Main Street Explained

The coffee is served now. Rent and payroll still arrive on their own calendars. Our fictional coffee-shop story follows the sales, costs and cash behind a busy counter: youtu.be/tbg1fMUBJBk

A monthly fee is only the first part of a subscription story. The return visits create the work. Our illustrated car-wash episode follows both: youtu.be/gqFBPvma0sE

A discount today and points for a later visit are different reasons to open an app. Our McDonald's episode follows the offer, the receipt and the next visit: youtu.be/6U-IMzKJ6zw

A tag can invite a comparison without telling you the full story of how the item reached the rack. Our T.J. Maxx episode follows the tag, the buying decisions and the shopper: youtu.be/rL49AqrarYA

One store visit can solve an urgent need without covering the whole shopping list. Our Dollar General episode follows location, assortment and the trade-offs behind a quick stop: youtu.be/gLbWMFatbE8

The outlet logo looks familiar. But did this particular product ever sit in the regular store? Our new episode follows outlet-exclusive collections, transferred merchandise and the choices behind the price tag. Watch: youtu.be/D_VBJA7IRjE

The showroom helps shape the choice before a mattress reaches the checkout. Our episode follows what changes when a mattress maker buys a retail chain: youtu.be/ZcVFskIUbxM

A dining room is one way to serve a meal. A pickup counter creates a different set of decisions. Follow ordering, preparation and collection in our illustrated restaurant episode: youtu.be/IqSviz2y5n0

A prescription changes hands at the counter. Payment can follow a different route. Our pharmacy episode traces the work and the money behind a familiar errand: youtu.be/wKIS-7S5mnw

The pump and the store share a property, but they have different jobs to do. Our illustrated gas-station episode follows what brings drivers in and what might bring them through the door: youtu.be/vcqmRM7zV18