FinalStraw went on Shark Tank to pitch their eco-friendly, collapsible straw—designed to cut down on plastic waste.
The founders showed how the straw folds neatly into a compact case, making it easy to carry and reuse. While the sharks were impressed by the concept, they raised concerns about the steep price and looming competition.
Despite receiving offers, the founders chose to walk away without a deal.
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermès, says there’s a big difference between something being expensive and being costly.
Expensive, he explains, is when a product isn’t worth the price—when it looks good but doesn’t last, or fails to do what it promises.
Costly is different. It means time, skill, and care went into making it. At Hermès, that means real craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and products made to last for years.
You pay more because it’s made right. Not because it’s marked up.
Many Americans mentally spend half of their paycheck before it even hits their bank account. This phenomenon happens because people often anticipate upcoming expenses, such as bills, rent, groceries, and other recurring costs, which can feel like a heavy weight on their financial mindset. In some cases, they also plan for discretionary spending, like entertainment or dining out, that they know will happen once the money arrives. As a result, by the time payday comes around, a large portion of that check already feels allocated, even if it’s not physically spent yet. This mental budgeting can lead to stress and a feeling of being financially stretched, especially when unexpected expenses pop up
After a game in the late ’90s, a woman confronted Shaquille O’Neal. Furious, she told him, “Kids can’t afford your shoes. Why are they $200?” The comment hit him hard. That same day, he told Reebok he was done—and walked away from a $40 million deal.
Shaq didn’t just want to be another athlete with a high-end shoe. He wanted to make something every kid could afford. So he partnered with Walmart and launched his own line of sneakers—priced at $20.
The result? Over 400 million pairs sold. What started as a tense conversation turned into a legacy built on accessibility, not exclusivity.
