta profits, kids pay the price,” was the message delivered by dozens of grieving families at the doors of Meta’s Manhattan office on Thursday.

Your Shein order probably just got more expensive

The ultracheap retailers Shein and Temu just increased their prices due to the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Here’s what that might mean for your next order.

Starting today, shopping on Shein and Temu is going from dirt cheap to slightly less dirt cheap.

U.S. loosens safety rules for self-driving cars in a bid to compete with China

The new exemption procedures will allow U.S. automakers to apply to skip certain safety rules for self-driving cars if they are used only for noncommercial purposes.

The Trump administration is loosening rules to help U.S. automakers like develop self-driving cars so they can take on Chinese rivals.

Wall Street’s rally fizzles as uncertainty returns amid Trump’s trade war

Intel, Eastman Chemical, and Sketchers are among the latest companies to say the uncertainty created by Trump’s trade war makes it difficult to give financial forecasts for the upcoming year.

Wall Street’s big three-day rally is running out of steam, and U.S. stocks are drifting in mixed trading Friday as they near the end of another roller-coaster week.

Trader Joe’s new store openings: Updated list of locations that are expected to open soon

In a year when many retail outlets are shrinking their footprint or filing for bankruptcy, the grocery chain’s popularity appears to know no bounds.

This year has so far been a pretty brutal one when it comes to store closures. Hundreds of retail stores have already shuttered due to everything from cost-cutting to bankruptcies. Major store closures so far in 2025 have included Rite Aid, Forever 21, Joann, Party City, Kohl’s, and Big Lots.

The year African fintech gets real

Sustainable growth and artificial intelligence pave the way for reality replacing hype.

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

Bezos-backed Slate Auto reveals its new customizable $20,000 EV

Slate Auto’s new vehicle is designed to make EVs more accessible by making most features optional add-ons. The company says it will start delivering vehicles in 2026.

A new auto startup is launching with a made-in-America EV that with federal tax credits will cost just $20,000. Backed by Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt, Slate Auto says that affordable price is possible because of its pared-down, basic model that can then be customized—and even transformed from a truck into an SUV.

Slate Auto has been in stealth for almost three years, says CEO Chris Barman, who worked as a Chrysler executive until 2017. Based in Michigan, Slate spun out of Re:Build Manufacturing, a company cofounded by Jeff Wilke, former CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business. Slate purports to be “rekindling American industry” with a suite of U.S. industrial businesses, from batteries to composite manufacturing. (Barman is employee number two at Slate; the company now has more than 400 employees.)

Think AI kills creativity? You’re using it wrong

AI shouldn’t replace talent, it should sharpen it.

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more.