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Labubu: How a $15 Toy Became a Global Phenomenon

August 21, 2025

You’ve probably seen them on TikTok: sharp-toothed, spiky-eared monster figurines dangling from backpacks, purses, and phones like charms. Labubus are collectible toys based on mischievous, elf-like creatures created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, who drew inspiration from European folklore monsters. Produced by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, Labubus come in sealed “blind boxes” so buyers don’t know which one they’ve gotten until they open it. That element of surprise combined with high-profile endorsements from celebrities, including Lisa from Blackpink Continue reading →

Marketing, Global, Entrepreneurship, Promotions, Entertainment, Pricing, China, Packaging, Product Distribution, Supply & Demand

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion

[VIDEO] How ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Makes Billions from ‘Free’ Loans

August 15, 2025

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Nearly every online purchase these days is accompanied by an offer to “BNPL”: buy now, pay later. The video below looks at how companies like Affirm and Klarna are making a fortune on interest free loans while consumer watchdogs warn about the potential dangers of BNPL both to consumers and providers.

Questions:

How do BNPL companies like Affirm and Klarna make money on their interest free loans?
Why do you think consumers with subprime credit scores are more likely to Continue reading →

Marketing, Ethics, Product Development, Pricing, Product Distribution, E-commerce, Videos, Supply & Demand, Loans

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

Warby Parker’s Secret Weapon: Owning Everything

August 13, 2025

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While competitors raise prices, Warby Parker has kept its basic glasses at $95 for 15 years, a feat that seems impossible in today’s inflationary world. The secret is ownership. Unlike traditional eyewear companies that rely on outside manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, Warby Parker controls nearly every step of its business. The company owns two optical labs in the U.S., operates its own physical stores, and handles online distribution directly. When tariffs hit imported goods or labor costs spike, Warby can Continue reading →

Marketing, Manufacturing, Product Development, Promotions, Product Distribution, E-commerce, Vertical integration

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Crafters Search for Alternatives following Joann’s Closure

August 6, 2025

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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 →

Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Retail, Product Distribution, E-commerce, Supply & Demand

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Vacation Sells Sunscreen by Selling a Vibe

July 30, 2025

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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 →

Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Branding, Promotions, Packaging

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] How Automation Drives China’s Electric Vehicle Expansion

July 23, 2025

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China’s electric vehicle (EV) market has grown exponentially over the last decade thanks in large part to the country’s commitment to advanced automation. For example, this video begins with a look at “dark factories” where so few humans are needed on the floor that lights can be dimmed or turned off entirely. While this has allowed Chinese manufacturers to churn out hundreds of cars per day, critics are questioning if global tensions and potentially oversaturated markets will stall the growth Continue reading →

Marketing, Global, Manufacturing, Product Development, China, Transportation, Product Distribution, Supply & Demand

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

Artificial Food Dyes Come Under Fire

July 16, 2025

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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 →

Marketing, Ethics, Product Development, Supply chains, Product Distribution, Food & Drink

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

Fourth of July Travel Increases alongside Firework Prices

July 2, 2025

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The peak of summer travel season is upon us as millions of Americans will hit the road this Fourth of July weekend. According to the roadside assistance service AAA, a record 72 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the Independence Day holiday period, a nine-day span between June 28 to July 6. 62 million Americans will travel over the weekend alone, representing an increase of 1.3 million over last year. “The top 10 heaviest travel days in Continue reading →

Marketing, Supply chains, Transportation, Travel, Product Distribution, Holidays, Supply & Demand, Fourth of July

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

True Religion Rebuilds Its Brand by Embracing Hip-Hop Culture

June 26, 2025

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In the early 2000s, True Religion jeans were a symbol of luxury. Their $400 denim pants appeared in music videos, on red carpets, in fashion magazines, and in luxury marketing campaigns often depicting white, affluent celebrities. But the brand’s popularity faded as fashion trends changed, the economy tightened, and lower-cost brands gained ground. After two bankruptcies and years of decline, True Religion has now found a path forward by embracing a community that never gave up on it: the hip-hop Continue reading →

Marketing, Clothing, Product Development, Branding, Entertainment, Music, Product Distribution, Ecommerce

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] How Live Nation is Devouring the Music Industry

June 18, 2025

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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:

Why do independent operators see Live Nation as a threat to their businesses?
Do you think Live Continue reading →

Labubu: How a $15 Toy Became a Global Phenomenon

Warby Parker’s Secret Weapon: Owning Everything

Crafters Search for Alternatives following Joann’s Closure

Vacation Sells Sunscreen by Selling a Vibe

[VIDEO] How Automation Drives China’s Electric Vehicle Expansion

Fourth of July Travel Increases alongside Firework Prices

True Religion Rebuilds Its Brand by Embracing Hip-Hop Culture

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