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The "Sell America" trade that gripped markets this month has left a potentially lasting dent in investors' willingness to hold the US government's longest-maturity debt, a mainstay of its deficit-financing toolkit. View the full article

AI video generators are rapidly improving and becoming more widely available, with Google's Veo 2 now built into the Gemini app for anyone paying for a Google One AI Premium plan. Like OpenAI's Sora, Runway, Adobe's Firefly, and others, Veo 2 enables you to create a professional-looking video from nothing more than a text prompt. With Veo 2 now available to paying users, it seems like a good opportunity to test these different AI video generators against each other, and compare their strengths and weaknesses—and to assess where we're at with AI video in general. We keep being told that these tools will transform movie-making, or at least fill the internet with AI slop, but are they actually practically useful? Microsoft seems to think so, having used it in a recent ad. However, only parts of the clip were AI-made—shots with quick cuts and limited motion, where hallucinations are less likely to happen or be noticed. For the purposes of this guide I'm going to take a look at Google Veo 2 and put it up against Sora, Runway, and Firefly. Other video generators are available, but these are four of the most prominent: They all cost money to access (starting from $20 a month), so you'll need to sign up for a month at least to play around with them. Bouncing balls If you're as old as I am, you'll remember an incredible ad Sony made to promote its new 1080p Bravia televisions in 2005 (above). More than 100,000 bouncy balls were dropped on the steep streets of San Francisco while the cameras rolled, and it was a compelling watch (the behind-the-scenes story is pretty fun, too). This is a real challenge for AI, involving a lot of physics and movement. The prompt I used was: "Thousands of individual, brightly colored balls bouncing down a steep, sunny street in San Francisco, in slow-motion. The camera moves carefully down the street as the balls bounce downwards, passing trees and parked cars." The Google Veo 2 attempt isn't bad. There's some weird physics going on here, but it looks reasonably natural, and could work as a short clip if you're not looking too closely. The background elements are well-rendered, and the instructions in my original prompt were followed pretty closely. Sora seems confused about the scene it's supposed to be rendering. There are colored balls for sure, but they move as a confusing mush, and defy gravity. The pace of the video is OK, even if it's going in the opposite direction to the one I requested, and the background parts of the video look fine on the whole. Runway gets the vibes pretty close, if you compare it to the original Sony clip, but again, there are several problems: The balls aren't at all consistent, the movement isn't what I asked for, and it looks as though there's an alien watching from a window in the top right corner. The street does look pretty cool though. Firefly is probably the worst of the bunch, here. Most of the balls are stationary, and those that are moving aren't very well-rendered. The street looks OK but it's nothing special—there's definitely a retro video game feel to it. As with the Sora clip, the camera is taking me up the street when I really wanted to go down. "Jurassic Park" scene If AI is going to replace the actual people who make movies, then it needs to be able to create scenes as powerful as the "welcome to Jurassic Park" one in Spielberg's 1993 movie: the moment where Richard Attenborough as John Hammond reveals the dinosaurs to his visitors for the first time (above). I was curious to see what AI would make of the scene. The prompt was: "At the top of a hill, two paleontologists slowly stagger along through the grass. As they do so the camera pulls back for a wider shot, revealing a wide clearing and a lake below. There are dinosaurs slowly walking through the lake and the trees." The clip from Google Veo 2 looks pretty good. The camera isn't really moving in the way I described, and the paleontologists aren't really staggering (and they're not on a hill either), but the scenery looks good and the dinosaurs look OK. It's rather generic overall, but it's a decent effort. Sora goes a little bit crazy with this prompt. The camera movements are jerky and don't follow the instructions I made, and the dinosaurs look like weird shape-shifting creatures. The best I can say about this effort is that all the elements I described are included, and the surrounding scenery is reasonably well done. As for Runway, it's probably the closest to what I wanted when it comes to the camera movements and the overall feel of the scene. The lake and the dinosaurs look realistic enough, but it's by no means a perfect rendering—where does the red-shirted paleontologist disappear to? It's another poor effort from Firefly. I'm not sure it knows what paleontologists are, and the dinosaurs are very small. The lake and the surrounding forest are done to an OK standard, though, even if there's a noticeable AI sheen to everything in the frame. The camera movements have been translated well here. "The Living Daylights" scene One more: the memorable Bond and Kara border-crossing scene in The Living Daylights, where they scoot down a snowy mountain on a cello case (above). I don't need to hire Timothy Dalton or Maryam d'Abo, learn how to operate a camera, or travel to Austria, because AI can make the whole scene for me. The prompt for this one was: "A man and a woman in winter clothing are sliding down a snow-covered road on a cello case. There is a barrier on the road, and as they reach it, both characters duck under it." Google Veo 2 manages this pretty well, everything considered—the scene looks mostly realistic and fun, and that does look a bit like a cello case. We do have to ignore the two people going through the road barrier as if it isn't there, but at least there is a barrier there (something the other AI models couldn't grasp). Over to Sora, and again, it's not terrible. OK, that's not really a cello case, and surely the two people would be facing forward, but the snowy road and the surrounding trees look good—it's an immersive scene. Where's my road barrier, Sora? I want to see these people ducking under it. As for Runway, whatever videos it was trained on, they sure weren't videos of people riding cello cases down mountains. The people are blending into each other, elements in the shot are shifting shape, and it just looks weird. The snowy scenery and the actual live snow effect do look good, though. Who knows what Adobe Firefly is thinking here. The physics in this one make absolutely no sense, the characters aren't consistent, and there's no road barrier to duck under. It's actually unsettling to watch. We do get a snowy road, a cello case, and two people in the clip, however. There's no clear winnerI think the Veo 2 videos impressed me most overall, though Runway seems good for realism more often than not. Across the board we have a lot of problems with physics, realism, and prompt interpretation. These are all clearly AI videos, with numerous weird quirks and inconsistencies. Now, I wasn't expecting these AI generators to get anywhere near the quality of professional ads or movies: It's just not possible to recreate those scenes with only a text prompt and a few minutes of time and effort. I'm not trying to take a cheap shot at these tools, which are obviously very clever, but rather point out some of the fundamental issues with AI video. These balls aren't bouncing. Credit: Adobe Firefly/Lifehacker With more careful work and expertise, I could probably get something that looked a lot better, and clearly these video generators are going to improve over time. Who knows what they'll be able to produce in five or 10 years? If you check out the showcased videos on these platforms, you can see that great results are possible. Personally, though, I'm not convinced these AI tools will ever fully replace traditional film work, no matter how well they're trained. To get something like the Sony ad in AI, you'd have to write reams and reams of incredibly detailed prompts, and even then you might not get what you wanted. Would AI think up the frog jumping out of the drain? Results are quick and easy, sure, but you're offloading most of the creative decisions to AI. These videos feel computer-generated. One of these people is about to disappear. Credit: Runway/Lifehacker AI doesn't really know how a ball bounces, or what a dinosaur looks like, or which way people should face as they slide down a snowy road on a cello case. It approximates and calculates based on all the videos it's previously seen, and those shortcomings show up a lot more in video than they do with images or text. You'll notice most AI videos, including the examples above, don't include elements that come in and out of shot, because the AI is likely to forget what they look like if they're not visible. And I haven't even had space here to cover the copyright issues or the energy cost to the planet. No doubt we'll see an increasing number of AI-made ads and shorts as time goes on and the technology improves, but it's worth going back to the famous warning in Jurassic Park: Being so preoccupied with whether we can do it, we don't stop to think about whether we should. Disclosure: Lifehacker’s parent company, Ziff Davis, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems. View the full article

We’ve all been there: the windowless conference room, the stale coffee, the flip charts, the obligatory icebreaker, followed by hours of sticky notes and talk of disruption that feels, ironically, deeply uninspired. This is the traditional corporate offsite: a manufactured attempt at connection and creativity staged inside four beige walls. But here’s the truth that most leaders won’t say out loud: If your strategy session could’ve been an email, your offsite isn’t working. In a world demanding fresh thinking, deep alignment, and courageous reinvention, we don’t need more sticky notes; we need more perspective, pause, and place. It’s time to rethink the offsite. It is not a retreat from work, but a return to what makes work matter. The traditional offsite is designed for control: a fixed agenda, predictable outputs, and highly curated team-building exercises. But innovation is inherently unpredictable. Creativity doesn’t follow a schedule, and a breakthrough doesn’t happen when people feel boxed in—literally or figuratively. A recent Steelcase study found that only 13% of employees strongly agree that their workplace helps them be creative. Imagine taking that same creative tension and relocating it to a stuffy hotel ballroom with bad lighting and bad air quality. It’s not just uninspiring, it’s counterproductive. The Power of Perspective, Pause, and Place If you want to unlock real innovation, you need to get out of the room—literally. I have taken executive teams hiking in the mountains, walking through sculpture parks, sketching beside rivers, and sharing stories under open skies. What happens in those moments isn’t just memorable; it’s transformative. Creativity doesn’t thrive in confinement; it thrives in movement, reflection, and meaningful environments. Here’s what shifts when you leave the room: Perspective expands: On a recent mountain trail, one of my clients looked out over the valley and said, “I finally see my business differently.” Nature helps leaders zoom out, see patterns, and reconnect to what really matters. Dialogue deepens: Walking side-by-side fosters vulnerability in a way boardroom chairs never will. One CFO told me after a trail walk, “That’s the first time I have really talked to my team, not just with them.” Energy resets: Changing physical environments resets our mental state. The body moves, the mind loosens, and new insights begin to emerge, often without even trying. Ask yourself: What would happen if your team had space to think, not just speak? To feel instead of just perform? Nature, Narrative, and Nonlinear Thinking Before you overhaul your next offsite, pause and consider what actually fuels creativity and connection in teams. It’s not tighter agendas or better breakout sessions. It’s the deeper human elements that corporate playbooks often overlook. It’s the environments that stir the senses, stories that build shared meaning, and a space that honors the messy, magical process of emergence. At the heart of powerful offsites are three essential elements most corporate agendas ignore: Nature. Nature doesn’t just reduce stress—it rewires our thinking. A Stanford study found that even a 90-minute walk in nature can reduce rumination and improve problem-solving. But beyond the science, nature reminds us: Not everything must be engineered. Some things must be experienced. What might your team discover if they swapped Wi-Fi for tree lines? Narrative. The best breakthroughs don’t start with strategy decks; they start with stories. When leaders share pivotal life moments or team origin stories, new insights emerge. The strategy becomes personal, and the mission gets real. Instead of starting with goals, ask each person to share a moment that shaped how they lead. Watch what opens up. Nonlinear Thinking. Great ideas don’t arrive on demand. They bubble up in white space (or maybe it should be called green space). That’s why I build in unstructured time during offsites, not as filler, but as fertile ground. One leader told me their breakthrough idea came during a quiet solo hour by the water. Innovation needs space to breathe. A New Offsite Design Philosophy Forget the PowerPoint marathons. The new offsite design should be immersive instead of performative, meaningful instead of efficient, and designed for discovery, not just alignment. Whether you are hiking a coastal trail or sitting around a campfire, the goal isn’t to force productivity. It’s to create the conditions where insight naturally emerges. I call this strategic restoration, a practice of slowing down, stepping back, and reconnecting with what matters most. You don’t need to summit a mountain. Just start here: Change the Environment. Ditch the hotel ballroom and book a retreat center near water, a creative space, or even a local museum. One client who held their offsite in a botanical garden said, “We got more creative in two hours than we usually do in two days.” Design for Emotion, Not Just Execution. Begin with personal storytelling. Build in moments of awe—sunrise meditations, guided journaling, even shared silence. What’s the emotional tone we want this offsite to create, and why does it matter? Include Movement and Mindfulness. Use walking meetings, breathing practices, or a simple quiet space. Movement regulates the nervous system, and stillness amplifies clarity. If you are feeling bold, schedule “unplugged” windows with no devices, just presence. Trust Emergence. Don’t overfill the schedule. Leave space for what you can’t plan. That’s where breakthroughs hide. In a world addicted to speed, the leaders who pause are the ones who leap forward. In a culture obsessed with performance, the companies that reconnect with purpose are the ones that endure. So no, your next innovation breakthrough probably won’t come from a hotel ballroom with cold sandwiches and tired team-building games. It might come from a hike or a story told around a fire. Because when you design for renewal, reflection, and reconnection, strategy becomes more than a plan. It becomes a shared vision that feels alive. View the full article

Months after enabling Deep Research in its expensive $200 ChatGPT Pro plan, OpenAI is now rolling out the feature to all users. Anyone can now access a lightweight version of Deep Research for free. This new version of Deep Research sits somewhere between a regular ChatGPT search and a ChatGPT Pro-style in-depth report. These searches usually take around five to ten minutes, and give you a report that's about a page or two long. In my experience, its reports are practical, to-the-point, and well-researched. How the new "lightweight" ChatGPT Deep Research worksDeep Research is different from a regular ChatGPT search. Here, ChatGPT will use all of its resources, like its reasoning model, its thinking capabilities, its online search integration, and bring it all together to generate a detailed response. Deep Research will first ask you some clarifying questions about your prompt, and then start its work. A single Deep Research query can take anywhere between 5–30 minutes, depending on how complex of a question you're asking. The full-version of the Deep Research tool can perform complex and detailed research for you on complicated science, and math problems. These queries usually take around 30 minutes, and then generated in-depth, multipage reports. The new lightweight version is more casual than that. You can use it to research a share that you want to invest in, products that you want to buy, or to understand a new topic. The results take about five to ten minutes, and the reports are shorter and to the point. But they'll still be heavily sourced, so you can check the links to confirm that ChatGPT isn't hallucinating. But despite technically being available to everyone, access to ChatGPT Deep Research is quite limited, and it's based on the plan that you're using. Free plan: You'll get five lightweight Deep Research queries per month. Plus and Team plans: The $20 per month plan gives you ten queries a month with the full-fledged Deep Research tool and an additional 15 using the lightweight version. Pro: The $200 per month plan comes with 125 full Deep Research queries per month, and an additional 125 using the lightweight version. All limits reset every 30 days, and the count starts the day you start using the Deep Research feature. How to use Deep Research in ChatGPTAfter opening the ChatGPT website, click the Deep Research button and enter your prompt. The more details that you can provide, the better off you'll be. To add more context, you can attach images, documents, or spreadsheets. Credit: Khamosh Pathak After you enter your prompt, ChatGPT will come back to you with clarifying questions. These questions are not compulsory to answer, but they will help specify your report. If you want a more general report, you can just say something like "I don't know, do your best", and ChatGPT will get started with what it thinks is the best way to go forward. Credit: Khamosh Pathak When the research starts, you'll see a progress bar in the chat itself. You are free to leave the chat and come back later, as this will take time. In my testing using the lightweight free version, queries still took between four to eight minutes, even for simple questions. You can click the progress bar to reveal a sidebar. This is where you'll see the steps that ChatGPT is going through to answer your query. Depending on your question, ChatGPT might look at scholarly articles, PDFs, websites, and then use its thinking model when all the information is collated. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Once the report is ready, you'll see it in its own specialized box. You can click the Share button to see a Preview window. Here, you can click on Share Link to generate a link to the report. Though, unlike Google Gemini, you can't export the report as a PDF (or other format). Credit: Khamosh Pathak How ChatGPT Deep Research can help youI ran a couple of tests with the Deep Research tool on the free plan, and I came away impressed. ChatGPT's reports are concise and direct. By comparison, Google Gemini's reports feel unnecessarily verbose. ChatGPT is also better at highlighting links right in the text, something that Gemini hides behind a menu. I asked ChatGPT to create a beginners guide to learning Handpan, and it did a good job of compiling YouTube videos, handpan sellers, and exercises, all on one page. Next, I asked it to research market sentiment for a specific share, and it included everything from recent earnings, to expert opinions, to share price targets. Credit: Khamosh Pathak I then used it for something that I standard Googling couldn't help me with, which was to find a part number for a spare wheel screw hook for my Volkswagen Polo. Not wanting to open the owner's manual or go to the dealership, I asked ChatGPT for help instead. First, I used the regular Search feature, and it just wouldn't give me a usable answer. The Deep Research feature, though, found the part number in a couple of minutes. But it couldn't find a website based in India (where I'm located) that sells this part (it did find many sellers in the US and Europe, though). To compare, I ran the query in Gemini. Gemini generated a really long report, most of which wasn't really useful. I had to scroll all the way to the bottom to find the spare part number. This being Google, though, it gave me a link to an Indian site that sells the part. Nice. Overall, I found that ChatGPT's Deep Research tool is comparable to the likes of Gemini and Perplexity, and goes beyond them when it comes to direct-language and sourcing. That said, the content is still generated using a Large Language Model, which has a tendency to hallucinate and make things up. It would be best to check the report's sources to confirm that what ChatGPT has generated is correct. View the full article

Key Takeaways Rewarding Business Opportunity: Starting a laundry business meets a consistent community need, driven by busy lifestyles and the ongoing demand for clean clothing. Business Models: Entrepreneurs can choose between self-service laundromats, requiring minimal staff, and full-service laundry options, catering to clients with a comprehensive washing and drying experience. Startup Costs: Low initial investment makes it accessible for budding entrepreneurs, allowing flexibility in financing options through loans or crowdfunding. Essential Equipment: Selecting the right washing machines, dryers, and folding stations is crucial for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Effective Marketing: Building a strong online presence and engaging in local advertising can significantly enhance customer acquisition and brand visibility. Anticipate Challenges: Be prepared for industry challenges, such as rising costs, labor shortages, and maintenance needs, to ensure long-term success in the laundry business. Starting a laundry business can be a rewarding venture that meets a vital need in your community. With busy lifestyles and the constant demand for clean clothes, there’s never been a better time to dive into this industry. Whether you’re considering a self-service laundromat or a full-service laundry, the opportunities are plentiful. You don’t need extensive experience to get started, just a solid plan and a passion for service. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to launch your laundry business, from market research to choosing the right equipment. Get ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality and create a thriving business that keeps your customers coming back for more. Benefits Of Starting A Laundry Business Starting a laundry business offers numerous advantages for entrepreneurs seeking to tap into a stable market. Understanding these benefits can motivate you to embark on this rewarding venture. Flexible Working Hours Flexible working hours allow you to tailor your schedule to fit personal commitments. You can choose to operate during peak times, accommodating busy customers, or establish hours that suit your lifestyle. This flexibility enhances work-life balance, making it easier for you to maintain other responsibilities or pursue additional interests. Low Startup Costs Low startup costs present an appealing entry point for aspiring business owners. Initial investments often include essential equipment, such as washers, dryers, and detergents. Depending on your business model, you can start as a small operation with minimal financing or explore funding options like crowdfunding or small business loans. A well-crafted business plan can further strengthen your position when seeking funding. With careful budgeting and market research, you establish a foundation for potential growth without overwhelming financial burdens. Types Of Laundry Businesses Understanding the different types of laundry businesses is essential for entrepreneurs exploring how to start a business in this industry. Each model comes with unique operational structures and opportunities for profitability. Self-Service Laundromats Self-service laundromats allow customers to wash and dry their laundry independently. These facilities require minimal staff, focusing primarily on maintenance and customer support. High-efficiency washers and dryers enhance performance while conserving water and energy. Typical features include vending machines for detergent and coin or card-operated payment systems, streamlining the user experience. Selecting the right location is critical for success. Aim for high-traffic areas, such as near apartment complexes, shopping centers, or universities. Consider local competition and accessibility to your target audience when conducting market research, as these factors significantly impact customer acquisition and revenue. Establishing a solid business plan that incorporates costs, such as equipment and leasing, lays the groundwork for a sustainable venture. Full-Service Laundry Full-service laundry businesses cater to customers by handling every aspect of the cleaning process. These services usually include washing, drying, folding, and often ironing garments. Employing skilled staff enhances customer satisfaction, making it crucial to focus on hiring and training. Full-service models may target specific niches, like high-end garments or commercial clients, which can influence your branding and marketing strategies. Leveraging digital marketing, including SEO and social media, strengthens your reach to potential customers. Establishing partnerships with local businesses can be advantageous, creating a steady stream of clients while enhancing your reputation. Setting the right legal structure for your full-service operation—whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation—ensures compliance with local regulations. Obtaining the necessary permits and licenses is a vital step in your startup journey. Focusing on customer service and quality can differentiate your business from competitors, fostering customer loyalty and repeat business. Exploring funding options, such as small business loans or crowdfunding, expands your ability to scale operations quickly. By understanding these core types of laundry businesses, you will cultivate a clear picture of your entrepreneurial path. Essential Equipment For Your Laundry Business Starting your laundry business requires the right equipment to serve your customers efficiently. Focusing on essential machinery boosts operational capacity and customer satisfaction. Washing Machines Commercial washing machines serve as the backbone of your laundry operation. Options range from compact 5kg machines to large 120kg units. Selecting the right type of washing machine is crucial. You can opt for: Top-loaders: Economical and user-friendly, they often consume more water. Front-loaders: More energy and water-efficient, though typically more expensive. High-Efficiency (HE) top-loaders: Use less water and energy, appealing to environmentally conscious customers. Assess your customer volume and tailor the number and capacity of machines accordingly. Investing in high-quality washing machines creates a reliable service, aiding customer retention and high satisfaction rates. Dryers Dryers complement washing machines, essential for fast and effective garment drying. Tumble dryers are the most common choice among laundry businesses due to their efficiency. You should consider: Stackable dryers: Ideal for space management while maximizing output. Commercial-grade dryers: Offer durability and quicker drying times. Choosing the right dryer type enhances your service’s competitiveness and accommodates high customer flow, impacting overall profitability. Folding Stations Folding stations streamline your workflow and improve the customer experience. You can implement: Dedicated folding tables: Ensure sufficient space for folding clothes efficiently. Signage: Provide clear instructions for customers to maintain organization and cleanliness. Incorporating these stations into your business layout aids in efficient closing operations, enhancing customer service. Investing in quality folding stations supports a smoother experience, promoting positive customer attitudes toward your brand. With these essential pieces of equipment, you can effectively set up your laundry business, ensuring operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Marketing Strategies For Your Laundry Business Effective marketing strategies are crucial for your laundry business’s success. Implementing targeted tactics can improve customer acquisition and enhance brand visibility. Building An Online Presence Establish a strong online presence to connect with your target audience. Create a user-friendly website showcasing your services, pricing, and contact information. Optimize your site for search engines using SEO techniques to improve visibility. Utilize social media platforms to engage potential customers through compelling content and promotions. Consider email marketing campaigns to keep clients informed about new offers and loyalty programs. Investing in a digital marketing strategy enhances your online reach, attracting more customers. Local Advertising Leverage local advertising to promote your laundry business within your community. Utilize flyers, posters, and local newspapers to reach nearby residents. Participate in community events to network and increase brand awareness. Partner with local businesses for referral programs that incentivize shared customers. Offering discounts or free trials can encourage first-time visitors to try your services. Focus on building relationships within the community to foster loyalty and repeat business. Challenges In The Laundry Industry Understanding the challenges in the laundry industry helps you prepare for potential obstacles as you start a business. Key aspects include rising costs, environmental regulations, labor shortages, competition, and maintenance of equipment. Rising Costs Rising costs significantly impact laundry businesses. Labor expenses, energy bills, and supply prices all increase, affecting profitability. Staying competitive while ensuring high standards of cleanliness requires careful management of these expenses. Environmental Regulations Environmental regulations shape your laundry business operations. Compliance with laws concerning water consumption and wastewater management proves essential. Navigating these regulations can consume time and resources, but non-compliance can lead to fines and reputational damage. Labor Shortages Labor shortages present a challenge, especially in areas with low unemployment rates. Finding skilled workers costs more while impacting service consistency. Investing in training programs enhances your team’s skills and improves service quality. Competition Competition within the laundry industry is fierce. Numerous established businesses can make customer acquisition difficult. Conducting thorough market research helps you identify your target audience and refine your business model to stand out. Differentiating your services through exceptional customer care and effective branding strengthens your position. Maintenance Of Equipment Maintenance of equipment ensures efficiency in your laundry operations. Regular servicing of washers and dryers prevents costly breakdowns, which can disrupt business. Implementing a maintenance schedule allows you to manage expenses and extend equipment lifespan, contributing to improved profit margins. Conclusion Starting a laundry business can be a fulfilling and profitable journey. With the right planning and dedication you can tap into a steady demand for laundry services. Whether you choose a self-service model or a full-service operation your focus on quality and customer satisfaction will set you apart. Embrace flexibility in your schedule and take advantage of low startup costs. Remember that thorough market research and a solid business plan are your keys to success. As you navigate challenges like rising costs and competition keep your passion for service at the forefront. Now’s the time to turn your vision into reality and create a laundry business that meets the needs of your community. Frequently Asked Questions What are the key benefits of starting a laundry business? Starting a laundry business offers benefits such as flexible working hours, enabling a better work-life balance. The startup costs are relatively low, allowing entrepreneurs to begin with minimal financing. There’s also a consistent demand for laundry services, making it a stable and rewarding venture. Do I need extensive experience to start a laundry business? No, you don’t need extensive experience. While having knowledge of the industry helps, a solid business plan and a passion for service are more important. The article provides guidance on the steps to launch successfully. What types of laundry businesses can I start? There are various types of laundry businesses, including self-service laundromats and full-service operations. Self-service laundromats focus on customer independence, while full-service businesses handle all aspects of laundry care for customers, emphasizing satisfaction. How do I choose the right equipment for my laundry business? Selecting the right equipment is crucial. You should consider customer needs when choosing washers and dryers. Additionally, incorporating folding stations improves workflow and enhances the customer experience, making it easier for staff and clients alike. What marketing strategies are effective for a laundry business? Effective marketing strategies include establishing a strong online presence through a user-friendly website and social media. Utilizing SEO techniques, email marketing, and local advertising like flyers and community events can help attract and retain customers. What challenges can I face when starting a laundry business? Common challenges include rising costs, environmental regulations, and labor shortages. Regular equipment maintenance is essential for efficiency, and understanding local competition is crucial for differentiating your services and attracting customers. How can I finance my laundry business startup? You can start with minimal financing or explore funding options like small business loans and grants. A well-crafted business plan can help you secure the necessary funds, demonstrating your vision and potential profitability to investors or lenders. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Guide to Start a Laundry Business and Achieve Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Rewarding Business Opportunity: Starting a laundry business meets a consistent community need, driven by busy lifestyles and the ongoing demand for clean clothing. Business Models: Entrepreneurs can choose between self-service laundromats, requiring minimal staff, and full-service laundry options, catering to clients with a comprehensive washing and drying experience. Startup Costs: Low initial investment makes it accessible for budding entrepreneurs, allowing flexibility in financing options through loans or crowdfunding. Essential Equipment: Selecting the right washing machines, dryers, and folding stations is crucial for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Effective Marketing: Building a strong online presence and engaging in local advertising can significantly enhance customer acquisition and brand visibility. Anticipate Challenges: Be prepared for industry challenges, such as rising costs, labor shortages, and maintenance needs, to ensure long-term success in the laundry business. Starting a laundry business can be a rewarding venture that meets a vital need in your community. With busy lifestyles and the constant demand for clean clothes, there’s never been a better time to dive into this industry. Whether you’re considering a self-service laundromat or a full-service laundry, the opportunities are plentiful. You don’t need extensive experience to get started, just a solid plan and a passion for service. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to launch your laundry business, from market research to choosing the right equipment. Get ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality and create a thriving business that keeps your customers coming back for more. Benefits Of Starting A Laundry Business Starting a laundry business offers numerous advantages for entrepreneurs seeking to tap into a stable market. Understanding these benefits can motivate you to embark on this rewarding venture. Flexible Working Hours Flexible working hours allow you to tailor your schedule to fit personal commitments. You can choose to operate during peak times, accommodating busy customers, or establish hours that suit your lifestyle. This flexibility enhances work-life balance, making it easier for you to maintain other responsibilities or pursue additional interests. Low Startup Costs Low startup costs present an appealing entry point for aspiring business owners. Initial investments often include essential equipment, such as washers, dryers, and detergents. Depending on your business model, you can start as a small operation with minimal financing or explore funding options like crowdfunding or small business loans. A well-crafted business plan can further strengthen your position when seeking funding. With careful budgeting and market research, you establish a foundation for potential growth without overwhelming financial burdens. Types Of Laundry Businesses Understanding the different types of laundry businesses is essential for entrepreneurs exploring how to start a business in this industry. Each model comes with unique operational structures and opportunities for profitability. Self-Service Laundromats Self-service laundromats allow customers to wash and dry their laundry independently. These facilities require minimal staff, focusing primarily on maintenance and customer support. High-efficiency washers and dryers enhance performance while conserving water and energy. Typical features include vending machines for detergent and coin or card-operated payment systems, streamlining the user experience. Selecting the right location is critical for success. Aim for high-traffic areas, such as near apartment complexes, shopping centers, or universities. Consider local competition and accessibility to your target audience when conducting market research, as these factors significantly impact customer acquisition and revenue. Establishing a solid business plan that incorporates costs, such as equipment and leasing, lays the groundwork for a sustainable venture. Full-Service Laundry Full-service laundry businesses cater to customers by handling every aspect of the cleaning process. These services usually include washing, drying, folding, and often ironing garments. Employing skilled staff enhances customer satisfaction, making it crucial to focus on hiring and training. Full-service models may target specific niches, like high-end garments or commercial clients, which can influence your branding and marketing strategies. Leveraging digital marketing, including SEO and social media, strengthens your reach to potential customers. Establishing partnerships with local businesses can be advantageous, creating a steady stream of clients while enhancing your reputation. Setting the right legal structure for your full-service operation—whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation—ensures compliance with local regulations. Obtaining the necessary permits and licenses is a vital step in your startup journey. Focusing on customer service and quality can differentiate your business from competitors, fostering customer loyalty and repeat business. Exploring funding options, such as small business loans or crowdfunding, expands your ability to scale operations quickly. By understanding these core types of laundry businesses, you will cultivate a clear picture of your entrepreneurial path. Essential Equipment For Your Laundry Business Starting your laundry business requires the right equipment to serve your customers efficiently. Focusing on essential machinery boosts operational capacity and customer satisfaction. Washing Machines Commercial washing machines serve as the backbone of your laundry operation. Options range from compact 5kg machines to large 120kg units. Selecting the right type of washing machine is crucial. You can opt for: Top-loaders: Economical and user-friendly, they often consume more water. Front-loaders: More energy and water-efficient, though typically more expensive. High-Efficiency (HE) top-loaders: Use less water and energy, appealing to environmentally conscious customers. Assess your customer volume and tailor the number and capacity of machines accordingly. Investing in high-quality washing machines creates a reliable service, aiding customer retention and high satisfaction rates. Dryers Dryers complement washing machines, essential for fast and effective garment drying. Tumble dryers are the most common choice among laundry businesses due to their efficiency. You should consider: Stackable dryers: Ideal for space management while maximizing output. Commercial-grade dryers: Offer durability and quicker drying times. Choosing the right dryer type enhances your service’s competitiveness and accommodates high customer flow, impacting overall profitability. Folding Stations Folding stations streamline your workflow and improve the customer experience. You can implement: Dedicated folding tables: Ensure sufficient space for folding clothes efficiently. Signage: Provide clear instructions for customers to maintain organization and cleanliness. Incorporating these stations into your business layout aids in efficient closing operations, enhancing customer service. Investing in quality folding stations supports a smoother experience, promoting positive customer attitudes toward your brand. With these essential pieces of equipment, you can effectively set up your laundry business, ensuring operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Marketing Strategies For Your Laundry Business Effective marketing strategies are crucial for your laundry business’s success. Implementing targeted tactics can improve customer acquisition and enhance brand visibility. Building An Online Presence Establish a strong online presence to connect with your target audience. Create a user-friendly website showcasing your services, pricing, and contact information. Optimize your site for search engines using SEO techniques to improve visibility. Utilize social media platforms to engage potential customers through compelling content and promotions. Consider email marketing campaigns to keep clients informed about new offers and loyalty programs. Investing in a digital marketing strategy enhances your online reach, attracting more customers. Local Advertising Leverage local advertising to promote your laundry business within your community. Utilize flyers, posters, and local newspapers to reach nearby residents. Participate in community events to network and increase brand awareness. Partner with local businesses for referral programs that incentivize shared customers. Offering discounts or free trials can encourage first-time visitors to try your services. Focus on building relationships within the community to foster loyalty and repeat business. Challenges In The Laundry Industry Understanding the challenges in the laundry industry helps you prepare for potential obstacles as you start a business. Key aspects include rising costs, environmental regulations, labor shortages, competition, and maintenance of equipment. Rising Costs Rising costs significantly impact laundry businesses. Labor expenses, energy bills, and supply prices all increase, affecting profitability. Staying competitive while ensuring high standards of cleanliness requires careful management of these expenses. Environmental Regulations Environmental regulations shape your laundry business operations. Compliance with laws concerning water consumption and wastewater management proves essential. Navigating these regulations can consume time and resources, but non-compliance can lead to fines and reputational damage. Labor Shortages Labor shortages present a challenge, especially in areas with low unemployment rates. Finding skilled workers costs more while impacting service consistency. Investing in training programs enhances your team’s skills and improves service quality. Competition Competition within the laundry industry is fierce. Numerous established businesses can make customer acquisition difficult. Conducting thorough market research helps you identify your target audience and refine your business model to stand out. Differentiating your services through exceptional customer care and effective branding strengthens your position. Maintenance Of Equipment Maintenance of equipment ensures efficiency in your laundry operations. Regular servicing of washers and dryers prevents costly breakdowns, which can disrupt business. Implementing a maintenance schedule allows you to manage expenses and extend equipment lifespan, contributing to improved profit margins. Conclusion Starting a laundry business can be a fulfilling and profitable journey. With the right planning and dedication you can tap into a steady demand for laundry services. Whether you choose a self-service model or a full-service operation your focus on quality and customer satisfaction will set you apart. Embrace flexibility in your schedule and take advantage of low startup costs. Remember that thorough market research and a solid business plan are your keys to success. As you navigate challenges like rising costs and competition keep your passion for service at the forefront. Now’s the time to turn your vision into reality and create a laundry business that meets the needs of your community. Frequently Asked Questions What are the key benefits of starting a laundry business? Starting a laundry business offers benefits such as flexible working hours, enabling a better work-life balance. The startup costs are relatively low, allowing entrepreneurs to begin with minimal financing. There’s also a consistent demand for laundry services, making it a stable and rewarding venture. Do I need extensive experience to start a laundry business? No, you don’t need extensive experience. While having knowledge of the industry helps, a solid business plan and a passion for service are more important. The article provides guidance on the steps to launch successfully. What types of laundry businesses can I start? There are various types of laundry businesses, including self-service laundromats and full-service operations. Self-service laundromats focus on customer independence, while full-service businesses handle all aspects of laundry care for customers, emphasizing satisfaction. How do I choose the right equipment for my laundry business? Selecting the right equipment is crucial. You should consider customer needs when choosing washers and dryers. Additionally, incorporating folding stations improves workflow and enhances the customer experience, making it easier for staff and clients alike. What marketing strategies are effective for a laundry business? Effective marketing strategies include establishing a strong online presence through a user-friendly website and social media. Utilizing SEO techniques, email marketing, and local advertising like flyers and community events can help attract and retain customers. What challenges can I face when starting a laundry business? Common challenges include rising costs, environmental regulations, and labor shortages. Regular equipment maintenance is essential for efficiency, and understanding local competition is crucial for differentiating your services and attracting customers. How can I finance my laundry business startup? You can start with minimal financing or explore funding options like small business loans and grants. A well-crafted business plan can help you secure the necessary funds, demonstrating your vision and potential profitability to investors or lenders. Image Via Envato This article, "Essential Guide to Start a Laundry Business and Achieve Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're tied into the Apple ecosystem and looking to upgrade your mouse or streamline your desk setup, Woot is offering a refurbished Apple Magic Mouse 2 for $49.99 for the next twelve days—or until it sells out. That’s a decent cut from its current $79.95 listing on Amazon. It's worth mentioning upfront that this is a refurbished unit, which means it might show minor signs of previous use, but it’s been inspected and approved to work properly. Woot throws in a 90-day limited warranty, and free shipping is available if you’re an Amazon Prime member (otherwise, it’ll add $6 to the bill). Also, Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Apple Magic Mouse 2 $49.99 at Woot $79.95 Save $29.96 Get Deal Get Deal $49.99 at Woot $79.95 Save $29.96 The low-friction strips on the bottom of the Magic Mouse 2 help it move smoothly across surfaces, and its optical sensor is quick to pick up on movement. You can also easily tweak the tracking speed and sensitivity of the mouse through your Mac’s settings (it automatically pairs with any Mac via Bluetooth). Swiping between browser pages, switching full-screen apps, and pulling up Mission Control are all baked into its multitouch surface, and everything feels natural once you get the hang of it. That said, the low profile of this mouse might not be for everyone—if you prefer a mouse with a more sculpted, ergonomic shape for long work sessions, it could feel uncomfortable. Also, the charging port is awkwardly placed on the bottom, meaning you can’t use it while it’s plugged in. But if you’re someone who charges devices overnight anyway, it’s manageable. View the full article

