IAAs celebrate 75 years of awarding excellence
June 1st, 2021
What do Tupperware, bikinis and the International Achievement Awards (IAAs) have in common? They are all 75 years old this year. In addition to getting their start in 1946, these innovations seem to signal the dawn of a new era. The Great Depression and a terrible war were over, and a boom was about to […]
Learning to adapt
April 1st, 2021
When the Minnesota State Fair was forced to cancel last summer, food vendors set up trucks all over the Twin Cities to make up for lost income, which my kids quickly took note of. Much begging ensued, and eventually I capitulated to bringing home a deep-fried feast. Let me tell you—Buffalo cheese curds are delish, […]
But wait, there’s more!
February 1st, 2021
When Specialty Fabrics Review debuted the new look for the print edition in January, I asked you to stay tuned for more changes to Review’s e-newsletter and website. We’re rolling out those enhancements, first with the e-newsletter, so please take the time to open the latest edition to explore a revitalized presentation of the week’s […]
An unprecedented Expo in an unprecedented year
December 1st, 2020
It’s the day after IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 as I write this editorial—and my feet are blister-free. That’s not to say that an in-person Expo wouldn’t have been preferable, but under the circumstances, the industry came together in the only way possible for the conversations, networking and education that are more essential than ever. The […]
Why socializing is essential, even in a pandemic
September 1st, 2020
There has been very little to like about the year 2020. One of the latest disappointments, especially for Review readers, is the cancellation of the in-person IFAI Expo set for November. On top of all the education and new products and networking that industry members look forward to, Expo 2020 was supposed to be a […]
For small businesses, the pandemic triggers a season of uncontrolled experiments
August 1st, 2020
If you read any business news, you can’t avoid the headlines ruminating on the long-term effects of the pandemic on industry and the workplace: “How has coronavirus changed consumer spending?” “Will the COVID-19 pandemic accelerate automation?” “Can we just work from home forever?” There are a lot of opinions out there—but not a lot of […]
A historical perspective to a historic pandemic
July 1st, 2020
What is the biggest professional challenge you’ve overcome? This is one of the standard questions Review asks the subjects of the Perspective cover article. While some responses are unique to an interviewee’s specific circumstances, the most common answer involves seeing a business through the economic impacts of 9/11 and the Great Recession. While the coronavirus […]