Why We Could Have Twist Tie Tariffs

Just like Alaskans have many words for snow, Bedford Industries has a lot of names for twist ties. There are spooled ties and poly twists, clip bands and double wire tin-ties. And that was only the beginning. I copied some…

How Vinyl and Streaming Are Similar

Changes in recorded music sales were fueled by new formats that started with vinyl and eventually became streaming.

How the Tesla (Factory) Is Like the Model T (Factory)

Separated by 100 years, mass producing Teslas and mass producing Model T Fords reflect the innovation that makes an invention available.

Why a Paper Towel Is Like a Toyota

Pre-coronavirus manufacturing efficiencies were beneficial until a pandemic spike in demand led to paper towel shortages.

June 2020 Friday’s e-links: The NBER Digest and Drying Cherry Orchards

In these June 2020 e-links, my first two recommendations–the NBER Digest and helicopter cherry drying–are vastly different but equally interesting.

How a $350 Meal Became $35 Takeout

A Chicago restaurant’s pandemic takeout plan transformed the limitations of the lockdown rules into a creative opportunity.

Why Purell is More Than a Hand Sanitizer

A classic story about entrepreneurs, Purell history displays how a wife and her husband satisfied a need before it existed.

How Mattress Markets Have Inflated

An example of the revolution in mattress markets, Casper has been a leader and a victim of the competition that its innovation inspired.

How to Develop a New Apple

Like iPhones and iPads, Cosmic Crisp apples were developed and tested and patented by scientists during many years of research.

The One Way That Apple and Pizza Hut Are Alike

Propelled by Apple and Pizza Hut, new pizza box design could bring us takeout pizza whose taste and temperature weather a journey.