The Economics of Everyday Things

Picture day is an annual tradition for American families — and, for the companies that take the photos, a lucrative one. Zachary Crockett smiles for the camera.   SOURCES:Ken Murphy, C.E.O. of Lifetou...

They're not always the nicest places to go — but for their owners, portable toilets are a lucrative revenue stream. Zachary Crockett lifts the lid.   SOURCES:Ron Inman, vice president of Honey BucketV...

You can be a top model and still not get recognized on the street — as long as you keep your cuticles healthy and your moons white. Zachary Crockett points a finger.   SOURCES:Dani Korwin, managing di...

A watercolor of a harbor? A black-and-white photo of a pile of rocks? Some hotels are trying to do better. Zachary Crockett unpacks.   SOURCES:Melanie Kettring, director of studio design at Best Weste...

Before beef ends up at your favorite steakhouse, it passes through the hands of a trained specialist with an encyclopedic knowledge of bovine anatomy. Zachary Crockett chews the fat.   SOURCES:Bryan F...

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story.   SOURCES:Sawyer Clark, director of asset management at Gol...

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread.   SOURCES:Myagmarjav Serjkhuu, manager of the Mongolian Sustainabl...

Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative — web of licensing deals. Zachary Crockett is just your type.   SOURCES:Lucas Czarnec...

Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing.    SOURCE:Francisco Hernandez, owner of Leaves bookstore.  RESOURCES:"Rein...

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett...