Searchable News & Info From Reliable Online Sources.
- Classic toy soldiers get an American-made revamp honoring real veterans
Little green Army men have been a staple of American childhoods for generations, but one entrepreneur is giving the classic toy a new mission by turning real U.S. military veterans into plastic figures made entirely in America.Real Plastic Heroes founder Tyler Donovan said the idea came after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, when he saw firsthand how the end of the war affected a retired Marine who had deployed there multiple times."I realized at that moment, not only would making these toys be a really cool way to honor veterans, but it would also provide an opportunity to teach the rest of the country who didn't deploy and really didn't know what happened over 20 years about what war is actually like," Donovan told FOX Business.For Donovan, making the figures in the U.S. was essential to that mission.WILL FORD REFLECTS ON FAMILY LEGACY AS FORD MOTOR COMPANY HONORS VETERANS AT DAYTONA"If you're making a figure that's based on actual veterans about their service to our nation, the only way to do that the right way is to make that in the United States," he said.Donovan said one of the biggest challenges was finding a manufacturer capable of producing both the figures and the tooling used to make them entirely in the U.S."That was the most challenging part," he said.Each figure is modeled after a real veteran, including former Air Force combat controller Eric Lionheart, who said he was drawn to the company's effort to preserve veterans' stories."I really liked the mission and I really liked that he was trying to preserve the history," Lionheart told FOX Business.Lionheart said tying the toys to real service members gives them "more soul" than traditional plastic soldiers."I think little kids, when they do talk to their parents and they realize that the plastic figure they're holding is an actual American that fought in those wars, I mean, how awesome is that?" he said.Dean Wegner, founder and CEO of Authentically American and AAW Solutions, has also helped Donovan bring the project to life.LAS VEGAS VETERAN PUSHES BACK AFTER HOA REPORTEDLY TARGETED FRONT YARD HYDRANT DISPLAY: 'THE LAST STRAW'A former Army Ranger and helicopter pilot, Wegner attended West Point with one of the veterans featured in the collection. He said Donovan's decision to manufacture the toys in America despite the higher cost was significant."It's an easy choice to make overseas. It's lower cost. But it… [TheTopNews] Read More.26 mins ago - Amazon and Retailers Face Higher Freight Costs in Third Quarter
Why did freight costs increase for retailers? Amazon, Tractor Supply, and Carter’s reported higher transportation or supply-chain pressures during the third quarter of 2026. Rising fuel costs, more expensive long-haul trucking, and inbound shipping disruptions affected operations. However, Amazon showed how better inventory placement, shorter delivery distances, and package consolidation can offset part of the inflation. The results highlight an uneven environment heading into the holiday shopping season. Higher logistics expenses can reduce retailer margins, while delays in receiving merchandise can create inventory shortages or force businesses to discount products that arrive after their strongest selling period. How did higher transportation costs affect Amazon? Amazon reported that fuel costs and line-haul rates for long-distance trucking between facilities increased during the third quarter. Despite those pressures, the company said its fulfillment network continued improving efficiency. Amazon’s shipping costs increased 11% from the same quarter in 2025, while the number of units shipped grew 12%. When fuel and line-haul inflation were excluded, shipping expenses increased only 8%. That difference indicates Amazon was able to handle additional package volume without allowing underlying shipping costs to increase at the same pace. Better inventory placement meant products were stored closer to customers, reducing transportation distances. The company also used package consolidation to lower the number of separate shipments needed for some orders. What happened at Tractor Supply? Tractor Supply experienced a more direct impact from rising transportation expenses. The retailer said higher fuel and freight costs contributed to pressure on gross margins, along with investments intended to maintain competitive customer pricing. Its third-quarter gross margin declined to 36.4% from 37.4% a year earlier, even as sales increased 5.1%. The results demonstrate how retailers can generate higher revenue while still seeing profitability pressured by transportation and distribution expenses. For carriers and logistics providers, these figures also show why shippers remain focused on freight efficiency. Higher transportation costs can encourage retailers to examine routing, inventory positioning, carrier selection, and distribution strategies more closely. How did shipping disruptions affect Carter’s? Carter’s faced a different supply-chain problem. Management said port congestion and limited container availability delayed inbound merchandise during the quarter, leaving inventory below the company’s planned level. The apparel retailer reported $587 million in inventory, down 11% compared with the previous year. Carter’s said the disruptions had not materially affected its business at the time of reporting. However, delayed inventory can become particularly important during the holiday… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago - Heating Costs Will Rise 7% on Average This Winter
People who use heating oil will see increases of around 70 percent because the war in Iran has greatly reduced supply of that fuel. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago - This Trader Raised Alarm About Nvidia’s China Entanglements Months AgoChristian Lamarco, a 31-year-old short seller and trader, warned about financial and personal problems at Nvidia in May. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago
- $150 for a Thanksgiving Pie? A Humble Dessert Staple Gets Pricey.This season, bakers are charging three figures for luxury versions that combine elaborate prep and premium ingredients. Not everyone is biting. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago
- Entertainment 360 Acquires Brigade, a Management Firm Rich in SubstackersWith the purchase of Brigade, a small talent firm, Substack writers and podcast hosts are now managed by the same company as movie stars. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago
The Searchable USWebDaily.com and TheTopNews NewsBank Helps You Be Better Informed, Faster! Spread The Word.