Kelly Slater is the undisputed GOAT of surfing. The 53-year-old has won 11 world titles—including being both the youngest and oldest champ ever at 20 and 39, respectively—and has competed regularly on the pro tour until just last year. He’s not even officially retired yet. Slater has also built multiple businesses, beyond his endorsement deals. One of those is apparel brand Outerknown, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It’s been a labor of love for Slater, who along with cofounder John Moore, had a commitment from the beginning to make it as sustainable and responsible as possible. Last month, the company dropped the Apex Trunk by Kelly Slater, the first-ever performance four-way stretch board short made from 90% recycled fishing nets from Bureo. Slater says the trunks, aimed at performance surfers, represent both the future of the brand, and a culmination of its long-standing goals. “We’re definitely making a move towards some very specific, little more hardcore surf stuff,” says Slater, on the phone from his home on Hawaii’s North Shore. Outerknown has largely produced apparel for the lifestyle around surfing—shirts, denim, sweaters. But now the brand is creating a line of surf-specific gear under Slater’s name, set for 2026. Slater compares the Apex trunk design to playing the guitar. “I’ve played music for 30 years, and you can add all kinds of things to a song, but when you make a nice, good melody, you can strip it back to the basics and you have what you need,” says Slater. “And for me, that’s kind of what this trunk is.” It also represents a broader opportunity. Over the past couple of years, surfing’s traditional brand giants have been in an unprecedented state of flux and upheaval that has seen majors like Billabong, Volcom, Quiksilver, and more get stripped down and change ownership, with some getting acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2023. That has given surfer-owned and operated companies like Outerknown, John John Florence’s Florence brand, Dane Reynolds’s Chapter 11, and Julian Wilson’s Rivvia Projects the chance to simplify and redefine what the core surf industry looks like. For Outerknown right now, it’s all about the new trunks. Wave of the future The new Apex trunk underwent more than three years of R&D, as Moore, Slater, and the brand’s designers worked closely with Bureo on the cut and materials. Slater and other brand ambassadors tested it in waves across Sri Lanka, Australia, Hawaii, and beyond. Slater says designing a surf trunk is more complicated than it seems. Sometimes people want a multitasking amphibian short, that performs the same on the beach as in the streets. “But when it comes to just going for a long surf session, I just need something that performs really simply,” says Slater. “And I don’t even mean to say it performs, it just doesn’t get in the way. We think of the type of string we’re going to use so it doesn’t untie, and make sure that the length is just right, so it doesn’t look too short. But if it’s too long, it’s caught on the knee, so there’s a little scallop on the side to give you a little bit more of a stretch to the side. Very simple things to get a streamlined product. But to do that, there’s years of thought and technology and ideas that go into this one product.” Moore says that the connection between the new Apex trunk and Outerknown’s lifestyle apparel is about looking at design from a surfing perspective. “Wherever our travels take us, surfing is one part of that, so it’s about, how do we make clothes that are built better, feel better, fit better, and do it through our surfers’ lens?” says Moore. “It just feels like we’re finally at a place where we can really focus on what matters and what works, and we know who our customers are, we know what they want, and we’re getting better at making it.” Under one roof A decade ago, Outerknown was launched with fanfare, some surfer skepticism, and a lot of challenges. Founded by Slater and Moore, the brand was also backed by luxury brand owner the Kering Group as a minority stakeholder. Slater’s goal, inspired in part by Patagonia, was to make the most responsible clothing possible—organic cotton, fair labor practices. The challenge was making that happen when the supply chain wasn’t really there, especially for the small numbers Outerknown was starting out with. That led to much higher prices, which made many surfers scoff at $300 shirts and $170 trunks. “The early days were super tough,” says Slater. But gradually, the company was able to grow its community and scale, opening eight retail locations in Malibu, California, as well as cities like New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. There will still be scoffs at the new Apex trunk’s $168 price tag, but Slater says there are people who do care about a product’s provenance. “A lot of people don’t realize that to do things right and responsibly, to take care of your workers, and to use the good recycled textiles or organic products, all those things are infinitely more expensive,” he says. For its first decade, Outerknown could be described as a surf-adjacent brand. Mostly street clothes and apparel, designed from a surfing perspective. But starting with the new Apex trunks, the brand will now be stocking in surf shops and creating more products to make that connection more explicit. The catalyst for that was Slater’s move last year to move his three primary companies—Outerknown, Firewire Surfboards, and Slater Designs—under one parent company roof. Surf industry vet and Firewire CEO Dylan Slater (no relation) was named chief executive of the new company. He says that the brands complement each other in some obvious ways, but also plenty behind the scenes. Outerknown is primarily a U.S.-based business, while Firewire is global. “There’s some really unique ways they can support one another,” he says. “We have aspirations to make Outerknown globally accessible, and we expect that to happen in the next 6 to 12 months. The brands can also collaborate around products, and have some more exposure to their respective audiences, with surfboards in Outerknown stores and things like that.” Moore is excited to see Outerknown go directly to a more hardcore surf audience, especially amid the recent consolidation of the traditional surf brand powerhouses. “Over the years, everything became very corporate and, I would argue, kind of a sea of sameness,” he says. “I think surfing has always been at its core about individuality and finding your own flow through life or on a wave. We’re doing it our way, and with all the evolution in the marketplace, it feels like an opportunity for us to take it to the next level.” View the full article

I keep looking for ways to free up storage space on my iPhone and on iCloud. I am a data hoarder who hates deleting things, but when I almost managed to fill up my 256GB iPhone, I knew I had a problem and began aggressively deleting unwanted data. However, photos takes up most of the storage on my iPhone, which has put me in a bit of a spot. I find it hard to delete old photos, but if I don't do that, I may eventually have to start paying a lot more for cloud storage to back up my data. If you're in the same boat as I am, the answer is simpler than you might think. Here are a few ways to delete photos and free up storage space on both your iPhone and on iCloud. Define what to deleteEmotional attachment and time are my biggest problems when freeing up photos storage. I have nearly 18,000 items in my photo library, which includes over 1,000 screenshots and an unknowable number of similar photos. You see, when I take a photo, I tend to click the shutter over a dozen times to ensure I get at least one great shot. This means I often have unnecessary duplicates in my gallery, but it can be hard to find them all, and I don't want to delete something important by accident. When I'm setting aside some time to manually clear out unwanted photos, I go in with a clear set of guidelines: most screenshots and screen recordings can go, and I save at most three of a batch of similar shots. But it's a lengthy process, and sometimes emotionally draining depending on the subject matter in my gallery. Plus, it gets even trickier if the photos I need to delete have people in them. Luckily, deleting manually isn't your only option. Free up Photos storage space on your iPhoneIf you're really tight on storage space, you should focus on easy, big gains first before getting sucked into manually reviewing your photos. I usually start by checking the Recently Deleted folder. This has items you've deleted over the past 30 days, and if you're sure you're not going to need them, you can permanently erase them to quickly free up space. To do this, go to the Photos app on your iPhone and scroll down until you see the Utilities section. Select Recently Deleted, tap the Select button, and pick the items you don't need. Tap the three-dots button in the bottom-right corner and hit Delete, followed by Delete From This iPhone. Credit: Pranay Parab Next, you should focus on quickly deleting duplicate items from your photo library. Go back to the previous page and select the Duplicates button. Tap Select, then Select All, and tap the Merge button at the bottom of the screen. This will reveal two options: merge exact copies and merge items with similar metadata. Merging exact copies is nondestructive, so go ahead and do it immediately to free up space. After that, take some time to review all the photos in this list and see if you want to merge the rest as well. You can merge one batch of duplicates at a time, and the process is much faster than finding duplicates yourself, even if it's not fully perfect. Once that's done, go to the Videos and Screen Recordings folders and clear out things you don't need. Usually, these files are quite large and you'll see some rapid gains by deleting unwanted items. While you're at it, visit the Screenshots folder and get rid of captures you no longer care about. Delete unwanted photos from iCloudIf you have iCloud sync enabled, the steps listed above will delete your photos from both your iPhone and iCloud. However, in case you don't have access to your iPhone or you find it easier to organize and remove photos on a computer, you can visit the iCloud Photos website and delete photos from there instead. The interface is quite straightforward. The left pane lists all the albums and the Trash button in the top-right corner will help you remove photos. Once again, don't forget to visit the Recently Deleted album and clear it out. Until you do this, you may not see a change in the amount of free space available on your iCloud account. Using third-party apps to delete iPhone photosI generally don't recommend using third-party apps to clear out photo storage because most of them don't do a better job than the built-in Photos app, often have expensive subscription models, and are from unknown developers. Since these apps require access to your entire photo library, it's a bit of a risk to pick any old app to do the job. If you really want to use one of these apps to quickly delete photos, Undolly is a good option. It's quick to scan the library and uses on-device processing to identify similar photos and not just duplicates. It still takes time to review photos and delete them, but the app helps you out by picking out the best among similar photos, and its selection is usually quite good. The app costs $1/month or $15 for a lifetime unlock, which is relatively inexpensive, and its privacy nutrition label indicates that it collects no data. That's also reassuring to see. Backing up iPhone photos to cheaper cloud storageFor those who have a large library, iCloud's pricing tiers can be unforgiving. 50GB of iCloud space costs $1/month and 200GB is a relatively small step up at $3/month. But if you go over 200 GB, the next available plan is 2TB at $10/month, more than triple the previous tier. Before considering alternatives, you should know that no other service is as convenient for iPhone photo backups as iCloud is. For all other services, you'll have to keep your phone unlocked with the app running until the backup is complete. But there are savings to be made by going elsewhere. If you're already an Amazon Prime subscriber, you could consider Amazon Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage at no additional charge. Even without Prime, you can subscribe to Amazon Photos for 1TB of storage at $70/year. That plan gives you less storage per dollar than iCloud's 2TB option, but you end up saving about $50/year, too. Personally, I prefer my Microsoft 365 subscription, because it gives me access to all the Office apps and 1TB of storage at $100/year. I am on the family plan, which I share with five other people, and it gives me 1TB of storage per account. The family plan costs $130/year, which is around $22 per person per year. Both iCloud and Google One have family plans, too, but the storage is shared among all members of the family. Microsoft 365's family plan lets each member use 1TB, which is great. Back up iPhone photos to local drivesTo truly keep your photos secure, though, you should also keep a copy of your iPhone's photos on external hard drives, your Mac or PC, or a network-attached storage (NAS) device, if you have one. To do that on Mac, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and open the pre-installed Image Capture app. Now, connect any external storage device and you'll be able to copy iPhone photos to that drive. On Windows, you'll have to connect the iPhone via USB and use the Microsoft Photos app to import photos, before transferring them to an external drive. Alternatively, if you're backing up your iPhone photos to a NAS device, you can use the CCC Mobile app to complete the transfer wirelessly. The app is a free download, but requires you to pay a one-time fee of $2.99 to back up your photos and videos. After that, you can periodically keep uploading your entire photo library to a NAS or an external storage device directly plugged in to your iPhone. View the full article

Investors ask whether industry can afford the higher dividends and share buy-backs on offer over recent years View the full article

The 250 top mortgage originators in 2025 brought in high volumes despite less than ideal conditions. Check back in the following days for 150-51, the top 50 and the final full list, with further cuts of the data to be published thereafter. View the full article

