July 2019 assorted links

1. Millennials are finally getting the giant roll of toilet paper they deserve
   The inside story on how Charmin came up with a giant roll that lasts a month

2. The best books to read at every age, from 1 to 100

3. Billion-dollar baby: How Carter’s became a staple of just about every child’s wardrobe
   The brand has built a multibillion-dollar empire on $5 bodysuits and $8 pajamas, taking in nearly one-quarter of all baby clothes sales in the United States. Revenue has grown for 30 consecutive years, even as the nation’s birthrate has fallen to 30-year lows. And while competitors are filing for bankruptcy, Carter’s is opening stores and expanding into new markets.

   …An exclusive line for Walmart followed soon after. In 2017, the company created Simple Joys by Carter’s for Amazon Prime to reach more affluent and “digital savvy” millennials. As a result, the retailer’s biggest competitors — Walmart, Target and Amazon — are also its largest customers….Each line has its own design team and pricing specifications. While Walmart and Target may sell individual rompers for $6, Amazon tends to sell larger bundles — three sets of pajamas, say, or five bodysuits — for about $20 apiece.

4. 24 hours inside San Francisco’s homelessness crisis

5. The power of Apple’s brand positioning