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
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
For Walmart, rising tariffs and worries about a possible recession are major concerns. Those economic pressures could make it harder for the company to keep prices low, which is a big part of why shoppers choose Walmart in the first place. One thing that’s helping the company is its membership program, Walmart+. Members made up nearly half of all online spending on Walmart’s website and app last year. These customers shop more often and spend more money than those without Continue reading
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
Korean beauty products have exploded in popularity in the U.S. thanks to their high quality formulas and affordable prices. Brands like Laneige, Cosrx, and Innisfree are now household names, especially for their sunscreens and serums that use cutting-edge ingredients not available in American-made skincare. In 2024, the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of cosmetics from South Korea—more than even France. But that could change fast. Under a new trade plan, these imports could be hit with a 25% tariff. Business Continue reading
For a company whose guacamole has become a signature item, Chipotle can’t afford to take avocados for granted. Each year, the fast-casual chain uses over 130 million pounds of the fruit across its more than 3,700 locations—nearly 5% of all avocados consumed in the U.S. But climate variability, pandemic-era disruptions, and trade tensions have exposed the fragility of global food systems. As a result, Chipotle recognized the risks of relying too heavily on a single source country. Mexico, which once Continue reading
In the early 2000’s, finance companies got in trouble for targeting young people with gifts like pizza and free t-shirts in order to get them to apply for credit cards with high interest rates and big fees. These fee-heavy accounts made it easy to turn a small debt into a very large debt, leaving some college students bankrupt before they could start their careers. In 2010, the U.S. made it illegal to give free gifts for credit card applications. Since Continue reading