Warby Parker, an eyewear brand renowned for its direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model, and Allbirds, an eco-friendly shoe brand that went public on NASDAQ in 2021, exemplify innovation in connecting manufacturers directly with consumers without intermediaries. This model promotes a positive image by endorsing an eco-friendly business approach. However, the disclosure of the companies’ financial statements revealed that both had accumulated losses greater than anticipated. While it would have been ideal for manufacturers to supply products directly to consumers, the burden of inventory increased along with rising administrative and marketing costs. Distributors in the middle shared profits, but they also shouldered the financial burden. Choosing eco-friendly options often incurs higher costs due to the search for alternatives, which can lead to accumulating losses. Pollution negatively impacts both consumers and suppliers, and business deficits further inflict additional damage that c...
Warren Buffett, who has amassed 99% of his wealth since the age of 50, revealed that the secret lies in “compound.” When you lend money, interest is added to the principal as income. Initially, interest is applied only to the principal, but compound interest is applied to both the principal and the accumulated interest. Therefore, at first, it seems negligible, but over time, significant wealth growth takes place. The same principle applies to reading: even if your reading speed is slow, consistently reading just a few books each day can lead to a wealth of knowledge. After a year, this accumulated knowledge creates a network effect, allowing you to quickly absorb new information. Consequently, your reading speed increases dramatically, leading to an exponential growth in the volume of material you can handle. This exemplifies the compound interest effect. Even small, consistent actions taken daily can build up and create a compound interest effect over time. Cartoonist Lee Hyun-se sta...