News

Every year we like to put some thought into a Valentine blog and offer our readers some romance… especially poems that remind people how good it is to have someone to love. When we took a moment to read last year’s Valentine poems, something seemed to be ‘missing’. What was missing?

Men!! Valentine’s Day is attractive to women and girls, but we know that men can enjoy romance too. So, this year we’re going to do our best for the men. We want this blog to be ‘flowers and candy’ for the men in our lives!

Our first poem is written by a woman named Ellise Imbriglio. [LINK]

He is My Summer
He is like a summer’s day,
Radiating warmth and joy, wherever he goes.
Just as the sun graces the sky, his presence lights up my world.
His laughter, like a gentle breeze,
Brings a refreshing sense of happiness to my heart.
With every smile, he blossoms like a vibrant flower,
enchanting me with his charm.
His touch, as gentle as a sun-kissed breeze,
Sends shivers of delight down my spine.

Like a summer’s day, he is full of life and adventure,
Igniting a sense of wanderlust within me.
His love is like the golden rays of sunlight,
Enveloping me in a comforting embrace,
Melting away any worries or troubles.
With him, every moment feels like a carefree summer’s day,
Filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.

That was a beautiful offering!! It is definitely romantic, as the writer compares her beloved to the warmth of a sunny summer day. We all know a man who lights up the room, whether it is a father or son or brother or beloved – yes, this poem has the ring of truth. Now let’s see if love trumps money… this one is written by Junie D’Alessandro. [LINK]

All We Need Is Love
Love’s simple path, let’s tread together,
No fights, just letting go, forever.
Silly things fade, they hold no worth,
We don’t need fancy things on Earth.
No riches, cars, or clothes to flaunt,
Just you and me, that’s all we want.

In our arms, memories will unfurl,
Money won’t matter, only love’s swirl.
When we’re old, we’ll cherish the past,
It’s moments, not dollars, that will truly last.
Hand in hand, we’ll embrace life’s call,
No need for more, just love, that’s all.

Wow!! That is well said! When we are old are we going to cherish our dollars or our moments where love provided all we need? It’s the love that matters and we know that. Our first two poems have made the point that the man is loved for his light (mind), not his money. Now let’s look at the feeling of safety and protection. Yes, we do feel safe in the arms of a man who cares. This poem is written by Makaela Trethewey. [LINK]

He is my Protection, My Haven
He is my unwavering protector,
A stalwart sentinel who holds me in a warm cocoon.
Like an ancient oak, he stands resolute,
His strong limbs sheltering me from the tempestuous winds of life.
His presence is a celestial constellation,
Guiding me through the darkest nights,
And illuminating my path with unwavering devotion.
With each beat of his valiant heart,
He thwarts adversity,
Warding off any harm that dares to approach.

His tender touch,
Gentle as the soft petals of a blooming flower,
Imbues me with a sense of invulnerability.
His love, a majestic fortress of unwavering dedication,
Fortifies my spirit,
Empowering me to conquer any tribulation that may cross our path.
With him as my gallant guardian,
I fear no shadow,
For his love envelops me in a sanctuary of eternal protection.

Yes, it’s true. With him we experience the feeling of protection. And there we have it – he is our sunshine, our treasure and our protector. Now, let’s conclude with the love poem for all time – the best of the best!! This is written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

How Do I Love Thee?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our AMS employees, clients and friends – we hope you enjoy our ‘flowers and candy’ for the men in our lives!!

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

We’re moving into February, and it’s designated as a time to learn, recognize and celebrate the achievements within Black History – Black History Month. Is there a benefit to increasing our knowledge of Black history for a month? At AMS we would answer… of course there is! There is a benefit to learning Black history all year, but one month is a start!

For many years our educational system made little mention of the struggles and experiences of the men, women and children whose ancestors endured and survived being enslaved. Black history really hasn’t been taught in our American culture and it’s not hard to understand why – it’s a painful history. Nonetheless there is a whole lot to be learned and there are more than a few magnificent heroes to inspire us.

What we would like to do in this writing, is validate the importance of Black History Month and offer some Black history that readers may not have thought about, which is the reason for the ‘month’. As readers likely know, we are still culturally burdened by racism and that must come to an end.

Segregation – What Was Done and Why

After slavery ended, our history books tell us about reconstruction, Jim Crow, and segregation. Let’s look at what segregation actually was and what it accomplished. According to the History website [LINK], the first ‘official’ segregation was Black Codes. From the website we read:

“These were laws passed throughout the South starting around 1865, that dictated most aspects of Black peoples’ lives, including where they could work and live. The codes also ensured Black people’s availability for cheap labor after slavery was abolished.”

The next enforced policy was called Jim Crow laws. “Segregation soon became official policy enforced by a series of Southern laws. Through so-called Jim Crow laws (named after a derogatory term for Blacks), legislators segregated everything from schools to residential areas to public parks to theaters to pools to cemeteries, asylums, jails and residential homes.

“In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that segregation was constitutional. As part of the segregation movement, some cities instituted zoning laws that prohibited Black families from moving into white-dominant blocks. In the 1920s, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover created a federal zoning committee to persuade local boards to pass rules preventing lower-income families from moving into middle-income neighborhoods, an effort that targeted Black families.”

And official segregation continued on and on. During the great migration period from 1916 to 1970 “Whites Only” signs not only appeared in the South but in the North too. This included segregated schools and neighborhoods. Red-Lining, which mapped Black areas of the cities as bad risks for mortgages, continued into the 1970s.

