Black History Month, Trump Tariffs, Taxes & Top Trends

Success Starts Here: Your Weekly Edge in Business & Strategy

Celebrating Black History Month 2025!

Celebrating and commemorating Black History Month 2025 is in full swing! This year’s theme, as lauded by the Smithsonian Institute, is “African-Americans and Labor with a focus on the various and profound ways that work of all kinds intersects with the collective experiences of Black people.

Check out some of the most insightful and accessible BHM 2025 resources.

These Goods May Be Hit Hardest by Trump’s Tariffs

President Donald Trump signed an order to put tariffs on U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico, as well as China, starting Tuesday. Canada and Mexico quickly announced retaliatory tariffs, while China said it would take “necessary countermeasures.” Trump declared an economic emergency Saturday in order to place duties of 10 percent on all imports from China and 25 percent on imports from Mexico and Canada. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at a lower 10 percent rate.

Find out here which goods will be affected by Trump's tariffs.

Update: Canada Follows Mexico in Reaching Deal to Delay Trump Tariffs

The leaders of Mexico and Canada each said they had struck agreements to pause tariffs for 30 days, but levies on products from China were still set to take effect. For more visit nytimes.com.

Keep On Top of Important Tax Deadlines for 2025

For small businesses, spring means one thing: tax season. That means there’s no better time than the present to start getting the necessary paperwork in order. Whether you’re a one-person show or a larger corporation, there are several key dates to be aware of. Not only will you avoid a last-minute rush, you’ll also avoid possible fees or penalties and ensure your business remains in compliance.

Learn about the most important tax deadlines for small companies.

How to Mitigate the High Cost of Product Returns

Merchants are wrestling with the ever-increasing challenge of product returns, seeking to staunch the flow of such items and minimize the costs of processing them, while at the same time ensuring a seamless returns process for their most loyal customers. AI can help businesses ease the flood of online returns by streamlining the returns process and keeping customers informed before they buy. 

Learn how AI can cut product return costs.

Boost Your Profits and Customer Loyalty 

Acquiring new customers has always been quite a challenge, and it's getting more and more expensive and time-consuming in the realities of modern competition. Meanwhile, the main profits for businesses often come from repeat purchases. While the average customer retention rate across all industries hovers around 75.5%, businesses should strive for higher rates, as studies have shown that repeat customers spend significantly more — often three times as much — compared to one-time shoppers.

Key moments for customer retention and growth.