Despite rapid rise of AI chatbots in customer service, customers prefer human agents
If it feels like customer service chatbots are everywhere, it鈥檚 because they are. The worldwide chatbot market has grown from US$370 million in 2017 to about US$2.2 billion in 2024. But customers trust human customer service representatives more than they trust AI chatbots, writes Vivek Astvansh, an Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at McGill Desautels.
Punitive tariffs more about political leverage than trade
On August 1, a 35 per cent US tariff on Canadian goods came into effect. But these tariffs are less about trade and more about political leverage, says Vivek Astvansh, associate professor of quantitative marketing and analytics at McGill Desautels.
Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥楤ig Beautiful Bill鈥� does away with de minimis exemption for impots from all countries
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.
Lego has built next-level brand loyalty
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.
Despite rise of chatbots, people still prefer human customer services
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.
Eliminating the de minimis exemption will hit fast fashion shoppers hard
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.
Controversial slogans sell
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.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio helps decipher Trump administration goals
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 黄片荔枝视频sweek. 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.
How U.S.-Canada tariffs could hit 黄片荔枝视频 York鈥檚 economy
As U.S.-Canada tariff disputes escalate, 黄片荔枝视频 York鈥檚 economy faces serious risks, with over $42 billion in trade at stake. 黄片荔枝视频 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.
Trump鈥檚 tariffs: 鈥淪hort-term pain, long-term gains?
As President Trump鈥檚 latest tariffs send markets into turmoil, McGill 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.
Retaliatory tariffs are economically unwise, but politically expedient
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.
Political tensions between long-time allies fuelled ticket price spike for Canada-USA hockey game
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.
Canadian steel and aluminum producers still heavily reliant on US buyers
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.
President Trump鈥檚 trade antics could be a prelude to 2026 USMCA renegotiation
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.
Amazon to close Quebec warehouses, affecting 1,700 jobs
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 黄片荔枝视频 business Professor Vivek Astvansh, suggest the closures are a response to union activities.
