Chad Molen

Demand can change in an instant. A flash promotion takes off faster than expected. An influencer post sends a niche SKU into the stratosphere. A heat wave flips seasonal demand on its head. And suddenly, your forecast—carefully crafted weeks ago—feels like yesterday’s weather report. This is where demand signal management earns its keep. Instead of reacting too late or overreacting too early, it helps supply chain teams interpret what’s really happening and respond with confidence. For retailers and consumer brands navigating constant demand volatility, it’s the difference between chasing noise and acting on insight.   The problem: demand forecasts lag reality Traditional forecasting has a fundamental challenge: timing. Forecasts are built on historical patterns and planning cadences that move at a measured pace, but demand levels today won’t wait for the next planning cycle. Modern demand shocks often arrive without warning: a promotional discount goes viral, a competitor runs out of stock, weather drives sudden regional swings, or a trend outpaces merchandising plans. In these moments, planners face a familiar tension. React too slowly, and shelves go empty. React too aggressively, and you’re stuck with excess inventory once the spike fades.   What demand signals are (and what they aren’t)…

It’s safe to say supply chain podcasters won’t run out of things to talk about this year. With ever-evolving policies like the United States’ changing trade levies, experienced supply chain podcasts aren’t outlining podcasts, booking guests, or recording programs too far in advance. These days, material can be stale before it even airs! Trust Supply Chain Now to keep abreast of the very latest developments on the compliance and trade fronts to keep podcast listeners up to date. Tariffs: Keeping Up With Policy Shifts The United States’ trade relationships with many countries around the world have become rocky under the new Trump administration. At the time of writing, President Trump had imposed 25% tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico. Canada immediately responded March 4 with 25% tariffs on nearly $21 billion of U.S. goods, with levies on another $86 billion of American products promised by March 25. Two days later, Trump suspended the tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico and moved the implementation date to April 2. The president also increased the tariff on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. China retaliated with 15% tariffs on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton and 10% tariffs on…