A private airline for dogs … A startup that wants to beam sunlight to your home at night… Home Depot’s big Halloween sale in the middle of spring. We’ve covered some wacky business stories in 2024, and b. editor-in-chief Marty Beckerman recently joined the builders podcast to discuss the wackiest. Watch the episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite audio app.

Merr-A.I. Christmas: Apps for the holiday season

Infographic: Hot chocolate by the numbers

Toys “R” Us: Brand returns from toy box in the sky

Hallmark: Movie formula is the gift that keeps on giving

(Source: Shutterstock)

No wonder 2 in 5 people feel their stress creeping up around the holidays. It’s the season of picking out gifts, battling tangled lights, and wrapping dozens of presents only to watch the dog chew them up. (Also, the cat just tore down those untangled lights.)

But, as with every other corner of life, AI has presented some new ways to help us save some time. So, in the spirit of reclaiming Christmas cheer, here are some tools and services on our radar.

Let a bot make the list and check it twice

Got a family member who’s incredibly difficult to shop for? Well, Gift Genie and DreamGift will ask you a series of questions about the person — what hobbies do they love, or what never fails to make them laugh? From there, they’ll present you with a list of personalized present recommendations. 

Be a Scrooge at the store

Retailers use AI-powered algorithms to adjust prices in real time based on factors such as demand, location, and availability. The smart data systems can even predict future hiccups, such as supply-chain issues or weather disruptions. Shoppers can get in on the fun by using browser extensions from Honey, Rakuten, and Savings.com to automatically find the best discounts and cash-back deals.

Deck the halls with boughs of holl-A.I.

Imagine syncing your holiday lights to “Jingle Bell Rock.” That’s now possible with systems like Twinkly that analyze music rhythms to create real-time light shows.

If you really want to level up your holiday decorating, AI-powered design app Planner 5D can visually locate the best spots for every wreath and garland.

Know what to roast on an open fire

Got an old family photo of Christmas Eve dinner and want to recreate the meal? Did you see a dish in a magazine that you just have to show off at your next holiday party? SideChef’s new RecipeGen AI program can generate a recipe and shopping list from a simple picture.

Every business needs to stay connected, which is why modern business phone systems should do more than just handle calls and video conferences — but that shouldn’t mean exorbitant prices and lengthy contracts.

If you want to get more out of your business phone system without spending more of your budget, then it’s time to switch to Ooma. Delivering more features for less money with no contractual obligations, Ooma rings in a new era of business phone systems designed with small businesses in mind. 

Hang up on providers that charge expensive rates and require long-term contracts, and give Ooma a try for free today.

(Source: Shutterstock)

Despite the cute logo and universal nostalgia that Toys “R” Us stirs for those old enough to remember, the retailer didn’t always play nice, pressuring toy manufacturers to stop selling to warehouse-club competitors in the 1980s and ’90s. But the beloved brand’s brick-and-mortar dominance failed to prepare it for Amazon’s low prices, leading to bankruptcy in 2017.

Many were certain Toys “R” Us would disappear forever, like Blockbuster or Circuit City. But in 2021, WHP Global purchased the company and opened a new 20,000-square-foot store in New Jersey, plus hundreds of other locations inside Macy’s stores nationwide and even in cruise ships and airports.

The comeback may succeed or fail, but for now it’s a welcome return for parents who want to give their kids a traditional childhood experience of playing with an entire store of toys, only to leave with a mere one or two in the shopping cart. It’s up to Santa to deliver the rest.

(Source: Hallmark Channel)

Hallmark Christmas movies: where the big-city boy is destined to fall for the small-town girl. Because no matter how Hallmark wraps their films — including by adding an amnesiac Santa or Finnish dogsled race into the mix — fans know exactly what they’re getting. And they wouldn’t want it any other way. The numbers are in the Christmas pudding: The Hallmark Channel dominates ratings among women ages 25 to 54. And the elves at the studio’s workshop are busier than ever, releasing a record-breaking 47 new films this holiday season. Hallmark even brought its on-screen movie magic to life and hosted its first-ever town square pop-up in Kansas City.

Feel-good stories and predictable endings may be exactly what Americans crave during the winter. Like decorating a tree with the same old ornaments or baking your grandma’s cookie recipe, Hallmark has unlocked the gift of a comforting tradition.

Written by Antonio Ferme and Ali Saleh.