Slate Business

Supercuts revolutionized the haircutting industry, and managed to stay in style as trends changed. But then came the pandemic.Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin with help from Grace Woodruff.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dollar General is built on a business model that has its stores proliferating rapidly across the country. In response, a movement to control the growth has been picking up in the last few years. Can those who think the stores are causing more harm than help make their voices heard?Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Listen to the Teamistry podcast.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Groceries was one of the last industries to come under Big Tech’s influence, but everything changed when Amazon bought Whole Foods.Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Listen to the Teamistry podcast.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HBO pioneered prestige TV and the concept of renting movies from home. Can it be a frontrunner in the streaming wars?Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. Click here to get started and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may not have heard of Puritan, but if you’ve gotten a COVID test, you’ve probably had one of their products inside your nose. A family feud almost tore this company apart. Then the White House called.Read Olivia Carville’s original article for Bloomberg. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Correction: This episode incorrectly identifies the owner of Hardwood Products. James Cartwright works for Hardwood, but the owner is John Cartwright.Listen to the Teamistry podcast.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. Click here to get started and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960s, the Volkswagen Beetle was a symbol of peace and love. But this same car was invented as part of the Nazi propaganda project. And that’s just the beginning of the story.Correction: This episode incorrectly states the full name of the DDB advertising agency. It is Doyle Dane Bernbach.Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn. To listen and support our work, visit Slate.com/ThrillingPlus.For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peloton thought it was selling boutique at-home fitness to busy parents. Instead, it created an entire community. But it also hit a few bumps on the road to success. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a once-revered brick-and-mortar music chain be brought back to life in the era of Amazon and Spotify? Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvel has stumbled as a company many times throughout its history, even going bankrupt in the 1990s. But not unlike many of its characters, it’s re-emerged stronger than before.Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2018, the company once known as Weight Watchers changed its name to “WW.” Is its best chance at survival to convince people that it’s not that interested in dieting after all?Podcast production by Asha Saluja and Cleo Levin.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices