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Brought to You By

In our series Brought to You By, we dive into the stories behind ordinary seasonal items: that grill you fire up for the Fourth of July or the fruitcake that you dig into (or regift) over the holidays. Where did they come from, and why did they become so popular?

From This Collection

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Welcome to the war of inflatable pool toys

by Kai Ryssdal
Jul 29, 2016
For BigMouth Inc., this season has meant lots of summertime sadness.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
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Some tire of tinsel, others see a new way to shine

by Marketplace Contributor
Dec 24, 2015
Meet the people behind tinsel.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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Holidays put the bow on the gift-wrapping industry

by Kristofor Husted
Dec 23, 2015
In the U.S., gift wrap accounts for $3.2 billion a year in retail sales.
What kinds of gifts did you ask for or register for?
Kristofor Husted
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Georgia town boasts about its fruitcake bakery

by Marketplace Contributor
Dec 18, 2015
A look into the "Fruitcake Capital of the World"
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Texas company dresses up fruitcake with pecans

by Lauren Silverman
Dec 18, 2015
A fruitcake makeover for a product with a long history
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Yule log may be a chestnut, but it's good business

by Ashley Milne-Tyte
Dec 17, 2015
New York television station WPIX first broadcast the yule log, and it caught on.
The Yule Log footage is from 1970.
WPIX
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Rudolph still has a nose for business

by Emma Jacobs
Dec 11, 2015
The story of Rudolph and how the reindeer continues to shine bright in ratings.
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Holiday drinks: A mix of science and clever marketing

by Sam Harnett
Nov 26, 2014
Here's why you crave that pumpkin spice latte and other "holidays in a glass."
Shoppers wait in line at Starbucks while shopping at a Black Friday event.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
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Making it a meatless Thanksgiving with Tofurky

by Kai Ryssdal
Nov 25, 2014
Kai Ryssdal talks to Seth Tibbott, founder and president of the Tofurky company.
Tofurky has been a vegan and vegetarian go-to for 20 years.
Courtesy of Tofurky
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The explosive birth of the bikini

by Rico Gagliano
Jul 11, 2014
How war rations and atomic testing brought about the world's skimpiest suit.
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