At age 40, Bobby Trussell's promising career in horse racing hit a dead end. With bills to pay and a family to support, he stumbled across a curious product that turned into a lifeline: squishy-squashy memory foam. He jumped at the chance to distribute Swedish memory foam pillows and mattresses to Americans. Tempur-Pedic USA began by selling to chiropractors ... Show More
May 11
Room & Board: John Gabbert. A Broken Deal, a Family Rift, and the Birth of a Furniture Giant
John Gabbert built a massive furniture brand. But in order to do it, he had to defy his family. John grew up working at his dad’s furniture store in the suburbs of Minneapolis. It sold classic, American-made furniture, with flowery prints and curved legs. But in 1972, John took a ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2021
Sponsored: Small Business Stories | Columbia Sportswear | 2
<p>This episode is brought to you by Wondery in partnership with Dell Technologies. In honor of small businesses, we're featuring inspiring stories of successful companies that started out small.</p><p>It’s 1970 and Gert Boyle’s life is in ruins. Her husband’s just died, and now, ... Show More
31m 23s
Apr 2020
Amazon vs Walmart - The Big Bang Theory of E-Commerce | 1
<p>Ninety-six percent of Americans now shop online, snapping up everything from rare coins to industrial-sized barrels of hand sanitizer. Almost half of those purchases take place on one website: Amazon. </p><p>But before sales were a click away, Walmart was the top dog, dec ... Show More
23m 28s
Oct 2021
Roaring Twenties | The Great Crash | 4
<p>On a misty morning in May 1927, Charles Lindbergh climbed into the cramped cockpit of his single engine plane, <em>The Spirit of St. Louis</em>. After a bumpy taxi and takeoff at a New York runway, he took to the skies, on a flight that would break records and make him a natio ... Show More
39m 16s
Feb 2021
Estée Lauder vs L'Oréal | Buying Spree | 5
<p>It’s 1991, and after the financial crash of 1987, Estée Lauder is looking for a new way to continue expanding without sinking millions of dollars and several years into developing a new brand. The answer lies in acquisitions, and they set their sights on two young, hip, buzzwo ... Show More
25m 18s
Feb 2024
Dianna Cohen: Crown Affair Founder and CEO
<p>Crown Affair is a haircare brand that empowers people to create ritual out of their hair routine. Launched in 2020 with four products (a towel, a brush, an oil, and a comb), Crown Affair has since grown to include a range of hair products and tools; has become one of the buzzi ... Show More
57m 22s