August 6, 2025

After more than 80 years as a beloved fabric and craft retailer, Joann closed all of its roughly 800 stores across the United States by May 2025. Once a humble cheese shop in Cleveland, Joann grew into the country’s largest fabric and craft supplier, serving generations of makers who relied on its in-store experience. The chain was a tactile, sensory destination where customers could compare fabrics side-by-side, ask knowledgeable employees for advice, and pick up everything from thread to glue Continue reading

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July 30, 2025

Sunscreen has long been a summer necessity with boring branding: white tubes, medical claims, and a whiff of obligation. That’s why Vacation, a startup launched in 2021, flipped the formula by making sunscreen feel like a party. With branding that channels 1980s beach culture, Vacation’s products come in whipped-cream cans, neon jugs, and packaging that doubles as accessories. Its sunscreen doesn’t just block UV rays; it smells like “pool toy and lycra,” thanks to perfumers behind niche luxury scents. The Continue reading

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July 16, 2025

Artificial food dyes like Red 3 are on their way out, and that’s creating big challenges for U.S. food companies. Health officials and consumers are pushing for natural alternatives, citing possible health risks linked to synthetic colors, especially for children. Federal agencies want artificial dyes removed from the food supply by the end of 2026, and while major brands like PepsiCo and General Mills are responding quickly, making the change isn’t easy. Natural dyes are more expensive, harder to produce, Continue reading

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June 18, 2025

At the beginning of the year, we looked at how the Department of Justice accused Ticketmaster of potentially holding a monopoly on live music. This video examines the issue further by taking a detailed look at Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation, which earned $24 billion last year by having a hand in nearly every aspect of the live music industry. 

Questions:

  1. Why do independent operators see Live Nation as a threat to their businesses? 
  2. Do you think Live Continue reading
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June 11, 2025

Handmade watches might seem old-fashioned in the age of smartphones, but a new generation is bringing the craft of watchmaking back in style. Gen Z consumers are showing renewed interest in analog objects, especially ones that combine design, tradition, and precision. That shift has helped revive a profession many thought was dying. Watchmaking schools are expanding, and independent brands are launching as young makers share their work on platforms like TikTok and Twitch. Students are drawn to the slow, hands-on Continue reading

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Walk down the snack aisle of your local grocery store and you’ll likely be barraged with all sorts of colors: bright blue on packages of Oreo cookies, canary yellow for Keebler products, and so on. The vast majority of brands purchase these bold hues from a company called Pantone, a global powerhouse that sells standardized recipes for mixing colors. The video below takes an extensive look at how Pantone manages to earn millions for its color combinations without ever selling Continue reading

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After years of declining sales, brick-and-mortar bookstores are starting to make a comeback with consumers. Close to 300 bookstores opened in the U.S. in 2023, surprising many who thought independent sellers could not compete in the age of Amazon. Along with providing quality service and interesting selections, bookstores are also attracting customers by adding wine bars, dinner menus, and aesthetic experiences alongside the shelves. At places like the Strand in New York, you can now sip a cappuccino while browsing Continue reading

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In Singapore, few desserts are more beloved than pandan chiffon cake. Soft, fluffy, and bright green, the cake gets its flavor from pandan, a tropical plant sometimes called “Asian vanilla.” For decades, this cake has been a common sight in Southeast Asian homes and bakeries. Now it’s catching on globally, driven by both nostalgia and curiosity. In the U.S. and Europe, pandan is showing up in ice creams, lattes, and pastries, appealing to young consumers looking for new flavors rooted Continue reading

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April 30, 2025

When Rayne Heath, a tech worker in Ohio, started shopping for a stroller, she planned to wait until after her baby shower. But after hearing about new tariffs on Chinese imports, she rushed to buy a $1,200 Nuna stroller before the price jumped by nearly $200. Heath’s story is increasingly common among expectant parents. Essential baby gear like strollers, car seats, and cribs—already costly—are becoming even more expensive due to new tariffs as high as 145% on products from China. Continue reading

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April 18, 2025

Once considered to be products exclusively made for children, plush toy brands like Jellycat, Build-A-Bear, and Squishmallows are now seeing significant sales from millennial and Gen Z buyers. In 2024, more than 20 percent of all plush toy sales were made by adults purchasing for themselves. Post-pandemic stress, economic uncertainty, and the rise of self-care culture have all contributed to this shift. Plush toys are no longer framed as childish; instead, many see them as tools for comfort, emotional regulation, Continue reading

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