The article concludes by pointing out that segregation persists in the 21st Century. “Studies show that while the public overwhelmingly supports integrated schools, only a third of Americans want federal government intervention to enforce it. The term “apartheid schools” describes still-existing, largely segregated schools, where white students make up 0 to 10 percent of the student body. The phenomenon reflects residential segregation in cities and communities across the country, which is not created by overtly racial laws, but by local ordinances that target minorities disproportionately.”

What is the outcome of these years of ‘separate and unequal’? We asked Google and here is the answer: “The median white household holds around 10 times the wealth of a median Black household, reflecting a persistent racial wealth gap due to historical and ongoing systemic inequalities; meaning, on average, white families have a much larger net worth compared to Black families.”

Segregation Ends – Thank You Rosa Parks

The source of the following information is Wikipedia and a book entitled Black Heroes of The Twentieth Century.

Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913, to Leona (née Edwards), a teacher, and James McCauley, a carpenter. A student at the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery, she took academic and vocational courses.

Rosa and her husband Raymond Parks were active in Montgomery’s chapter of the NAACP. She worked as the chapter’s youth adviser; on voter registration drives and was secretary of the NAACP’s Montgomery branch in 1943. As the 1950’s began, the segregated seating policies on public buses were growing as a source of resentment and bitterness within the Black community in Montgomery.

Blacks were required to pay their fares at the front of the bus, and then board again through the back door. The white bus drivers would harass Blacks, sometimes driving away before they were able to get back on the bus. On December 1, 1955, Parks took her seat in the front of the “colored section”. When the driver asked Parks and three other Black riders to give up their seats to whites, Parks refused and was arrested; she soon agreed to let the NAACP provide legal council. Rosa Parks’ case was filed in United States District Court, which ruled in her favor, declaring segregated seating on buses unconstitutional, a decision later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

What is the Mountaintop?

At this [LINK] readers can find one of the inspiring and brilliant speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King. What is the mountaintop? Could that be the realization that we are one human family with no one lesser or greater because of ethnicity or experience or skin color? Why do we want to learn Black history? It is our key to understanding what was done to a Beautiful People who were horrendously mistreated for financial profit.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.

“And I don’t mind.

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”

Let’s Just B It

AMS Fulfillment is a business that puts People before profit – we always have, and we always will. It matters to us that our employees are rewarded for their labor and respected for their humanity. It matters to us that we treat our clients as partners. And it matters to us that we don’t damage the earth, and we do help our communities. Black history is American history and human history. Yes, we wish to learn from this experience and grow – let it open our minds and hearts as we reach for the mountaintop.

We’re moving into the Lunar New Year. It may seem less than important to some of us… but… Lunar New Year is a major holiday in a fairly large number of Asian countries, and in the Asian diaspora. Chinese New Year is a holiday we enjoy and look forward to, and of course it celebrates the Lunar New Year. Let’s begin with a definition of Lunar New Year from Brittanica [LINK].

“Lunar calendar, any dating system based on a year consisting of synodic months—i.e., complete cycles of phases of the Moon. In every solar year (or year of the seasons) there are about 12.37 synodic months. Therefore, if a lunar-year calendar is to be kept in step with the seasonal year, a periodic intercalation (addition) of days is necessary.”

A little more easily understood definition shows up in a google search:

“A lunar calendar is a calendar that tracks the phases of the moon, or synodic months, to determine the months, weeks, and days of the year. The moon’s phases are the regular changes in the moon’s shape as seen from Earth.”

Google tells us that one full cycle of phases is 29.5 days, and twelve lunar months is about 354 days. We also find some examples of lunar calendars:

*Islamic calendar: The most widely used purely lunar calendar. Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
*Sumerian calendar: One of the first calendars based on the moon’s phases.
*Hebrew calendar: A lunisolar calendar used by the Jewish people.
*Hindu calendar: A lunar calendar with 12 months.

Chinese New Year – the Wood Snake!!

When looking into the Chinese New Year celebrations, one of the most enjoyable journeys is into the twelve zodiac animal signs. This year’s animal, for the 2025 Lunar New Year, is the wood snake! What does the wood snake predict? Let’s see if we can find out.

First of all, in the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals. The 12 animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

2025 Predictions – the Wood Snake

Here below is the information from Google on what 2025 should bring according to the Chinese zodiac:

The Year of the Wood Snake begins on January 29, 2025, and ends on February 12. The Lunar New Year and the Chinese New Year are one and the same. The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle.

What does the Year of the Wood Snake mean?

• The snake symbolizes mystery, complexity, transformation, and initiation.
• The wood element is associated with growth and creativity.
• The Year of the Wood Snake is said to be a time of strategic thinking, adaptability, and prosperity.

What can we expect in the Year of the Wood Snake?

• Career: People working in creative or analytical fields, such as education, research, and the arts, may have an advantage.
• Finances: Financial growth may be gradual but steady. Thoughtful investments and strategic planning can lead to economic stability.
• Relationships: Charm may attract positive outcomes in relationships.
• Health: It may be important to take care of health by avoiding an irregular diet, overwork, and getting enough sleep.
• Personal growth: The snake can represent personal evolution and healing.

 What is Your Animal?

The year of the wood snake sounds pretty positive!! Also, in the Chinese zodiac, readers can find out their birth animal and the attributes of that animal. For example… if a person was born in 1968 their animal will be the Monkey and the personality traits will be… sharp, smart, curiosity. This [LINK] will take readers to the Creative Arts Guild website and a PDF where the animals/years are listed.

At another entertaining website called China Highlights [LINK], we find out that the monkey’s lucky colors are white, blue and gold. We’re entering the year of the snake so let’s see… the snake’s lucky numbers are 2, 8 and 9, the lucky colors are black, red and yellow and the lucky flowers are the orchid and cactus.

China Highlights gives us some more fun information: “There is an interesting legend about the origin of Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his palace guards. He preferred the Ox to be the first for its honesty and diligence, but out of everyone’s expectation, the smart Rat covertly hid on the Ox’s back and occupied the first place at the essential moment. The Tiger was crowned as the King of the Forest while the Dragon was titled the Lord of the Sea, and they ranked behind the Ox. The Rabbit won a race with the Dragon and gained No. 4. The Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, and Rooster followed. The Dog was punished to be the last one for biting the Rabbit in a pet. Actually the Dog was the 11th, because there is one being late for the interview – the Pig finally took the last place.”

Where are the Celebrations?

Wikipedia gives us the following list of areas where the Lunar New Year is celebrated. The list is so broad that recently the UN made the Lunar New Year an official floating holiday: Middle East, West Asia, East Asia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, South Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Singapore and North America.

The celebrations are going to be taking place until February 12^th, so we encourage readers to look for colorful parades and parties happening near you. At this YouTube [LINK] readers can enjoy last year’s Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco!!

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Horrific scenes of the fires in California are causing our friends and clients to worry about AMS! How are we doing? AMS is located on both coasts, and our West Coast headquarters and warehouses are located in Valencia, California. In this writing we will answer some well-being questions from our friends and readers.

Before we proceed, we would like readers to know that due to the heroic efforts of the Los Angeles firefighters, any fires that remain are not threatening us, and our people are doing well. The fires are behind us and either 100% snuffed out or soon will be.

CEO Responds Day 1

On day one AMS CEO, Jay Catlin, sent out a company-wide communication expressing his concern and support for employees in the face of the SoCal Fires and high winds. “I’m asking you all to prioritize your personal situation and consider your own circumstances and safety before choosing to head into work… if there is a mandatory evacuation or evacuation warning in your area, please take care of your personal situation and do not come into work. Everyone should know that their safety comes first and we respect your decisions to prioritize safety for yourselves and your families, even if there is not an evacuation warning in your area.”

His first concern was for the employees, and we appreciate him for that. We know that people across the country are rightfully focused on California, concerned about their friends and about the ones affected by the fires. Just the thought of such a loss is painful.

 Our Well-Being

The fires started on January 7^th, and the closest fire to our AMS facilities was the Hurst fire, approximately 15 miles away from the Valencia facilities. We did not experience unhealthy air at the facilities, we didn’t have any power outages and while there were some road closures, the major highways from the ports to AMS were open.

Thankfully, to this day, among our employees, there has been no loss of life and property. We have encouraged our employees to use the Employee Assistance Program for emotional support, well-being, and available resources. It’s free, and it can be very helpful.

One More Fire

As our friends, clients and employees know, on January 21^st another fire broke out in a location near the Hurst fire and this one, called the Hughes fire, came close enough for us to be asked to evacuate the facilities. This time we did experience smoke in the air. How did we respond? Below we have a message and a photo from George Romano, Facilities Director, to the executive team:

“I wanted to share this picture with you and the team. I think the picture demonstrates the saying, “Most people run from danger, but the real heroes run towards the danger”.

“During the evacuation on Wednesday, while everyone in the area was heading home to their families,  Matthew Warholy, Brian Nicholas, and Carlos Rubio remained at work to assist me with setting up our other back-up generator at HQ.

“The generator that is at HQ (what timing) had the coolant sensor fail and would not allow the generator to start. As a precautionary measure, we brought the other generator down from Witherspoon and wired it into the HQ warehouse, ensuring that if power was shut down, it would not affect AMS’ operations. This could not have been possible without these three guys giving it their all.

“It is an honor to be able to work beside such dedicated employees as Matthew, Brian, and Carlos.

George

That message was followed by the message below, sent by Keith Echegaray, VP of Process Improvement:

“Hey All,

“Just confirming here. WIT is evacuated and locked. @Matthew Warholy please remotely arm. WIL is evacuated armed and locked. LIV is evacuated and Greg B is going to be arming. HQ is evacuated and @Matthew Warholy will be arming.”

Evacuation Lifted

Within a few hours the evacuation was lifted, and the facilities were opened again. As readers can see, AMS employees handled our response very well during this time of crisis and loss for so many. We offer sincere thanks to our employees and our management team.

The fire has been contained and people in the area who were asked to evacuate have been able to return. Thankfully, through it all AMS employees have experienced no loss of life or property from the fires, including this most recent one.

Getting Involved – Helping

One of AMS’ valued Clients has donated over 8,500 units of inventory to a local LA Organization supporting those affected by the fires. AMS employees are coming together to fundraise through our annual V-Day Employee Cookie Drive, where 100% of proceeds will go towards “Direct Relief”, whose mission is to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations.

We are grateful to be able to join with others in helping those who have experienced loss. We are thankful for our clients and employees whose spirit is to donate and volunteer to help those who are suffering the loss of their homes and property. The fires have been devastating and the losses have affected us all. And we are grateful that our Headquarters and warehouses have been spared. AMS is committed to the environment as a stakeholder in our business, and we will continue with our work to combat climate change and its effects.

