Business

Independent bookstores aren't dead! The buy local, shop local, eat local movement has kicked in and people are demanding the return of small, independent businesses in a world where the giants are trying to rule.

By Dave Roos

Which drives you crazier when on hold with a company? An endless loop of smooth jazz tunes or hearing "your call is very important" every 10 seconds? Scientists have actually studied what makes waiting on hold worse.

By Dave Roos

Ever had a friend try to get you to sell Mary Kay, Rodan & Fields, Pampered Chef, jewelry, oils or some other product from home? How much can you really expect to earn doing these?

By Dave Roos

From Kendall Jenner attempting to end police brutality with a Pepsi to H&M's "The Coolest Monkey in the Jungle" ad, let's just say some of these brands didn't get it right.

By Khiry Clements

From Muzak to Mood Media, retailers are banking on music for more sales.

By Cherise Threewitt

Just 9 percent of all shopping is online, but it's growing fast. Old-school brick-and-mortar stores are trying some new tricks to stay competitive.

By Dave Roos

Why get stuck with a useless jersey when your favorite football star gets traded to another team? A new company lets you switch out shirts as often as you wish.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

We explain why Ikea stores are designed like a lazy river, why their meatballs are considered "framing devices" and what's behind those darn flat pack boxes.

By Alia Hoyt

The 1993 case of Earring Magic Ken shows how marketing and focus groups can inadvertently create a kitsch classic. Mattel found this out the hard way when they asked little girls to offer input.

By Bryan Young

People claim to hate pop-ups ads, and their more recent successor, the hover ad. Yet they still click on them. Here's why.

By Dave Roos

How did this teen magazine go from just covering fashion and beauty to getting lauded for its political coverage?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

A new study reveals that shape, size and sense of touch influence purchasing choices, thanks to some curious cognition and perception.

By Patrick J. Kiger

In some industries — like advertising — the awards show is just a giant money-making scheme.

By Dave Roos

One hundred percent of female mannequins in a new U.K. study represented underweight individuals, while only 8 percent of male mannequins did the same.

By Jesslyn Shields

According to a new paper by tech company Polycom, "anywhere working" is on the rise in several countries, and employees recognize its advantages.

By Shelley Danzy

With the demise of mall staples like The Limited, the brands hanging on will have to rethink their entire approach to fashion to survive the 'mall-pocalypse.'

By Dave Roos

Is your cluttered desk a sign of creative genius or just chaos? Experts weigh in on whether either is really a true reflection of how your brain operates.

By Alia Hoyt

Mike Marts, the AfterShock editor-in-chief and co-founder, looks back at the diverse roster of titles and genres published by the new company.

By Christian Sager

The annual employee engagement survey seems pretty useless. So what are some alternatives?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

As more toll roads move away from cash, where does that leave drivers who don't have electronic passes? Or even exact change?

By Jesslyn Shields

Pesky vowels. Who needs those, anyway?

By Kate Kershner

If human nutrition is essentially universal, why do yogurt commercials feature women so prominently?

By Laurie L. Dove

You may be surprised at the types of businesses people have put on wheels. Cigar Lounge, anyone?

By Dave Roos

In an effort to discourage food waste, some all-you-can-eat buffets are charging diners whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs.

By Chris Opfer

A Japanese company called ALE wants to create artificial meteor showers. Is this the first step toward the sky becoming a massive ad?

By Jonathan Strickland