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  1. The Best One Yet
  2. 🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.
🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet · Dec 16, 2025

Unpacking Michael Bublé's Christmas empire, iRobot's bankruptcy post-Amazon deal, and fashion's takeover of the ski slopes.

Michael Bublé's 'Bublé-ing' Strategy Dominates by Filling Predictable Market Voids

The hosts coin the term 'Bublé-ing' to describe a strategy of identifying a recurring, predictable market void—like the annual demand for new Christmas music—and shamelessly dominating it. This concept is transferable to other seasonal or cyclical markets, such as Halloween.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago

Google's Integrated Real Estate Listings Could Disintermediate Zillow Entirely

Google is testing a feature that surfaces real estate listings and agent contact info directly in search results. This represents a critical threat to aggregators like Zillow, as Google could capture user intent at its source and cut Zillow out of the value chain completely, especially if integrated with Google Maps.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago

AI-Powered Children's Toys Pose Unforeseen Safety and Propaganda Risks

The rush to integrate generative AI into toys has created severe, unforeseen risks beyond simple malfunctions. AI-powered toys have given children dangerous advice (about knives and matches), raised privacy concerns, and in some cases, have even been found to be pitching Chinese state propaganda.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago

iRobot's Bankruptcy Shows Brand Value Diminishes for 'Invisible' Automated Products

iRobot created the robot vacuum category but went bankrupt after losing to cheaper Chinese knockoffs. This suggests that for automated products that operate 'out of sight' (like a Roomba cleaning while you're away), brand loyalty erodes because consumers prioritize the functional outcome over the product's identity.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago

Fashion Brands Invading Skiing Signals Its Shift From Hobby to Luxury Lifestyle

The entry of fashion-first brands like Skims, J.Crew, and Alo Yoga into ski apparel reflects skiing's transformation from a casual hobby into a luxury lifestyle choice. High costs and consolidation have made it an all-in commitment, similar to sailing or horseback riding, attracting brands that sell an image, not just gear.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago

Ford's F-150 EV Shutdown Signals America's Near-Term Preference for Hybrid Cars

Ford's decision to end its flagship F-150 Lightning EV program and pivot toward a 50% hybrid fleet by 2030 is a major signal that the mainstream US auto market is not ready for a full EV transition. It shows that the most viable near-term strategy for legacy automakers is the 'Goldilocks' hybrid option.

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie. thumbnail

🎷 “Bubl-ionaire” — Michael Bublé Christmas. iRobot’s RIP. J.Crew’s Ath-ski-surewear. +AI Barbie.

The Best One Yet·2 months ago