AMS & Environmental Concerns

We often speak about the fact that AMS considers the environment a stakeholder in our business decisions. Addressing environmental issues is a critical responsibility for companies in today’s world and AMS takes this responsibility seriously. Companies can address environmental issues through various strategies and initiatives that prioritize environmental sustainability, promote responsible practices, and drive positive change. But how does AMS address environmental issues?

One essential approach is to conduct environmental impact assessments. These assessments help companies understand the specific environmental effects of their operations, products, and services. By identifying and evaluating their environmental impact, businesses lower negative effects and optimize resource use. AMS is in the process of foregoing our first 4-Pillar SMETA audit. Additionally, AMS has been measuring, offsetting, and reducing our emissions since 2023.

Another key aspect is implementing effective waste management strategies. AMS has adopted recycling programs, reducing packaging waste, and encouraging the reuse of materials.

Thank you, friends, clients and readers for your concerns for AMS and our valued employees. We are doing well during this crisis, and grateful that we can help others.

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Every year when we celebrate and honor the life of Dr. King, our focus is on civil rights. But how much do we know about civil rights? What are our civil rights? Who gave them to us? Let’s look into civil rights in order to better understand the incredible gift that Dr. King’s life and passion was to us.

And let’s also look at the reality of what came before. What is Jim Crow? Why did we need laws outlining the rights of US citizens – civil rights (also correctly referred to as human rights.)

Civil Rights

To get things started we asked Google what civil rights are:

“Civil rights are legal rights that protect people from discrimination and ensure equal citizenship. They are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”

We went to HHS dot gov [LINK] for the answer on civil rights in healthcare and social services:

“The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, and sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) by certain health care and human services entities: state and local social and health services agencies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, insurers who are participating in the maketplaces and receiving premium tax credits, and other entities receiving federal financial assistance from HHS.”

Human beings have a right to nondiscriminatory healthcare and social services from the government and HHS makes that clear. We can thank Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King for his leadership role in bringing this into reality. His battle was on behalf of a people whose ancestors had been enslaved and who had been discriminated against as 2^nd class citizens or worse.

Life Before Civil Rights

What came before was Jim Crow. Here’s how Google defines Jim Crow.

“Jim Crow was a derogatory term for the system of legalized racial segregation in the United States that lasted from the post-Civil War era until 1968. Origin: The term comes from a fictional Black character in minstrel shows in the 1830s and 1800s. The character was portrayed by white performers in blackface makeup and was treated with disdain.”

It’s hard to imagine being subjected to such hatred and disrespect, and yet this is what Dr. King and the leaders who joined with him were up against. Jim Crow laws mandated separate facilities. This included schools, transportation, restrooms, café and restaurant dining. There was a law passed in 1896 called “Plessy v. Ferguson” that established the “separate but equal” doctrine… i.e. Jim Crow laws. Obviously there was no ‘equal’ in separate but equal.

At civil rights dot org [LINK] we see what happened when President Kennedy stepped into the picture.

“After the Birmingham police reacted to a peaceful desegregation demonstration in May 1963 by using fire hoses and unleashing police dogs to break up thousands of demonstrators, President Kennedy introduced the Civil Rights Act in a June 12 speech. “Are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other, that this is the land of the free except for the Negroes?” he said.”

Honoring Dr. King

When we look at Dr. King’s very great gifts to our culture, we see that he, a Christian minister, led marches for the right to vote, labor rights, desegregation as well as other marches for civil rights. From Wikipedia we read the following: “He oversaw the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and later became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). As president of the SCLC, he led the unsuccessful Albany Movement in Albany, Georgia, and helped organize some of the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama.”

Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington. Many of us have seen him on video at the Lincoln Memorial, delivering that inspiring message to America. Following that march he helped to organize two of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

We know that Dr. King was jailed for his activities several times and he was made a target of the FBI. Deservedly, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He continued on with objection to the Vietnam war and his desire to end poverty. His life was ended in 1968 by an assassin’s bullet.

Human Progress Achieved

Finally, once again from the Civil Rights website we read the following: “The House passed the bill on February 10, 1964 after 70 days of public hearings and testimony from more than 275 witnesses, but a 57-day filibuster prevented the Senate from voting. Finally, on June 10, 1964, the Senate voted to end the filibuster and passed the bill a week later. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most sweeping civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed and paved the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, among other key laws.”

Thank You Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through your heart and your courage we the people have become better human beings… and that is a victory for all.

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

So many businesses, particularly in Apparel, are in scramble mode as a result of recent regulatory changes with Mexico, effectively closing down the practice of inbounding containers of product that are intended to go across the border to capitalize on the eCommerce de minimis loophole (no tariffs on transactions below $800). Brands are also aware that the US is likely to close the eCommerce loophole via changes to existing Section 321 de minimis laws. With the current and pending changes, it’s clear that the practice of inbounding goods to Mexico is likely coming to an end.

The Mexican government’s Tax Administration Service (SAT) imposed 19 percent tariffs on all imported merchandise shipped via couriers from countries without an international trade agreement with Mexico, such as China. The imposed 19% tax came shortly after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum escalated tariffs on finished clothing products, including jackets, dresses and shirts amongst other apparel items which will now have tariffs reach as high as 35 percent.

On top of all of this, Sheinbaum’s decree restricts duty-free finished apparel items from entering the country if it was intended to be re-exported to the U.S. through Mexico’s IMMEX import program.

The new measures are going into effect just weeks before Donald Trump assumes office. American lawmakers have sought to reform Section 321 de minimis legislation that is now being leveraged by numerous eCommerce apparel companies, where foreign shipments worth $800 or less are able to enter the U.S. market duty free. US businesses, CBP and politicians have been critical of the current loophole via Section 321 due to it being anticompetitive for many US-based e-commerce businesses, and that it could be exploited for drug trafficking into the U.S.

Program Freezes and AMS Support:

The bottom line with all of this is that Brands are now seeking US-based solutions for their supply chain logistics and Fulfillment. Some brands have been completely frozen by the actions taken in Mexico! AMS CAN HELP YOU! Give us a call and get your business back on track quickly. Our team is equipped to provide the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition and help you minimize downtime.

Call us today! (800) 931-4267

Source: (1) Supply Chain Drive (2) Yahoo News

What did we experience in 2024 that deserves another look? Well… let’s not talk about the price of butter… or coffee. We can skip that. Actually, we can skip quite a few things… especially politics. Let’s review the AMS Newsroom blogs and see what we felt was worth our attention!

2024 Predictions

Our first post was 2024 predictions! How did we do? Was it off base or out of the park? Here’s a quote from Martek dot org: “Humans aren’t going to be taken out of the customer experience entirely in 2024. Instead, look for AI-augmented systems to help make experience and service more efficient for marketers and agents. Organizations realize that for more challenging issues, customers want to have the ability to connect with a human.”

That’s the truth!! What a great relief when a human comes on the line! It was predicted we would experience more human contact – was it accurate… did we? Well, at AMS we truly value human to human communication. When a phone call is made to us, the visitor or client will not be subjected to a seemingly endless system without a human. We answer the phone! What about others? We have seen some improvement – after making our way through a government office menu we found the possibility for a real human voice, so maybe they’re catching on… people like to talk to people – not AI.

Let’s look at one more prediction, this one about the workforce: “The author states that technology will help alleviate worker shortages and improve retention. In addition to improving retention, experts believe technology will improve productivity and decision making of both existing employees and new talent with state-of-the-art tools. It is also predicted that the workforce will be freed up from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex problems and decisions that require human interaction.”  Well, this one is a pretty accurate prediction. AMS increasingly makes use of technology and it does improve productivity and improve our employees’ work experience.

First there was Spring

What about some of our other blogs? We honored Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 and on March 6^th we began a series on Women’s History. “Readers are well aware that in the US women had to fight for the right to vote and to own property. We will cover the Suffrage Movement in this first blog in our women’s history series. We will also cover the Women’s Movement of the sixties and seventies, where we saw women begin to be accepted as professionals – doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners and so forth.” We have a very good balance at AMS with men and women in leadership, and it’s with gratitude that we can look back and see the country’s progress… yes, we’ve come a long way as a culture.

Harriett Tubman Day came up on March 10^th and March 19^th brought us the Spring Equinox! April is Earth Month, and with our focus on the environment, we let our readers know! “Every month is Earth Month at AMS Fulfillment. We never forget about doing what we can do to minimize any damage to the environment caused by operating our business. But since there is a commemoration going on in April, and April 22nd is Earth Day we are happy to join in and encourage others to honor our beautiful planet.”

Then there was Summer

At the end of May we looked into safety at AMS. We take employee safety very seriously and we have a very good record. “At AMS we always have and always will design our tasks to fit the worker. We also protect the health of our employees through comprehensive safety training with regard to ergonomics. Every employee is trained in the best methods of avoiding strain on the body, and this training is done following OSHA guidelines. AMS has an outstanding safety record with far fewer lost-time injuries than most of our competitors, and we also strive for continuous improvements in our training procedures. AMS is into Safety!!”

On we go to June and July. June 16^th was Father’s Day and of course a high point of the year for all of our extraordinary AMS Dads. “We want to offer an overflowing plate of respect and appreciation and gratitude to all of the fathers among the AMS employees and clients and friends. We thank you for your strength, your guidance, your sacrifice, your time, your influence and your love. We hope your Day is perfect, whether there are gifts or a big meal or a fun outing – we want it to be perfect.”

In June we celebrated Pride Month and Black Music Month and Juneteenth. Then on to July and the 4^th. “How to Celebrate: Fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics, parades, baseball games, naps, sleeping in, hiking, camping, hanging out at home, going to the beach, dinner with friends, working and getting paid time and a half. Lots of choices for this holiday!”

The rest of July and August was fairly quiet. August is National Wellness Month, so of course we looked into how we’re caring for the health of our employees. We asked Samantha Hicks, ESG Program Manager, to give us some info on how we help the employees with stress management and she gave us the following info about AMS’ EAP Program. “An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, confidential program that offers free mental health services to employees and their families. EAPs can help with a range of issues that affect mental and emotional well-being, including: Stress, Grief, Family problems, Psychological disorders, Alcohol and substance abuse, Depression, Anxiety, Work-life balance.” The EAP Program is just one of the ways we help our employees enjoy wellness.

And then came Fall

September came around with the Fall Equinox on the 22nd. When Fall comes, we start thinking about and gearing up for Peak Season. There is an interesting headline showing up on September 18th – AMS Prepares for our First 4-Pillar SMETA Audit. SMETA stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. It assesses a company’s ethical and sustainable business practices. The four pillars of a SMETA audit are: Labor Standards, Health and Safety, Environmental Assessment, and Business Ethics. “We want our clients to be able to evaluate AMS’ working conditions, aiming to promote collaboration, visibility, continuous improvement, and responsible sourcing practices. This is the reason for the SMETA audit.

