October 2, 2024

While Microsoft is staking the future of Xbox on cloud gaming, Nintendo has long depended on iconic properties like Mario and Pokémon to drive sales of its video game consoles. In fact, the Japanese company has been infamous for filing lawsuits to protect its intellectual property for about as long as video games have been around. In one notable example from the 1980s, Nintendo sued Blockbuster for copyright infringement after the video rental chain added games to its lineup Continue reading

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September 27, 2024

For decades, the video game console market has been dominated by two major players: Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation. While the latter has consistently outsold the former, in recent years Microsoft has been buying up game developers in an effort to control the software side of the business. The video below explores Microsoft’s bet on cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass, and whether the tech giant’s gamble will pay off in the long run.

Questions:

  1. Why do companies like Microsoft Continue reading
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September 18, 2024

One of the reasons why many content creators are drawn to YouTube is the money they can make from advertisements. Brands buy ads that roll before or during videos, and creators get a share of that revenue based on the number of views. The more views and subscribers a channel gets, the more ad dollars the creator can get. YouTube handles all the ad sales, so creators don’t have to spend time negotiating directly with brands like they do for Continue reading

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September 12, 2024

Although wine corks might seem like simple items, the video below shows why they’re anything but. Along with examining the production and manufacturing processes around cork, this lengthy video also explains how one company uses it to produce everything from flooring to footwear.

Questions:

  1. What are cork companies like Amorim doing to address the shortage of skilled laborers needed for bark harvesting? 
  2. How did Amorim diversify its operations after a fungi infection nearly destroyed its cork stopper business?
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September 10, 2024

Dollar stores are famous for low prices. Even when economic times get tough, discount retailers usually continue to do well because they draw customers looking to pay less than they would in a typical store. But that’s changing as customers have less money to spend, and now dollar stores are struggling to stay in business. For instance, Family Dollar recently announced it will close 1,000 stores over the next several years while 99 Cents Only filed for bankruptcy this year Continue reading

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September 6, 2024

Although summertime is drawing to a close and jack-o-lanterns are already starting to appear, meteorologists say that most of the country can still expect plenty of hot days to come. And when the temperature is high, there’s nothing quite like ice cream to stay cool. That’s why for nearly a century, ice cream trucks have roamed neighborhoods across the country serving customers of all ages looking to beat the heat. 

In 1926 Good Humour became the first brand to Continue reading

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September 4, 2024

September may have just begun, but Halloween has already arrived. The late-October holiday known for costumes and lots of candy has become an increasingly lucrative occasion for businesses like theme parks and retailers. “[Halloween] has become this time of the year that’s grown in explosive ways,” said Edithann Ramey, chief marketing officer at Six Flags. “It’s become a billion-dollar industry in the last five years.” With 45 percent of consumers saying they’ll start Halloween shopping before October this year, businesses Continue reading

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August 29, 2024

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic brought the restaurant industry to a standstill as countless kitchens closed and diners largely remained at home. But that didn’t stop some entrepreneurs from finding opportunities in this chaotic situation. The video below breaks down the boom of “pop-up” restaurants that flourished during the pandemic thanks to low overhead and mobile setups that met customers closer to where they lived. 

Questions: 

  1. How did the pandemic change the restaurant industry?
  2. What are some advantages Continue reading
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August 23, 2024

With its iconic cartoon characters, movies, theme parks, and more, Disney has practically held a monopoly over children’s attention for nearly a century. But that’s starting to change as kids spend more time on streaming services, which now account for two-thirds of TV watch time for children ages 2 to 11. And instead of watching Disney+, which offers full-length movies and TV shows, these days most children prefer short-form videos on platforms like YouTube. For example, the “Kids Diana Show” Continue reading

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August 21, 2024

For decades, many big businesses have tried to go green by reducing their carbon emissions. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Nike have made “net-zero” pledges over the years that promise to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they put into it. While some firms try to go carbon-neutral by reducing their emissions directly, others pay for carbon removal projects — such as planting trees or building solar panels — to offset emissions. 

But carbon dioxide isn’t the Continue reading

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