Key Takeaways Enhance Readability: Using line breaks improves the clarity of tweets, making it easier for followers to quickly understand your messages. Boost Engagement: Visually appealing tweets with well-placed line breaks can lead to higher engagement rates, enhancing brand awareness. Strategic Formatting: Employ line breaks to highlight promotions, key ideas, or calls to action, making your content more digestible. Utilize Tools: Third-party tools like Hootsuite and Buffer can help schedule tweets with line breaks, maintaining an organized and consistent social media strategy. Monitor Performance: Track engagement analytics to assess and refine the effectiveness of line breaks in your tweets. Preview Before Posting: Always check how tweets appear before publishing, especially when using third-party tools, to ensure proper formatting and brand consistency. If you’re looking to enhance your Twitter game, understanding line breaks can make a world of difference. Line breaks not only improve the readability of your tweets but also help you convey your message more effectively. With the character limit in mind, knowing how to structure your thoughts can capture your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. Mastering line breaks on Twitter allows you to create visually appealing tweets that stand out in a crowded feed. Whether you want to emphasize key points or simply make your content more digestible, using line breaks strategically can elevate your messaging. Let’s dive into the art of crafting tweets that resonate and engage your followers. Overview of Twitter Line Breaks Using line breaks effectively in your tweets enhances readability, making your messages clear and engaging. Mastering this simple formatting tool can improve your content creation efforts, especially given Twitter’s character limit. You can capture your audience’s attention by strategically placing line breaks to emphasize key points and ideas. For small businesses, using line breaks can help in several ways: Improved Readability: Breaking up text makes it easier for your followers to read and understand your messages quickly. Highlighting Offers: Line breaks can draw attention to promotions, special events, or important announcements in your social media marketing. Increased Engagement: Tweets that are visually appealing tend to receive higher engagement rates, leading to better brand awareness and customer interaction. Incorporate line breaks to create more digestible and impactful Twitter posts. When you optimize your tweets using this technique, focus on maintaining your brand voice and storytelling elements to resonate with your audience effectively. Importance of Line Breaks Using line breaks in your tweets plays a vital role in enhancing readability and boosting engagement for your small business. By properly utilizing this feature, you can effectively convey your messages and create a visually appealing online presence. Enhancing Readability Line breaks break up long blocks of text, making tweets easier to navigate and comprehend. This strategy is especially beneficial for your audience as they skim through their Twitter feed. Enhanced readability facilitates content sharing, fostering a better understanding of your brand’s message. For example, if you’re promoting a new product or service, structuring your tweet with well-placed line breaks can showcase key points without overwhelming your audience. This is particularly advantageous for small business social media campaigns, where clear communication impacts engagement rates. Improving Engagement Your engagement rate on Twitter can significantly improve with effective use of line breaks. By creating visually appealing tweets, you capture the attention of your social media followers and keep them engaged. Line breaks help emphasize key offers, promotions, or calls to action. For instance, sharing a limited-time discount becomes more impactful when presented in a clear, digestible format. Maximizing engagement on Twitter not only boosts your brand awareness but also reinforces your storytelling efforts, allowing you to connect with customers in a more meaningful way. Leveraging hashtags in conjunction with line breaks can further enhance your organic reach and visibility on the platform. How to Use Line Breaks on Twitter Using line breaks in your tweets enhances clarity and engagement. This technique allows you to highlight key messages, improving readability and capturing your audience’s attention. Manual Line Breaks You can insert line breaks manually by pressing the Enter key while composing tweets. This method is available on Twitter’s web client and official mobile apps. Each line break counts as one character within the character limit. Since Twitter raised the limit to 280 characters, you can leverage line breaks for shorter, impactful messages. Line breaks separate ideas, making your content digestible for potential customers and increasing engagement rates for your small business. Utilizing Third-Party Tools Third-party tools can also streamline your tweet composition. Platforms like Hootsuite or Buffer allow you to schedule tweets with line breaks, maintaining organization in your social media strategy. These tools enable you to create visually appealing posts that showcase your brand voice, whether through storytelling or spotlighting promotions. Additionally, incorporating hashtags alongside your line breaks can enhance your organic reach, improving visibility among your target audience and boosting brand awareness. Common Challenges with Line Breaks Using line breaks in Twitter posts presents a few challenges, especially for small businesses looking to optimize their social media marketing strategies. Implementation and Display You may encounter issues with how line breaks appear, as not all third-party clients support this formatting. Although Twitter introduced line breaks in 2013, the transition to support varies. Clients need time to update, meaning your audience might see inconsistencies in your posts. Character Limit and Whitespace Each line break counts as one character toward the 280-character limit. Excessive line breaks risk consuming valuable characters, which could hinder your engagement rate. To maximize impact, use line breaks sparingly to maintain clear messaging without compromising content depth. Twitter also trims leading and trailing whitespace to prevent “whitespace abuse.” This ensures your posts remain compact and avoid unnecessary clutter, allowing your brand voice to come through effectively. API Issues When posting tweets via the Twitter API, line breaks can cause formatting problems. If using a social media tool for scheduling, ensure the platform supports line breaks, as this can affect how your social media posts display. Always preview your content before going live to maintain brand consistency. Navigating these challenges can enhance your online presence, streamline your content creation process, and improve your overall social media engagement. Focus on finding the right balance and utilize line breaks to highlight key messages in your storytelling. Best Practices for Effective Use Be Concise and Use Line Breaks Tweets have a 280-character limit. Using line breaks enhances readability. Break longer text into multiple lines to make your content easier to digest. Structure Your Tweets Utilize line breaks and blank lines to separate different parts of your tweet. Incorporate bullet lists or engaging first sentences to capture your audience’s attention. Accessibility When including images or videos in your posts, use line breaks to distinguish descriptions from the main content. If your post exceeds the character count, reply to the tweet with the image or video details. Readability Ensure your tweets maintain clarity by using sentence case. Avoid all caps or all lowercase text; this aids screen readers in delivering your message effectively. Integrate Hashtags Wisely Place relevant hashtags after line breaks or at the end of your tweet. This strategy enhances organic reach, making it easier for users to discover your brand. Utilize Social Media Tools Use third-party tools, like Hootsuite or Buffer, for scheduling tweets with line breaks. These tools help maintain organization in your social media strategy, ensuring consistency and engagement. Monitor Engagement Rates Track your social media analytics to assess the effectiveness of line breaks in your posts. Adjust your approach based on engagement rates to optimize your content marketing strategy. Test and Preview Always preview your tweets before publishing, especially if using the Twitter API. Formatting issues can arise, which might affect how your brand voice is interpreted by your followers. By implementing these best practices, you enhance your online presence. You’ll create engaging tweets that resonate with your audience, driving brand awareness and community interaction. Conclusion Mastering the art of line breaks on Twitter can elevate your tweets and enhance engagement. By breaking up text and highlighting key messages you make your content more digestible and visually appealing. This not only captures attention but also encourages interaction from your audience. For small businesses especially the strategic use of line breaks can lead to improved readability and increased visibility. Remember to keep your messages concise and test your tweets for optimal performance. With the right techniques you can create impactful posts that resonate with your followers and strengthen your brand’s online presence. Frequently Asked Questions Why are line breaks important in tweets? Using line breaks in tweets enhances readability, making it easier for followers to skim and understand your message. They help structure content, allowing key points to stand out, which can increase engagement and shareability. How can line breaks benefit small businesses on Twitter? Line breaks can improve tweet readability, highlight promotions, and boost engagement rates for small businesses. By emphasizing offers and separating ideas, businesses can effectively connect with their audience while maintaining their brand voice. What are some tips for using line breaks in tweets? To use line breaks effectively, you can press the Enter key while composing tweets, structuring your content with bullet points. Additionally, consider using third-party tools like Hootsuite or Buffer for organized scheduling. Are there any challenges when using line breaks in tweets? Yes, challenges include inconsistent appearance across third-party clients, character count limitations, and formatting issues. Preview your tweets to ensure they display as intended before posting. How can I optimize my tweets with line breaks? Be concise, structure your tweets clearly, ensure accessibility for screen readers, and integrate hashtags wisely. Monitor engagement and test your tweets to enhance your content marketing strategy effectively. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering Twitter Line Breaks for Engaging and Readable Tweets" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Enhance Readability: Using line breaks improves the clarity of tweets, making it easier for followers to quickly understand your messages. Boost Engagement: Visually appealing tweets with well-placed line breaks can lead to higher engagement rates, enhancing brand awareness. Strategic Formatting: Employ line breaks to highlight promotions, key ideas, or calls to action, making your content more digestible. Utilize Tools: Third-party tools like Hootsuite and Buffer can help schedule tweets with line breaks, maintaining an organized and consistent social media strategy. Monitor Performance: Track engagement analytics to assess and refine the effectiveness of line breaks in your tweets. Preview Before Posting: Always check how tweets appear before publishing, especially when using third-party tools, to ensure proper formatting and brand consistency. If you’re looking to enhance your Twitter game, understanding line breaks can make a world of difference. Line breaks not only improve the readability of your tweets but also help you convey your message more effectively. With the character limit in mind, knowing how to structure your thoughts can capture your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. Mastering line breaks on Twitter allows you to create visually appealing tweets that stand out in a crowded feed. Whether you want to emphasize key points or simply make your content more digestible, using line breaks strategically can elevate your messaging. Let’s dive into the art of crafting tweets that resonate and engage your followers. Overview of Twitter Line Breaks Using line breaks effectively in your tweets enhances readability, making your messages clear and engaging. Mastering this simple formatting tool can improve your content creation efforts, especially given Twitter’s character limit. You can capture your audience’s attention by strategically placing line breaks to emphasize key points and ideas. For small businesses, using line breaks can help in several ways: Improved Readability: Breaking up text makes it easier for your followers to read and understand your messages quickly. Highlighting Offers: Line breaks can draw attention to promotions, special events, or important announcements in your social media marketing. Increased Engagement: Tweets that are visually appealing tend to receive higher engagement rates, leading to better brand awareness and customer interaction. Incorporate line breaks to create more digestible and impactful Twitter posts. When you optimize your tweets using this technique, focus on maintaining your brand voice and storytelling elements to resonate with your audience effectively. Importance of Line Breaks Using line breaks in your tweets plays a vital role in enhancing readability and boosting engagement for your small business. By properly utilizing this feature, you can effectively convey your messages and create a visually appealing online presence. Enhancing Readability Line breaks break up long blocks of text, making tweets easier to navigate and comprehend. This strategy is especially beneficial for your audience as they skim through their Twitter feed. Enhanced readability facilitates content sharing, fostering a better understanding of your brand’s message. For example, if you’re promoting a new product or service, structuring your tweet with well-placed line breaks can showcase key points without overwhelming your audience. This is particularly advantageous for small business social media campaigns, where clear communication impacts engagement rates. Improving Engagement Your engagement rate on Twitter can significantly improve with effective use of line breaks. By creating visually appealing tweets, you capture the attention of your social media followers and keep them engaged. Line breaks help emphasize key offers, promotions, or calls to action. For instance, sharing a limited-time discount becomes more impactful when presented in a clear, digestible format. Maximizing engagement on Twitter not only boosts your brand awareness but also reinforces your storytelling efforts, allowing you to connect with customers in a more meaningful way. Leveraging hashtags in conjunction with line breaks can further enhance your organic reach and visibility on the platform. How to Use Line Breaks on Twitter Using line breaks in your tweets enhances clarity and engagement. This technique allows you to highlight key messages, improving readability and capturing your audience’s attention. Manual Line Breaks You can insert line breaks manually by pressing the Enter key while composing tweets. This method is available on Twitter’s web client and official mobile apps. Each line break counts as one character within the character limit. Since Twitter raised the limit to 280 characters, you can leverage line breaks for shorter, impactful messages. Line breaks separate ideas, making your content digestible for potential customers and increasing engagement rates for your small business. Utilizing Third-Party Tools Third-party tools can also streamline your tweet composition. Platforms like Hootsuite or Buffer allow you to schedule tweets with line breaks, maintaining organization in your social media strategy. These tools enable you to create visually appealing posts that showcase your brand voice, whether through storytelling or spotlighting promotions. Additionally, incorporating hashtags alongside your line breaks can enhance your organic reach, improving visibility among your target audience and boosting brand awareness. Common Challenges with Line Breaks Using line breaks in Twitter posts presents a few challenges, especially for small businesses looking to optimize their social media marketing strategies. Implementation and Display You may encounter issues with how line breaks appear, as not all third-party clients support this formatting. Although Twitter introduced line breaks in 2013, the transition to support varies. Clients need time to update, meaning your audience might see inconsistencies in your posts. Character Limit and Whitespace Each line break counts as one character toward the 280-character limit. Excessive line breaks risk consuming valuable characters, which could hinder your engagement rate. To maximize impact, use line breaks sparingly to maintain clear messaging without compromising content depth. Twitter also trims leading and trailing whitespace to prevent “whitespace abuse.” This ensures your posts remain compact and avoid unnecessary clutter, allowing your brand voice to come through effectively. API Issues When posting tweets via the Twitter API, line breaks can cause formatting problems. If using a social media tool for scheduling, ensure the platform supports line breaks, as this can affect how your social media posts display. Always preview your content before going live to maintain brand consistency. Navigating these challenges can enhance your online presence, streamline your content creation process, and improve your overall social media engagement. Focus on finding the right balance and utilize line breaks to highlight key messages in your storytelling. Best Practices for Effective Use Be Concise and Use Line Breaks Tweets have a 280-character limit. Using line breaks enhances readability. Break longer text into multiple lines to make your content easier to digest. Structure Your Tweets Utilize line breaks and blank lines to separate different parts of your tweet. Incorporate bullet lists or engaging first sentences to capture your audience’s attention. Accessibility When including images or videos in your posts, use line breaks to distinguish descriptions from the main content. If your post exceeds the character count, reply to the tweet with the image or video details. Readability Ensure your tweets maintain clarity by using sentence case. Avoid all caps or all lowercase text; this aids screen readers in delivering your message effectively. Integrate Hashtags Wisely Place relevant hashtags after line breaks or at the end of your tweet. This strategy enhances organic reach, making it easier for users to discover your brand. Utilize Social Media Tools Use third-party tools, like Hootsuite or Buffer, for scheduling tweets with line breaks. These tools help maintain organization in your social media strategy, ensuring consistency and engagement. Monitor Engagement Rates Track your social media analytics to assess the effectiveness of line breaks in your posts. Adjust your approach based on engagement rates to optimize your content marketing strategy. Test and Preview Always preview your tweets before publishing, especially if using the Twitter API. Formatting issues can arise, which might affect how your brand voice is interpreted by your followers. By implementing these best practices, you enhance your online presence. You’ll create engaging tweets that resonate with your audience, driving brand awareness and community interaction. Conclusion Mastering the art of line breaks on Twitter can elevate your tweets and enhance engagement. By breaking up text and highlighting key messages you make your content more digestible and visually appealing. This not only captures attention but also encourages interaction from your audience. For small businesses especially the strategic use of line breaks can lead to improved readability and increased visibility. Remember to keep your messages concise and test your tweets for optimal performance. With the right techniques you can create impactful posts that resonate with your followers and strengthen your brand’s online presence. Frequently Asked Questions Why are line breaks important in tweets? Using line breaks in tweets enhances readability, making it easier for followers to skim and understand your message. They help structure content, allowing key points to stand out, which can increase engagement and shareability. How can line breaks benefit small businesses on Twitter? Line breaks can improve tweet readability, highlight promotions, and boost engagement rates for small businesses. By emphasizing offers and separating ideas, businesses can effectively connect with their audience while maintaining their brand voice. What are some tips for using line breaks in tweets? To use line breaks effectively, you can press the Enter key while composing tweets, structuring your content with bullet points. Additionally, consider using third-party tools like Hootsuite or Buffer for organized scheduling. Are there any challenges when using line breaks in tweets? Yes, challenges include inconsistent appearance across third-party clients, character count limitations, and formatting issues. Preview your tweets to ensure they display as intended before posting. How can I optimize my tweets with line breaks? Be concise, structure your tweets clearly, ensure accessibility for screen readers, and integrate hashtags wisely. Monitor engagement and test your tweets to enhance your content marketing strategy effectively. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering Twitter Line Breaks for Engaging and Readable Tweets" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Saving up to retire takes decades of planning (and sometimes sacrifice), not to mention a steady income that allows you to put that money aside. Not everyone makes it to the finish line; in 2024, close to 5% of people with 401(k) plans took a hardship withdrawal, pulling money from their future to solve immediate financial needs. If you’re not yet 59½ years old (and don’t qualify for one of the exceptions allowed by the IRS) this can be a costly decision, though, because in addition to paying taxes on the withdrawal (which is considered income), you’ll be slapped with a 10% penalty. But if you need to access your retirement funds a little early, there’s a way to do it without incurring the penalty—but it does come with some potential downsides. Substantially Equal Periodic Payments“Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP) is a method that allows individuals to withdraw funds from their retirement accounts before reaching the age of 59½ without incurring the typical 10% early withdrawal penalty imposed by the IRS,” says Sarah Daya, Executive Director of Wealth Planning and Advice at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. “It could be a good option for individuals who are retiring early, or if you’re facing unexpected financial challenges and you need additional income to support yourself.” A SEPP involves setting up annual distributions from a qualifying retirement account (like an IRA or a 401(k)—although you can’t use a 401(k) at a current employer) over a period of five years, or until the account holder turns 59½. That’s where the “substantially equal” part comes in—a SEPP isn’t a one-time distribution, it’s a schedule of more or less equal distributions over a period of time. “The IRS has specific guidelines for how the SEPP is calculated and offers three methods for calculation that you can choose from,” Daya says: The Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Method, which calculates the annual payment by dividing the account balance by your life expectancy based on the IRS’s tables; the annual payment is recalculated each year and can change from year to year. The Fixed Amortization Method, which calculates the payment by amortizing—in other words, distributing payments from—the account balance over a specified number of years, based on your life expectancy and a chosen interest rate; these payments remain the same from year to year. The Fixed Annuitization Method, which calculates the payment by dividing the account balance by an annuity factor based on a chosen interest rate and your life expectancy; the annual payment amount stays the same each year. Which method is best for you depends on your specific financial needs. SEPP downsidesIf a SEPP seems like a magical way to tap that nest egg without penalties, Daya cautions that there are some downsides. “A SEPP lacks flexibility,” she says. “You cannot change the payment amount or the schedule once you start—once you start a SEPP, you must continue withdrawals for at least five years or until you reach age 59 ½, whichever is longer. Changing the payment schedule or stopping the withdrawals before the five-year period ends can result in penalties.” Another consideration is taxes, which you will have to pay on the distributions like you would on any income. And SEPPs aren’t easy to figure out, even if you handle a lot of your own finances and do your own taxes. “Calculating the SEPP payment amount is very complex,” Daya says. “You should consider working with a financial professional to help you meet all of the IRS’s compliance rules.” Perhaps the most important consideration is the effect a SEPP will have on Future You. “Making early withdrawals through a SEPP can reduce the amount of funds available for their later retirement years,” Daya says. Every dollar you take today is a dollar you won’t have when you officially retire. The SEPP optionSetting up a SEPP can be a good idea if you are retiring early and need access to your funds for your living expenses. If you have no other income or the income you do have is insufficient, a SEPP can bridge the gap between today and official retirement. And if you need regular income over a long period of time due to an unexpected financial challenge, a SEPP might be a good way to provide that. But the inflexibility, cost to your future, and tax bill means a SEPP should be a kind of last-resort solution. “They are not for short-term emergency expenses,” Daya says. “A SEPP is a way to provide a consistent income stream over five or more years. Everyone’s financial situation is different, and whether a SEPP makes sense for you will depend on a number of personal factors.” View the full article

Time is running short for customers of Joann. That’s because in just a few more days, the beloved fabrics and crafts retailers will have closed 255 locations across America. And by the end of next month, all its locations will be shuttered for good. Here’s what you need to know about April’s round of Joann stores closing, including the locations of the closing stores and the dates they are expected to close. Why is Joann’s closing? Like many once-ubiquitous large retail chains, Joann Inc. has faced years of financial struggles that have only gotten worse thanks to rising inflation, consumers cutting back on discretionary spending, and the increased prevalence of people preferring to shop online. For Joann, its financial burdens became too much, and the company decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, its second bankruptcy in less than a year. As part of that bankruptcy process, its assets were sold off, and all of its around 800 stores are being liquidated. Which Joann’s stores are closing in April? A total of 255 Joann stores are closing in April, according to a spokesperson for GA Group, the asset firm that took control of Joann after its bankruptcy. (The list was reported earlier by USA Today.) Those stores have been running liquidation sales all month, and as those sales conclude, the stores will be shut for good. In fact, the closing dates for many of those stores have already passed. But more than 100 locations are expected to close their doors today. Joann’s store closing list and dates Below is a list of the Joann stores that are closing in April 2025. The closing dates are listed in parentheses. GA Group has confirmed the list and dates with Fast Company. (In addition to this list, Joann still has more than 500 locations that will continue operating into next month.) Alaska Anchorage University Center AK (04/23/2025) Soldotna Soldotna Plaza AK (04/27/2025) Alabama Tuscaloosa Freestanding AL (04/27/2025) Florence Cox Creek Plaza AL (04/28/2025) Montgomery Eastchase Market SC AL (04/28/2025) Arkansas Jonesboro University Plaza AR (04/25/2025) No Little Rock Lakewood Village AR (04/26/2025) Little Rock Shackleford Crossing AR (04/27/2025) Fort Smith Fort Smith Marketplace AR (04/28/2025) Arizona Casa Grande Tri Valley Plaza AZ (04/25/2025) Green Valley Sahuarita Plaza AZ (04/27/2025) Tucson Oracle Wetmore AZ (04/28/2025) Phoenix Arcadia Fiesta SC AZ (04/28/2025) California Bakersfield Ming Retail Center CA (04/24/2025) Eureka Harris Street CA (04/25/2025) Corte Madera Tamal Vista Blvd. CA (04/25/2025) Yuba City Raley’s Center CA (04/26/2025) Sonora Sonora Crossroads CA (04/26/2025) Alhambra Costco Plaza CA (04/26/2025) Riverside Riverside Plaza CA (04/26/2025) La Verne La Verne Plaza CA (04/26/2025) National City Bay Plaza S/C CA (04/26/2025) La Canada Foothill Blvd. CA (04/27/2025) Woodland Westgate S/C CA (04/28/2025) Jackson Grocery Outlet SC CA (04/28/2025) San Mateo South El Camino Real CA (04/28/2025) Redwood City Peninsula Boardwalk CA (04/28/2025) Morgan Hill Tennant Station S/C CA (04/28/2025) Long Beach Los Coyotes Centers CA (04/28/2025) Colorado Pueblo Pueblo Mall CO (04/27/2025) Connecticut Clinton Clinton Commons S/C CT (04/26/2025) Brookfield Shop Rite Plaza CT (04/26/2025) Hamden Hamden Mart S/C CT (04/28/2025) Florida Spring Hill Lakewood Plaza FL (04/24/2025) Miami Flagler Park Plaza FL (04/24/2025) Hollywood Hollywood Blvd FL (04/24/2025) Pembroke Pines 11251 Pines Blvd. FL (04/24/2025) Wellington Shoppes at Isla Verde FL (04/24/2025) Port Richey Home Depot Plaza FL (04/26/2025) Estero Coconut Pointe FL (04/26/2025) Miami The Greenery FL (04/26/2025) Plantation The Fountains FL (04/26/2025) Margate Margate Shopping Center FL (04/26/2025) Vero Beach Century Town Center FL (04/26/2025) Fort Walton Beach Mariner Plaza FL (04/28/2025) Destin Shoppes at Paradise Key FL (04/28/2025) Tampa Market Square at Tampa Palms FL (04/28/2025) Venice Venice Village FL (04/28/2025) Miami JOANN Fabrics Plaza FL (04/28/2025) Pompano Beach Pompano Marketplace FL (04/28/2025) Boynton Beach Riverwalk Shopping Plaza FL (04/28/2025) West Palm Beach Northlake Commons FL (04/28/2025) Sanford Town Center Plaza FL (04/28/2025) Georgia Warner Robins Willow Lake Crossing GA (04/19/2025) Newnan Newnan Pavilion GA (04/23/2025) Macon Shoppes at River Crossing GA (04/24/2025) Fayetteville Fayette Pavilion GA (04/26/2025) Brunswick Golden Isles Plaza GA (04/26/2025) Cumming Lakeland Plaza GA (04/27/2025) Conyers Conyers Plaza GA (04/27/2025) Duluth Pleasant Hill Square GA (04/28/2025) Douglasville Douglas Corners S/C GA (04/28/2025) Iowa Mason City Willow Creek Crossing IA (04/28/2025) Muscatine Muscatine Mall IA (04/28/2025) Illinois Galesburg Eagle Center IL (04/24/2025) Crestwood Rivercrest Centre IL (04/25/2025) Mchenry Shops At Fox River IL (04/26/2025) Joliet Joliet Commons IL (04/26/2025) Wheaton Danada Square West S/C IL (04/26/2025) Champaign Champaign Town Center IL (04/26/2025) Quincy Quincy Mall IL (04/27/2025) Carbondale University Plaza S/C IL (04/27/2025) Freeport Freeport Shopping Center IL (04/28/2025) Niles Four Flaggs S/C IL (04/28/2025) Norridge Norridge Marketplace IL (04/28/2025) Sterling Sterling Lincoln Center IL (04/28/2025) Lombard High Point Centre IL (04/28/2025) Chicago Jo!co Square IL (04/28/2025) Peru Peru Mall IL (04/28/2025) Bourbonnais Bradley Commons IL (04/28/2025) Mattoon Cross County Mall IL (04/28/2025) Danville Village Mall IL (04/28/2025) Indiana Columbus Eastbrook Plaza IN (04/24/2025) Michigan City Lake Park S/C IN (04/25/2025) Bedford Town Fair Center IN (04/26/2025) Jasper Germantown Center IN (04/27/2025) Plymouth Pilgrim Place S/C IN (04/27/2025) Angola Angola Plaza IN (04/27/2025) Marion Five Points Mall IN (04/27/2025) Richmond Wal-Mart Plaza IN (04/27/2025) Vincennes Vincennes Plaza IN (04/28/2025) Indianapolis Washington Plaza IN (04/28/2025) South Bend Broadmoor Plaza IN (04/28/2025) Kansas Lawrence Park Plaza KS (04/26/2025) Salina Central Mall KS (04/28/2025) Kentucky Elizabethtown Towne Centre KY (04/26/2025) Ashland Ashland Towne Center KY (04/26/2025) Owensboro Owensboro Towne Center KY (04/27/2025) Glasgow Barren River Plaza KY (04/28/2025) Corbin Trademart Shopping Center KY (04/28/2025) Louisana Slidell Village at Northshore LA (04/16/2025) Shreveport Bayou Walk Shopping Center LA (04/26/2025) Alexandria Power Center LA (04/28/2025) Gretna Westside North Shopping Center LA (04/28/2025) Massachusetts Methuen Village Mall MA (04/24/2025) North Dartmouth Dartmouth Town Ctr MA (04/26/2025) Leominster Mall at Whitney Field MA (04/28/2025) Hyannis Christmas Tree Promenade MA (04/28/2025) Hadley Hampshire Mall MA (04/28/2025) Maryland Greenbelt Beltway Plaza Mall MD (04/24/2025) Prince Frederick Fox Run Shopping Center MD (04/26/2025) Lavale Lavala Plaza S/C MD (04/28/2025) Annapolis Annapolis Plaza MD (04/28/2025) Brandywine Brandywine Crossing MD (04/28/2025) Maine Auburn Auburn Plaza ME (04/28/2025) Michigan Essexville Majestic Square MI (04/23/2025) Adrian Southland Plaza MI (04/24/2025) Alpena Bear Point Plaza MI (04/25/2025) Burton Courtland Center MI (04/26/2025) Big Rapids Ferris Commons MI (04/27/2025) Lapeer Lapeer S/C MI (04/27/2025) Chesterfield Waterside Market Place MI (04/27/2025) Ann Arbor Oak Valley Center MI (04/27/2025) Holland Felch Street Plaza MI (04/28/2025) Petoskey Bear Creek Plaza MI (04/28/2025) Fort Gratiot Twenty-Fourth Avenue MI (04/28/2025) Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe Farms MI (04/28/2025) Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Village Sq MI (04/28/2025) Allen Park Independence Market Place MI (04/28/2025) Minnesota Hibbing Irongate Mall MN (04/26/2025) Hutchinson Hutchinson Mall MN (04/26/2025) Faribault Faribo West Mall MN (04/26/2025) Bemidji Paul Bunyan Mall MN (04/28/2025) Willmar Kandi Mall MN (04/28/2025) Shakopee Dean Lakes MN (04/28/2025) Missouri Jefferson City Capital Mall