Travel Goods Association

March 04, 2021

TOP NEWS

Don’t Miss the Boat – The HUB Is Live. Are You There Yet?

TGA

The HUB is live, and we’re thrilled to report buyers are registering every day to gain access to view YOUR products. Is your brand on the HUB? There has never been easier – or more affordable – access to TGA’s exclusive list of buyers, media contacts, and travel insiders. If you haven’t reserved a profile page for your brand yet, now is the time.

Are you a buyer or journalist? Register for FREE access to the HUB today to check out the latest travel products, all in one, easy-to-access place. Countless brands are sharing their latest wares to the HUB, long before they hit stores. Get access today to see them first.

We Want to Hear from You: Send Us Your Backpacks!

TGA

Travel Goods Magazine is taking a deep dive into backpacks – from fashion handbags to pint-sized packs to backpacks for every variety of sport imaginable – and we want to hear from you. Share product details, images, and stories – and you may find yourself featured on our digital magazine pages!

Myanmar’s Neighbors Press for Suu Kyi’s Release, Restoration of Democracy

NBC NEWS

Myanmar’s neighbors pressed its ruling military on Tuesday to release ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and cease what Singapore called the disastrous use of lethal force against opponents of their Feb. 1 coup and work out a solution to the crisis. The calls from fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came as Myanmar police again opened fire to disperse crowds after weeks of demonstrations against military rule. READ MORE

Biden’s Team Says It Will Use ‘All Available Tools’ to Fight China’s Unfair Trade Practices

CNBC

President Biden’s team will use “all available tools” to fight China’s unfair trade practices, according to a report outlining the new U.S. administration’s trade agenda. The document released earlier this week did not specify the tools that the administration will use, but it formalized statements made by Biden and members of his team in the last few months on how they will handle China and other trade priorities. READ MORE

Trade Won’t Be on ‘Back Burner’ for Biden, USTR Pick Tai Tells Senate

POLITICO

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai pushed back on concerns the Biden White House will “stand still” on trade policy during her confirmation hearing Thursday, telling senators she does not expect to be sidelined in policymaking. Senators from both parties pressed Tai on the Biden administration’s pledge to not negotiate any major new trade deals until it secures domestic economic stimulus from Congress. “You must make the President understand that trade is a domestic priority,” Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) told the nominee. READ MORE

U.S. Retailers See Millions in Sales Delays Amid Shipping Logjam

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Overwhelmed U.S. ports, elevated freight costs and accidents that sent goods plunging to the bottom of the ocean are causing headaches for U.S. retailers already reeling from the pandemic. Corporations of all sizes are reporting logistics struggles, especially on trans-Pacific trade routes. Although they haven’t yet translated into widespread sticker shock for consumers, the ongoing shipping issues threaten to disrupt inventories of appliances, shoes, fitness equipment and more if they persist much longer. READ MORE

2021 Could See Record Retail Sales Growth but Economy Still Hinges on Coronavirus

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

A wide array of economic indicators points toward potentially record retail sales growth during 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic remains the biggest challenge for the year, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said yesterday. READ MORE

These Are the Retail Trends in Ecommerce for This Year

ENTREPRENEUR

The social distancing and closure of physical stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused electronic commerce and virtual communication channels to grow exponentially in the last year. Retailers made or are making major changes that lead them to use new technical solutions, which help them manage the transition or application of a model that harmonizes physical stores with virtual stores. READ MORE

Pinterest Announces New Marketing Tools, Including ‘Pinterest Premiere’ Video Ads

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

As part of its first-ever ‘Pinterest Presents’ marketing and advertising summit, Pinterest has announced several new ad tools to provide more insight into campaign performance, and enhanced opportunity to reach the right audience. READ MORE

Your Leadership Style Needs a User Manual – Here’s How You Do It

THE NEXT WEB

A few years ago, I read an article that advocated for managers to create their own user manual to share with their new team or co-workers. It struck me as a great idea given how much time we spend trying to figure each other out when we work together for the first time. The manual would provide a more explicit description of your character, personal values, and how you like to work with other people. The idea would be for you to share it when you start working with new team members to help shorten the learning curve of having to decipher ‘you.’ READ MORE

The Tokyo Olympics Reportedly Won’t Allow Fans from Abroad

TRAVEL + LEISURE

The Tokyo Olympics may be played to near-empty stands with fans from abroad banned from attending, according to a report. “In the current situation it is impossible to bring in foreign spectators,” a government official said. The Associated Press reported the news on Wednesday, citing a Japanese newspaper. The decision to exclude foreign fans from the previously-postponed games – which remain set to kick off July 23 in Tokyo – could cost upwards of $800 million in lost ticket sales, according to The AP. READ MORE

What Kind of Plane Am I Flying on?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

After engine debris from a Boeing 777-200 rained down on a Denver suburb, some fliers may want to know more about plane safety and maintenance. Here are some answers. READ MORE

What Will We Want When We Can Travel Again?

THE ATLANTIC

Two new TV travelogues find themselves butting up against a reality they hadn’t anticipated. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, a six-part series on CNN hosted by the actor and cookbook author, presents itself as escapism, even as it half-acknowledges the reality of the pandemic – its first episode, set mainly in Naples, was filmed after the first Italian lockdown ended last year. Men in Kilts, a half-hour series on Starz, follows two actors from the show Outlander as they traverse Scotland in a camper van. Although it was filmed almost entirely pre-pandemic, its concept seems to have anticipated a particular truth about this moment. READ MORE

TGA Industry News Briefs

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