“The audit findings are assessed against the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code and take into account legal requirements, international standards, and good practice. The SMETA audits rely on a certified third-party provider to conduct inspections at AMS premises, processes, documentation, and technical systems. Upon our completion of the audit, our clients will be able to tell their customers how AMS demonstrates its commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainable practices, and social responsibility. This can be important for building trust with customers, investors, and stakeholders who prioritize ethical considerations in their business relationships.”  AMS is a B Corporation, and that means ‘ethics’. It’s important to us to give our potential clients a choice to be proud of.

When we enter the Fall season we’re heading toward Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then comes Black Friday. Things get busy at AMS so our minds are focused on getting the job done.

Just to review, November is Native American Heritage month, and we recognized Veterans Day on November 11^th. Then we move into December and our much-loved holiday season. Here we find Bodhi Day, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah! AMS is incredibly busy during these weeks, making sure everyone gets their gifts right on time and in perfect condition. And then… we stepped into 2025.

New Year

We hope you have enjoyed our memory journey through 2024. We’ve entered a new year, and it is once again a new opportunity to live up to a truly human standard.

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

AMS is a B Corporation. As we begin 2025, let’s talk about what it means to be a ‘B’. First of all, the ‘B’ in B Corporation stands for ‘Benefit for all’. B Corporations are businesses that have been certified by B Lab, making a legal commitment to benefit all stakeholders. Who are the stakeholders? Who has a stake in AMS?

Definition

Before we talk about our stakeholders, let’s look at the google definition of ‘B Corporation’.

“A B Corporation, or Benefit Corporation, is a business that meets strict standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability: 

Social and environmental performance: B Corps promote corporate social responsibility, such as improving the environment, reducing economic inequality, and improving access to high-quality jobs. 

Transparency: B Corps are transparent about their business practices. 

Legal accountability: B Corps meet higher legal accountability standards than traditional businesses.”

Now that we have some small idea of what a B Corporation is, let’s talk about our stakeholders. We list them as: Employees, Community, Environment, Clients and Ourselves.

Employees

B Corporations impact employees by providing a sense of purpose and meaning in their work through a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility, often leading to better employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, as well as access to initiatives and programs focused on employee well-being and community involvement. Essentially, AMS aims to create a positive impact by prioritizing employee welfare and aligning their work with personal values.

Our commitment to employees is extensive – we want them safe in the workplace and we do a lot to make that a reality. We want them enjoying their workday, with health care available, enjoying free on-site educational opportunities, with supervisors who care and listen, fairly paid, experiencing no prejudice or discrimination in any form, and we want them rewarded, frequently, for their efforts on behalf of our Clients.

Some of the ways our commitment impacts employees are as follows:

Increased purpose and meaning: Employees feel more connected to their work knowing the company actively contributes to positive social and environmental change, enhancing job satisfaction and motivation.

Attracting top talent: B Corporation certification acts as a draw for individuals seeking careers with a strong ethical and sustainable focus, helping companies attract high-quality employees. During the past few years, we have heard and seen individuals mocked on social media as a “DE&I hire”. The implication is that the person has not been hired based on merit or qualifications, but to meet a race or gender quota. AMS practices DE&I but that does not mean we hire based on a race or gender quota. We hire qualified applicants based on their abilities to do the job. Regarding DE&I, we hire individuals with disabilities, we hire the homeless, single parents, and persons who have had difficulty being hired due to a criminal record. That’s what DE&I looks like at AMS.

Employee-centric policies: B Corporations often implement progressive workplace policies and employee wellness programs, promoting work-life balance and employee well-being.

Transparency and accountability: The B Impact Assessment process requires companies to regularly evaluate their practices, including those related to employee treatment, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Collaborative decision-making: B Corporations often encourage employee input and participation in decision-making processes, promoting a sense of ownership and engagement.

Community

Our hiring practices are one of the ways we make the community a stakeholder. We work with community organizations that help the disabled, the homeless, single parents, persons with a record, and through our hiring practices we do serve the community. AMS also partners with clients to help them with their product end cycle. We ensure that their product is not improperly disposed of and help to donate to communities in need.

Opportunities for impact: Employees can actively participate in company initiatives aimed at social and environmental impact, contributing to community projects or sustainability efforts. The AMS Activities Committee engages employees in voluntary activities such as fundraising for local communities in need and participation in clean-up efforts in the community. We are very proud of our employees who have organized the volunteer efforts in community projects.

Environment

For years we have been monitoring our use of resources and doing everything we can to reduce our use with regard to electricity, heating and cooling. AMS has eliminated the use of gasoline powered forklifts and installed energy-saving lighting in our warehouses. Due to the dedicated efforts AMS achieved Carbon Neutral status in 2023. We continued our efforts in 2024, and we will continue in the years to come.

Our recycling efforts are exceptional as well. In 2023 we recycled over one million pounds of cardboard and after much searching and effort we found a way to recycle stretch plastic. AMS employees have organized a ‘Green Team’ and their goal is to minimize and even eliminate our contribution to landfills.

Clients

It goes without saying that our valued clients are stakeholders – our employees understand that their labor is 100% for the clients. We look upon clients as partners and communicate with them on all matters. Our Client Services team is in frequent communication with the client representatives, and we value this communication. So, yes… our clients are stakeholders – always have been and always will be.

A Force for Good!

We are very dedicated to the B Corporation goals and proud to be a B Corporation. If readers would like to know more about B Corporations, please visit this [LINK] which takes you to the B Lab website. They say, “We won’t stop until all business is a force for good,” and we agree. AMS aims to be a force for good in the world!

We made it through 2024! This was quite a year, but in truth, every year has its challenges and rewards. We deeply appreciate our employees, our clients, our communities and our Earth!! On we go to a beautiful New Year.

In upcoming blogs we will review 2024 and enjoy the highlights. We will also look into the predictions for 2025.

History: When Does the New Year Begin!!

We hope our readers have some fun plans for New Year’s Eve! The question occurred… how long have we humans being celebrating the New Year? We found the answer in Brittanica [LINK] and it’s a bit surprising (and confusing).

“The earliest known record of a New Year festival dates from about 2000 bce in Mesopotamia, where in Babylonia the new year (Akitu) began with the new moon after the vernal equinox and in Assyria with the new moon nearest the autumn equinox (mid-September). For the Egyptians and Phoenicians, the year began with the autumn equinox (September 21), for ancient Persians it began on the vernal equinox (March 21), and for the early Greeks it began with the winter solstice (December 21). On the Roman republican calendar the year began on March 1, but after 153 bce the official date was January 1, which was continued in the Julian calendar of 46 bce.

“In early medieval times most of Christian Europe regarded March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year, although New Year’s Day was observed on December 25 in Anglo-Saxon England. William the Conqueror decreed that the year begin on January 1, but England later joined the rest of Christendom and adopted March 25. The Gregorian calendar, adopted in 1582 by the Roman Catholic Church, restored January 1 as New Year’s Day, and most European countries gradually followed suit: Scotland, in 1660; Germany and Denmark, about 1700; England, in 1752; and Russia, in 1918.”

January 1^st it is!!

Apparently there came to be some agreement on the Gregorian calendar and here we are… stepping off into 2025. Will it be a good year for AMS? Undoubtedly it will!!

That very special thing about AMS is that we are a B Corporation. What does that mean? It means that, unlike some others, we put the well-being of our employees, clients, community and our beautiful Earth right up there as #1. In other words… AMS will not exploit others or damage the earth for profit. AMS Fulfillment is a leader, in many ways, and we are grateful. Perhaps in 2025 we will see more businesses stepping up to the B Corporation standards. Let’s make it a beautiful year!

Happy New Year!

May the coming year be filled with… fulfillment… prosperity… and wonderful surprises!!

Hanukkah is a beautiful festival that commemorates a historical event, described as the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication.

It is observed for eight nights and days and the dates are different each year. The dates are determined by the Hebrew calendar, and the festival can occur any time between November 28 and December 27. This year Hanukkah began on the evening of December 25th and it continues for eight days and nights until January 2nd.

The Festival Story

We went to Chabad.org [LINK] for more information on the story upon which the celebration is created.

“Hanukkah (Chanukah) is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

“In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G‑d.”

The Celebration

There is an inspiring story behind the Menorah, and we return to Chabad.org for that story:

“When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

“To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah.

“At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled.

“Special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward.

“A menorah is lit in every household (or even by each individual within the household) and placed in a doorway or window. The menorah is also lit in synagogues and other public places. In recent years, thousands of jumbo menorahs have cropped up in front of city halls and legislative buildings, and in malls and parks all over the world.”

Other Hanukkah Festivities

Some of the other festivities taking place during the eight-day celebration include singing celebratory songs, eating oil-based foods such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods, playing the game of dreidel, and having public menorah lightings. Hanukkah is described as having major cultural significance in North America and elsewhere. The following is from Wikipedia [LINK].

“Originally instituted as a feast “in the manner of Sukkot (Booths)”, it does not come with the corresponding obligations, and is therefore a relatively minor holiday in strictly religious terms. Nevertheless, Hanukkah has attained major cultural significance in North America and elsewhere, especially among secular Jews, due to often occurring around the same time as Christmas during the festive season.”

Happy Hanukkah to all celebrants!! May Love and Light fill your heart!

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

This is the season in which we express our prayer for Peace and envision a world of human upliftment into the realization that we are One. We are the Human Family, brothers and sisters all.

Christmas 2024

Christians and non-Christians as well enjoy the Christmas holiday and its focus on Peace on Earth. The holiday begins on the eve of December 24^th and the day of celebration is the 25^th. Peace on Earth is no doubt the prayer of every one of us – let the wars end – let no one else die in war – let us care for one another – let us realize we are one family!

The Story

There are so many wonderful images in the Christmas story for our enjoyment. We have Mary and Joseph traveling and finding a very humble place to rest. We have the birth of the holy child, in a manger. We have angels filling the sky, making the announcement of his birth to the shepherds in the fields. We have wise men seeing the announcement of his birth in the stars and traveling to the child with gifts. All of these stories have been treasures in the imagination of little children at Christmastime, and they are beautiful and inspiring.

Christmas is both a religious holiday and a secular one. There are other Christmas stories in our culture with Santa Claus being the primary one. Santa and Mrs. Santa live at the North Pole, where they have lots of little helpers making toys to be delivered on Christmas eve, and placed under the Christmas tree. When the story was first told there was a reminder for the child to be good, otherwise the toy delivered by Santa could be a piece of coal! Add to the story a picture of Santa in a sleigh, pulled by reindeer, flying through the sky. Everyone knows Santa means Christmas and gifts under the tree!