MO (04/26/2025) Washington Phoenix Center MO (04/27/2025) Saint Joseph Hillcrest Plaza MO (04/28/2025) Crystal City Twin City Plaza MO (04/28/2025) Mississippi Southaven Southaven Town Center MS (04/28/2025) Tupelo Big Oaks Crossing MS (04/28/2025) Jackson The Junction MS (04/28/2025) Montana Butte Butte Plaza Mall MT (04/28/2025) Helena Shopko Plaza MT (04/28/2025) North Carolina Hendersonville Blue Ridge Mall NC (04/19/2025) Goldsboro Berkley Mall NC (04/24/2025) Rocky Mount Sutters Creek Crossing NC (04/26/2025) Mooresville Mooresville Consumer Square NC (04/26/2025) North Dakota Bismarck Gateway Mall ND (04/22/2025) New Hampshire West Lebanon Target Plaza NH (04/22/2025) Seabrook Seacoast S/C NH (04/26/2025) Belmont Belknap Mall S/C NH (04/28/2025) Hooksett Hooksett Village Shops NH (04/28/2025) New Mexico Santa Fe Plaza Princessa S/C NM (04/26/2025) Las Cruces Pan America Plaza NM (04/28/2025) Nevada Carson City Carson Mall NV (04/26/2025) Elko Elko Junction NV (04/28/2025) New York Malone K-Mart Plaza NY (04/24/2025) Clifton Park Village Square NY (04/24/2025) Olean Tops Plaza NY (04/26/2025) Rochester JOANN / Petsmart Plaza NY (04/26/2025) Watertown Arsenal Plaza NY (04/26/2025) Poughkeepsie Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall NY (04/26/2025) Middletown Dunning Farms S/C NY (04/26/2025) Lakewood Chautauqua Mall NY (04/28/2025) Niagara Falls Niagara Square NY (04/28/2025) Cortland Riverside Plaza NY (04/28/2025) Kingston Kingston Plaza NY (04/28/2025) West Babylon Great South Bay S/C NY (04/28/2025) Ohio Evendale Village Crossing OH (04/23/2025) Springfield Springfield Plaza S/C OH (04/24/2025) Heath Park Plaza OH (04/24/2025) Akron Tri-County Plaza OH (04/24/2025) Fremont Potter Village OH (04/26/2025) Lima Lima Center OH (04/26/2025) Dayton Shiloh Springs Plaza OH (04/26/2025) Chillicothe Zane Plaza OH (04/26/2025) St. Clairsville Ohio Valley Mall OH (04/26/2025) Niles Boulevard Centre at Eastwood Mall OH (04/26/2025) Marietta Lafayette Center OH (04/27/2025) Defiance Northtowne East OH (04/28/2025) Findlay Former Home Depot OH (04/28/2025) Hamilton Indian Springs Shopping Center OH (04/28/2025) New Philadelphia New Towne Mall OH (04/28/2025) Sandusky Crossings at Sandusky OH (04/28/2025) East Liverpool St Clair Plaza OH (04/28/2025) Steubenville Hollywood City Center OH (04/28/2025) Oklahoma Shawnee Shawnee Mall OK (04/26/2025) Stillwater Bradford Plaza OK (04/28/2025) Oregon Mcminnville Mcminnville Town Ctr OR (04/24/2025) The Dalles Cascade Square OR (04/26/2025) North Bend Pony Village Mall OR (04/26/2025) Warrenton Un-Named Shopping Center OR (04/28/2025) Beaverton Canyon Place OR (04/28/2025) Klamath Falls Je!erson Square OR (04/28/2025) Pennsylvania Belle Vernon Tri-County Plaza PA (04/24/2025) Indiana Regency Mall PA (04/24/2025) Altoona Pleasant Valley S/C PA (04/24/2025) Bridgeville Great Southern S/C PA (04/26/2025) Butler Pullman Square PA (04/26/2025) Johnstown University Park S/C PA (04/26/2025) State College Suburban Plaza PA (04/26/2025) Wayne Gateway S/C PA (04/26/2025) Glen Mills Concordville Town Center PA (04/26/2025) Lebanon Cedar Crest Sq S/C PA (04/26/2025) Pittsburgh Southland Four Seasons PA (04/28/2025) Meadville South Park Plaza PA (04/28/2025) Du Bois Dubois Mall PA (04/28/2025) Pottstown The Shops at Coventry PA (04/28/2025) Springfield Marple Crossroads PA (04/28/2025) Selinsgrove Susquehanna Valley Mall PA (04/28/2025) South Carolina Charleston Ashley Crossing SC (04/24/2025) Anderson Market Place Shopping Center SC (04/26/2025) Columbia Northpointe Commons SC (04/28/2025) Florence Florence Mall SC (04/28/2025) South Dakota Brookings University Mall SD (04/28/2025) Tennessee Jackson The Columns TN (04/26/2025) Johnson City Johnson City Plaza TN (04/26/2025) Tullahoma Northgate Mall TN (04/27/2025) Sevierville Governors Crossing TN (04/27/2025) Kingsport Kingsport Shopping Center TN (04/28/2025) Knoxville Harvest Park Shopping Center TN (04/28/2025) Texas New Braunfels Interstate Plaza TX (04/26/2025) Houston Copperfield Crossing TX (04/26/2025) Rockwall The Plaza At Rockwall TX (04/26/2025) Abilene Park Central Shopping Center TX (04/26/2025) San Antonio City Base Landing TX (04/28/2025) Mesquite Marketplace at Towne Centre TX (04/28/2025) Odessa Chimney Rock TX (04/28/2025) Virginia Lynchburg River Ridge Mall VA (04/23/2025) Christiansburg New River Valley Center VA (04/24/2025) Martinsville Village of Martinsville VA (04/26/2025) Culpeper Dominion Square VA (04/26/2025) Hampton Riverdale Plaza VA (04/26/2025) Warrenton Warrenton Center VA (04/28/2025) Vermont Barre Central Vermont Shopping Cente VT (04/26/2025) Rutland Town Green Mountain S/C VT (04/28/2025) Washington Port Angeles Port Angeles Plaza WA (04/26/2025) Kent Kent Hill Plaza WA (04/26/2025) East Wenatchee Valley Mall Parkway WA (04/26/2025) Seattle Nw 57Th Street WA (04/28/2025) Renton Northeast Sunset Blvd. WA (04/28/2025) Moses Lake Town Center WA (04/28/2025) Clarkston Gateway Square WA (04/28/2025) Wisconsin Marshfield Marshfield Center WI (04/22/2025) Pewaukee Silver Nail S/C WI (04/23/2025) Plover Crossroads Commons WI (04/25/2025) Marinette Pine Tree Mall WI (04/25/2025) Watertown Rivers Edge Mall WI (04/25/2025) Beaver Dam Heritage Village WI (04/28/2025) Fond Du Lac Forest Plaza WI (04/28/2025) Cudahy Packard Plaza WI (04/28/2025) West Virginia Beckley Raleigh Mall WV (04/28/2025) Parkersburg Memorial Bridge Plaza WV (04/28/2025) Wyoming Rock Springs White Mountain Mall WY (04/28/2025) View the full article

You’d think we all have enough stress in our lives already, but for some reason we still love those heart-pumping thrillers—whether the quiet, suspenseful kind or the big action spectacles. It might be that the things that get our hearts racing in real life are in the realm of “oh no, this medical bill,” making a spy movie, a heist-gone-wrong scenario, or even a dark kidnapping story a good vehicle for vicarious (and comparatively cheap) thrills. Regardless, here are the best thrillers currently streaming on Netflix, with a variety of tones that run from mildly tense to extremely dark. Rebel Ridge (2024) If you hadn't previously considered "civil forfeiture" as a fit subject for a tense action thriller, that might be about to change; Aaron Pierre stars as Terry Richmond, a former Marine, who cycles into the cycles into Shelby Springs, Louisiana with cash on hand to post bail for his cousin (held on a misdemeanor charge) and some extra to buy the truck they'll need for work. He's knocked off his bike and the cops claim the cash (a real thing that absolutely happens), forcing Terry into a position where he will have to prove in court that his money is not involved in criminal activity. The clock is ticking, though, and his cousin is about to be shipped off to a prison where he'll be a target as an informant. On the side of justice? Terry's fists—he's a close-quarters combat expert and he's more than capable of taking on some corrupt small-town cops. You can stream Rebel Ridge here. Woman of the Hour (2023) Anna Kendrick (also the director) stars as Sheryl Bradshaw, a real-life contestant on the TV game show The Dating Game. In and of itself, not terribly thrilling, except that Bradshaw was a guest on an episode with Rodney Alcala (played here by Daniel Zovatto), even winning a date with the "successful photographer" who was, in reality, in the middle of a string of serial murders and rapes. The movie alternates between their two stories until they collide on the set of the popular TV show, and later as Bradshaw meets Alcala for their planned date. You can stream Woman of the Hour here. The Net (1995) Time has caught up to The Net in many ways, in that elements that seemed wildly implausible in 1995 are commonplace now (ordering pizza over the internet, for example, was absolutely science fiction back in the day). And, while the aesthetics are often dated to the point of goofiness, the movie's overall premise holds up: Sandra Bullock plays Angela Bennett, a software systems analyst who gets involved in a tangled web (pun kinda intended) of intrigue when she's given a disk with links to a criminal conspiracy lead by Jack Devlin (Jeremy Northam). Computers are all-powerful here—erasing her life, crashing planes, bringing down politicians, etc.—in ways they weren't in 1995 but definitely are now. You can stream The Net here. Fair Play (2023) A throwback (complimentary) erotic thriller, Fair Play is an effective slow burner that builds toward a fairly shocking final act. Phoebe Dynevor is Emily Meyers, who's pretty happy for her secret boyfriend Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) when she hears that he might be getting a promotion at the ultra-cutthroat hedge fund where they both work. When she gets the new job instead? Let's just say that Luke is less enthusiastic, kicking off a series of power games that lead first to illegality, then to violence. You can stream Fair Play here. Revelations (2025) Writer/director Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan) heads this more grounded police thriller, involving the intersecting lives of a quiet, shy pastor (Ryu Jun-yeol) and a traumatized police detective who's only recently been transferred to a violent crimes unit—just in time to lead the hunt for a truly nasty serial kidnapper. This time, it's one of Pastor Min-chan's congregation who's been taken, and the ensuing hunt leads to a crisis if faith for the minister, and then a growing conviction that God's will is for him to be an instrument of divine retribution. You can stream Revelations here. Spiderhead (2022) While Joseph Kosinski’s Netflix original Spiderhead didn’t make quite the splash of his mega blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick, it does make for a smart thriller with sci-fi overtones. Chris Hemsworth plays Steve Abnesti, who oversees a prison program in which prisoners receive less oversight and reduced sentences in exchange for serving as test subjects for a variety of pharmaceuticals. Supposedly, this is the project of some benevolent geniuses who just want to improve humankind, but you might not be surprised to learn (if you’ve ever lived in our world) that a pharmaceutical conglomerate has a lot more to do with it. The experiments grow increasingly manipulative and even deadly, with solid performances from Miles Teller and Jurnee Smollett as two of the prison’s inmates. You can stream Spiderhead here. Society of the Snow (2023) You might be familiar with the true story of the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team lost in the Andes following a plane crash—the incident has been the subject of multiple documentaries and two previous dramas, including Frank Marshall's 1993 Alive. This is probably the best take on the tragedy, a thoughtful and tastefully thrilling drama. Director J. A. Bayona emphasizes both the heart-stopping physical perils faced by the team, and the spiritual toll their survival takes on them. You can stream Society of the Snow here. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) When nursing assistant Ruth (a fabulous Melanie Lynskey) comes home to find that she’s been burglarized, she sets out with her neighbor (Elijah Wood) to get her stuff back, and get revenge, in the most incompetent manner possible. As a vigilante farce, it nearly reaches Coen-brothers levels of absurdity, but it hits a lot of those beats while alternately challenging and confirming our worst instincts about our fellow humans. You can stream I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore here. The Pale Blue Eye (2022) This brooding mystery is a compelling (and twisty) tale that plays fast and loose with history, even as it conjures up a chilly and brooding atmosphere. Christian Bale plays a retired and troubled detective teaming up with a young West Point cadet you might have heard of: his name’s Edgar Allen Poe, and he’s played here by Harry Melling, who’s great. The two team up to solve a case involving dead students and creepy occult signifiers. You can stream The Pale Blue Eye here. Runaway Jury (2003) Gene Hackman's third John Grisham adaptation (and his penultimate film overall) isn't quite the movie The Firm is, but it's still an effective legal thriller. Hackman plays shady, conniving jury consultant Rankin Fitch, going head-to-head with Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman) as key figures in the trial of a gun manufacturer. Complicating matters is the presence on the jury of Nick Easter (John Cusack) who, with the help of girlfriend Marlee (Rachel Weisz), plans to manipulate the jury in such a way that he'll have a multimillion dollar payout coming his way. You can stream Runaway Jury here. Trap (2024) Cooper (Josh Hartnett) is a pretty cool dad in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest, taking his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to see a very cool Taylor Swift-ish pop star in concert. We quickly learn, though, that Cooper is a hunted serial killer, and that the FBI knows that "The Butcher" will be at the concert, even if they don't know exactly who it is. Of such premises are fun thrillers made, as Cooper has to try to escape the pop concert while somehow making sure his daughter gets to enjoy the show. You can stream Trap here. Delicious (2025) The thrills here are more psychological, but the movie is no less intense for it. A German family strikes a young woman on the road during a protest en route to their beautiful villa in Provence. Rather than let that ruin an otherwise perfectly delightful vacation, they take the young woman in and hire her on as domestic help; each family member has their own motive for wanting her around, and they will, each of them, come to deeply regret their choices (shades of Parasite) by the final act. You can stream Delicious here. Doi Boy (2023) Sorn (Awat Ratanapintha), fleeing conscription and violence in his native Myanmar, flees to Thailand, living in poverty as an illegal immigrant. With little money and fewer legal rights, he becomes a dancer and sex worker at the title's gay club, being one of the few ways he can make money. When Covid shuts down the club, Sorn gets an offer from one of his customers, Ji, a cop charged with quietly silencing activists—if Sorn will help capture and disappear a human rights activist, Ji will promise a passport and legal status. Director Nontawat Numbenchapol is best known for his award-winning documentaries, and brings a scrupulously realistic approach to this tense drama. You can stream Doi Boy here. The Killer (2023) Michael Fassbender plays the titular (nameless) hitman, a fastidious and ruthless killer who is suffering from the fallout of the first mistake of his career—accidentally shooting the wrong person, whoops—as his carefully managed life begins crumbling faster than he can shore it up. Very unlike his previous Netflix original, Mank, this is about as close as Fincher gets to a pure action thrill ride. You can stream The Killer here. Bird Box (2018) This Netflix original had a cultural moment way back in 2018, riding the success of A Quiet Place with a story about creatures YOU MUST NOT LOOK AT. Sandra Bullock leads an impressive cast that includes John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Lil Rel Howery, and BD Wong in a post-apocalypse in which the only way to survive is with a blindfold and, perhaps, a stylish puffer jacket. You can stream Bird Box here. Cam (2018) Director Daniel Goldhaber (the upcoming How to Blow Up a Pipeline) teamed up with writer Isa Mazzei, who based this Black Mirror-esque story partly on her own memoir. Madeline Brewer (Orange is the New Black) plays online sex worker Alice Ackerman, aka Lola_Lola, who once night discovers there’s another Lola out there—a cam girl who’s identical to Alice in appearance and general vibe, but whose willingness to go further puts her out in front in terms of viewership. It’s a horror movie with a lot to say about the dehumanization of sex workers, with a great central performance from Brewer. You can stream Cam here. The Guilty (2021) It’s not quite up to the standard of the Danish original, but this American remake of a 2018 film is still excellent. Director Antoine Fuqua is joined by screenwriter Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) in the film starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Joe Baylor, an LAPD officer who’d been busted down to 911 dispatcher for initially unspecified errors in judgment. He gets a call from a panicked woman that leads him to make some dramatic decisions, not all of them good. An exercise in pure suspense, the contained movie very much rests on Gyllenhaal’s shoulders, though a few famous names show up via voiceover. You can stream The Guilty here. Shimmer Lake (2017) This crime drama begins on a Friday, with Andy (Rainn Wilson) hiding in his basement while his wife stalls his brother Zeke (Benjamin Walker), who’s also the sheriff. Andy, on the run with a bag of money, will be dead before the day’s out, but we’re going backwards here: writer/director Oren Uziel’s narrative then takes us to Thursday, and each previous day subsequently, until we understand how everyone wound up where they are. You can stream Shimmer Lake here. Gerald’s Game (2017) Set almost entirely in an isolated cabin in the woods, this Stephen King adaptation involves a single immobilized character for much of its running time. Director Mike Flanagan, nevertheless, manages to craft a taut, suspenseful story about a married woman (Carla Gugino) trapped in a remote cabin when her husband played by Bruce Greenwood, dies after having handcuffed her to the bed. Increasingly delirious, she’s forced to face not only her past trauma, but the hungry dog that keeps sniffing around. You can stream Gerald's Game here. Lou (2022) Lou (Allison Janney) is a quiet loner on Orcas Island in 1986; she’s also landlady to Hannah (Jurnee Smollett). Lou has just come by to tell Hannah that the rent is due when she learns that Hannah’s daughter has been kidnapped by the girl’s father, an ex-Green Beret and war criminal. Fortunately for Hannah, Lou has some very John Wick-esque secrets regarding her past, making her an unexpectedly good ally against the kidnapper. You can stream Lou here. Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023) Continuing from the British crime series starring Idris Elba, but also a movie you can watch on its own, the film finds disgraced, imprisoned former DCI John Luther taunted by a serial killer (Andy Serkis) who, he’s pretty sure, can only be stopped if Luther busts out of jail and hunts him down. If you watched the series, this is an essential follow-up. If you haven’t, it’s a perfectly good time to find out why Elba is doing the morally gray detective thing better than anyone, maybe ever. You can stream The Fallen Sun here. Creep (2014) Mark Duplass (The Morning Show) co-writes and stars alongside director/co-writer Patrick Brice in this sly spin on the found-footage genre. Filmmaker Aaron (Brice) answers an ad from Josef (Duplass) who says he wants to document his life for the benefit of his unborn child. Things start off normal enough, but then Josef's requests keep getting more and more bizarre, and Aaron's car keys go missing. The slightly comedic vibe, at least at the outset, only serves to make the whole affair more unsettling. You can stream Creep here. Fractured (2019) This is a solid example of that type of thriller in which one person realizes someone has disappeared, and everyone else acts like that person was never around at all. (If it's not quite a sub-genre, it's definitely a thing.) After an accident at an exposed construction site, Ray (Sam Worthington) takes his family to the hospital, then dozes off in the waiting room. Big mistake: When he wakes up, they're gone, and the hospital has no idea what he's talking about. If it isn't entirely original, it's still a fun and creepy mystery. You can stream Fractured here. Emily the Criminal (2022) Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is a deeply relatable character: She went to an expensive school, and finds herself saddled with a mountain of debt. A relatively minor criminal record has made it hard for her to get a good-paying job. When given a chance to learn all about credit card fraud, the potential benefits are too good to turn down—which is approximately when things go wrong, and get violent. And then we find out exactly what Emily is capable of. Plaza is so brilliant here as the anti-hero that it’s a little hard not to cheer her on. You can stream Emily the Criminal here. The Paramedic (2020) Mario Casas stars here as Ángel, the title’s paramedic—not the greatest guy, really, and one who takes souvenirs from the people he helps, either to sell or to keep. An accident sees him lose the use of his legs, and his turmoil and rage don’t turn him into a better person, but instead sees him letting loose on a world he blames for pretty much everything. In particular danger is the girlfriend who left him. It’s a standard horror/thriller setup, but Casas is impressively compelling in his transformation from run-of-the-mill jerk to complete monster. You can stream The Paramedic here. The Gray Man (2022) The Russo brothers took a break from Avengers movies for this other blockbuster—at a cost of around $200m, it’s not like they decided to do a quiet indie drama. Ryan Gosling plays spy Sierra Six, whose latest mission involves taking out a fellow agent. He’s soon on the run from a corrupt agency boss (played by Regé-Jean Page), and helped and hindered by a supporting cast including Billy Bob Thornton, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and Alfre Woodard. Sierra Six doesn’t make much of an impression as a character, but the Russos know how to craft an action spectacle, and this one kicks up the action early on, and never really slows down. You can stream The Gray Man here. I Care a Lot (2020) Rosamund Pike’s Marla Grayson might be the worst character on this list, which is saying a lot. She’s a con artist who specializes in convincing courts to grant her guardianship of old people who, she says, can’t take care of themselves. She then drains their bank accounts at her leisure. It’s all going great (for her) until she fucks with the wrong senior: in this case, Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), who looks like the ultimate score. It turns out that she’s the mom of a scary Russian mobster (Peter Dinklage), and things escalate from there. The tone here is satirical to the point of comedy, but it’s both tense and satisfying to see the screws turn on Marla. You can stream I Care a Lot here. Hold the Dark (2018) Jeffrey Wright plays Russell Core, a writer and wolf expert summoned by Riley Keogh's Medora Slone to investigate the disappearance of three small kids in rural Alaska. Not all the locals are convinced that wolves are to blame—or, at least, that it was just wolves. The return of Medora's husband (Alexander Skarsgård) from Iraq only complicates the mystery further. If you've seen director Jeremy Saulnier's previous feature Green Room, you'll have a sense of the dark tone and grimy aesthetic in store for you. You can stream Hold the Dark here. The Occupant (2020) Advertising executive Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez) once lived with his family in an ultra-posh apartment, but they simply couldn't afford it once he lost his job. Reduced circumstances have them in a tiny rental in a less-than-coveted neighborhood of Barcelona—but there's this set of spare keys, you see, and Javier can't help but go and scope out his old home and the new family that lives there. His interest quickly turns to an obsession with getting his old place back—though in fairness, none of his actions seem all that wild given today's real estate market. You can stream The Occupant here. Carry-On (2024) Action thriller Carry-On starts off at the airport (naturally) and on Christmas Eve—I'm already tense. Taron Edgerton is TSA agent Ethan Kopek, who's blackmailed into allowing Jason Bateman to smuggle a very dangerous package onto a flight (and yet I can't get through with my belt). Having allowed the package through, Kopek is determined to stop the man (known only as The Traveller) from carrying out his plan. You can stream Carry-On on here. A Simple Favor (2018) The darkly comedic tone makes this one bit lighter than many of the other films on this list, but it's all the more twisted for it. It all starts when mommy blogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) makes friends with, and unwisely confides in, Emily (Blake Lively), a PR director and mother of her son's schoolmate. Then Emily disappears, Stephanie sleeps with Emily's husband (Henry Golding), and the lurid secrets that Stephanie spilled start to come to light under shocking circumstances. It's all lot of fun, and boasts some genuinely wild twists. You can stream A Simple Favor here. View the full article

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Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. Nearly 20 years ago, Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen published The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, his groundbreaking work about why successful companies often lose their way. But CEOs still struggle with one of the book’s central lessons, which is that companies need to disrupt themselves. “Companies certainly know more about disruption than they did in 1995, but I still speak and write to executives who haven’t firmly grasped the implications of the theory,” Christensen told former Harvard Business Review editor and Inc. columnist Karen Dillon in an interview published shortly after his death in 2020. “The forces that combine to cause disruption are like gravity—they are constant and are always at work within and around the firm. It takes very skilled and very astute leaders to be navigating disruption on a constant basis.” New paths and challenges Indeed, even after leaders make the difficult decision to shed traditional and reliable revenue streams to invest in new products and services, executing such transitions can take years. Such lags can test the patience of investors and other stakeholders, especially when there’s no guarantee that the new business model will succeed. Just ask Michael Weening, president and CEO of Calix, Inc., which took 13 years to transform itself from a networking gear maker into a software and managed services company for rural broadband providers. The company was founded in 1999, at a time when startups and enterprises alike were rushing into the lucrative business of making gear to power the internet. (Remember when Cisco Systems was the most valuable company in the world?) But a decade later, enterprises started to change the way they were deploying technology, moving to cloud-based solutions that began to minimize the need for companies to maintain their own computing equipment. Calix leaders saw the change coming and began laying the groundwork for an entirely new approach in 2012—one that reimagined the company as a software and cloud company for rural broadband service providers. The company hired Weening from cloud trailblazer Salesforce in 2016 to help with the transition. However, a year later, the company’s annual loss had widened to more than $80 million from $27 million on revenue of about $450 million as Calix realigned the business to focus on investments in its software business. The market cap fell to $275 million, about two-thirds of its value at the time of its 2010 initial public offering. Staying the course Weening credits Carl Russo, Calix’s founder and chairman, with having the patience to weather losses. He says: “The founder was the largest shareholder, who could in essence say to the market, ‘We’re making these massive investments because if we don’t do this, we’re going to turn into a low-margin commodity business.’” In addition to making changes to Calix’s core business model and business infrastructure, Weening and his leadership team had to bring in new talent, resulting in restructuring costs for severance and termination benefits. Another big challenge was convincing Calix’s clients, the rural broadband operators, to embrace Calix’s new offering. Rather than selling them gear for their fiber optic networks, Calix wanted to offer a cloud and software platform—with a host of fully integrated managed services, some of which the broadband companies could then sell to their consumers and business customers. For example, Calix customers can sell residential customers a subscription to Bark, a social media-monitoring service for parents. “They’re great at construction; they’re great at reliability and running a network, but this new world of broadband is around experiences,” Weening says. “How do you teach them how to be sales and marketing- and experience-orientated?” Weening drew on his experiences leading customer success at Salesforce to develop resources and training to help Calix clients take advantage of its products and services. New outcomes—a decade later The transformation is starting to pay off. The company in 2023 made Fortune’s list of the 100 fastest-growing companies of the year based on growth in revenue, profits, and stock returns. The company reported lower revenue and losses in 2024 but recently reported first-quarter earnings that beat expectations. Calix’s market capitalization is about $2.4 billion. Ask Weening what he thinks about disrupting Calix now, having gone through a 13-year transformation: He and the company say transformation is ongoing, and he says he relies on his customers to keep innovation on track. “You can never get arrogant,” he says. “You always have to be listening. We have 10 advisory customer boards. And if you’re not arrogant, everyone will tell you where you suck.” He also offers a reminder of why so many companies resist tackling the innovator’s dilemma, even when they understand the risks of inaction. “This,” he says, “is not for the faint of heart.” How does your company navigate disruption? Has your company faced the innovator’s dilemma? How do you, in Christensen’s words, navigate disruption on a constant basis? Send your stories and anecdotes to me at stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. I’d like to share your examples in a future newsletter. Read more: innovator’s dilemma Why companies fail to innovate. 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Getting a sense of the scale of social media platforms can be tricky. While tech companies often share self-serving metrics—like monthly active users or how likely users are to buy products after engaging with brands—they rarely offer a true sense of their platforms’ enormity. But a new study published in Cornell University’s preprint server arXiv aims to change that by quantifying TikTok’s scale over a single day—claiming to be among the first to grasp the platform’s full scope. It also offers insight into what people are watching, how much content is being uploaded, and who is posting it. “The motivation is using this social media data to better understand society,” says Jürgen Pfeffer, one of the study’s coauthors and chair of computational science at the Technical University of Munich. The researchers reverse-engineered how TikTok assigns video IDs to gather their data, eventually capturing what they believe to be at least 99% of all posts from a single hour on April 10, 2024—around five million videos. They also sampled one minute from every hour across a 24-hour span between April 9 and 10. The entire process took five months. Among the team’s findings was the sheer scale of TikTok activity. They estimated 117 million videos were uploaded on that single day. Roughly one in five featured children, based on estimates from an age classification engine the team trained. Videos posted precisely at the 0th second of each minute significantly outperformed others—suggesting timing tricks might influence the algorithm. However, Pfeffer notes this could be due to professional creators scheduling their posts, who are also more likely to achieve success. About a fifth of the videos were deleted within seven months, hinting at large-scale moderation or user regret. The average video was approximately 20.5 seconds long and was viewed between 2,250 and 2,500 times—depending on whether the data came from the hour-long slice or the one-minute-per-hour sample. Pfeffer was also surprised to find that TikTok engagement peaked twice daily. Around 4 a.m. UTC (11 p.m. EST), uploads surged to nearly six million videos per hour, reaching a similar peak again around 1 p.m. UTC (8 a.m. EST). The researchers attributed these spikes to global usage cycles, as morning users in Asia overlapped with late-night uploaders in the U.S., and vice versa later in the day. The team also grouped popular videos into thematic clusters. Among the most common were “images with colorful backgrounds and graphics” and “selfies with fashionable outfits and watermarks.” Less frequent themes included “political commentary on police operations in Pakistan” (0.025% of all videos) and “camouflaged military soldier images,” which accounted for 0.06% of the content. View the full article