Peace on Earth

How did Christmas come to be associated with the hope and dream of Peace on Earth? As a partial answer, we found this prayer online [LINK]. In the religion of Christianity, the bringer of peace is the holy child.

“We pray for the power to be gentle; the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding on to what we believe to be right. May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence, a new world where fear shall no longer lead persons to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others. Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which we and all humans were created.” – Author Unknown

Personal Peace

For all of our employees and friends and readers we extend to you the prayer for personal peace on this night of Christmas Eve. If you lost a loved one during the year, if you’re dealing with sickness or other troubles, if your personal peace is affected this year, our prayer is that within your heart will be the knowing that we are One and we are Loved.

Let’s conclude with some quotes that showed up in a simple Google search for Christmas quotes:

“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.” — Unknown

“From home to home and heart to heart, from one place to another, the warmth and joy of Christmas brings us closer to each other.” — Emily Matthews

“As long as we love, there will always be Christmas.” — Lailah Gifty Akita

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things, not the great occasions, give off the greatest glow of happiness.” — Bob Hope

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” — Peg Bracken

“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.” — Ruth Carter Stapleton

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of November: KRISTINA S., STEFFON T., RITA H., SVYATOSLAV F., NICHOLAS P., CRISTY G., and KARINA FUNES L.

In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them. Every month we see our employees working hard with such outstanding dedication and we are continually impressed by the results they produce!

Congratulations to this month’s winners! All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

**

KRISTINA S., Operations Supervisor II (November 2006) Boulden

Client Services would like to nominate Krissy for Employee of the Month for her incredible dedication and performance. Krissy will go above and beyond for her clients. The care she puts into her accounts has been called out by one of our valued clients. During a client visit, Krissy blew their representative away with the care and knowledge she demonstrated. Krissy is truly a great leader. She is great to work with, dedicated, knowledgeable and very approachable! She plays such a pivotal role in the operations of our Boulden facility. She has shown great strength during peak and has been our go-to person! And for several other accounts, Krissy is very knowledgeable, approachable, and dedicated! Thank you, Krissy, for all the hard work! – Gabby F. & Rich G.

STEFFON T., Inventory Receiving Specialist I (November 2024) Churchman’s

Steffon started out as a temp employee but right out the gate wanted only to become an AMS employee. Steff put all his time and energy into becoming full-time with us and once becoming full-time he has just not stopped. Steffon brings in energy, determination, a GO-GET-EM attitude, and the kindheartedness you wish for in an employee. With a great attitude and personality, he is always willing to help other departments, taking the time to ask if help is needed. He has been an incredible asset during peak season putting in tons of OT and coming in early to get things done whether it’s putting away pallets on the dock or making boxes – he’ll do anything to help. Congratulations Steffon! Just keep being you!” – Robert T.

RITA H., Operations Associate III (November 2016) Headquarters WH

Rita is an outstanding person, and it is a pleasure working with her, especially when she occasionally comes and helps in the Returns Department. She has a ready-to-learn work ethic! She is always smiling and consistently maintains a professional and very polite demeanor, even under pressure. I have heard from other co-workers as well that she is a fast picker and packer and even makes sure all orders are correct and shipped out. She is extremely reliable and dependable and will work extra hours when needed. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. You deserve Employee of the Month Rita! – Teresa G.

SVYATOSLAV F., Operations Associate III (June 2020) Livingston

Though we have many individuals here at Liv who have stepped up and done great work during Peak, I nominate Slava because he plays a very key role in our department and that is to keep eight walls running smoothly, which is a very difficult task to do with limited training hours for the seasonal pickers. We hit record numbers this year and Slava was a big part of that! Slava was here every minute of each day, showing his dedication and commitment to doing the best job he could do for our ops. Your hard work was well recognized, and we give you a big thanks, Slav! – Saul M.

NICHOLAS P., Director of Operations I (August 2024) New Holland

Although Nick is relatively new to AMS and continues to acclimate to his role, he has quickly emerged as an exceptional leader. His strong communication skills and innovative ideas have greatly benefited our Client Service Team. I appreciate his proactive approach to providing assistance and ensuring we stay on course. Nick has been an exceptional advocate for all departments within the building, and we have observed significant growth since he joined AMS. – Wendy M. & Alyssa F.

CRISTY G., Operations Manager I (April 2012) Williams

Cristy’s leadership has led the team to hit record numbers for one of our top accounts. She is a hard worker, has a “can do” attitude, and is a team player. Cristy goes above and beyond to help us ensure our clients’ goals are met and we are very lucky to have her as part of our team. Her positive attitude and willingness to jump in and help as needed make her a valuable asset. And on top of that, she is one of our Activities Reps who goes above and beyond to make the workplace a fun and positive place to be. Thank you for everything that you do, Cristy! – Esperanza E. & Sam H.

KARINA FUNES L., Operations Associate II (September 2024) Witherspoon

Karina started as a temp helping in returns and was just hired onto the team full-time in September. She has learned so much in her time here. She has been doing a great job helping during peak season in another department. She is fast and has become very knowledgeable in the system and processes that we have. She is always ready to work and has a very positive attitude. Thank you, Karina, for putting in a great effort every day. You are very much apricated. – Vanessa H.

** ** **

To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!

** ** **

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.