Material World

Millennials are blamed for disrupting a lot of industries, from cereal to soap, and now they're wreaking havoc on the jewelry industry. Customers today want timeless pieces that aren't so expensive they require a down payment, and they want to be able to collect items that can be customized into a truly personal look. In addition, they're browsing jewelry online and designing unique pieces. And young consumers are waiting longer to get married -- putting a dent in the engagement ring category -- and increasingly considering lab-made diamonds and other stones. These trends have put mainstream players like Signet's Zales, Kay and Jared in a tough spot. Lindsey Rupp and Kim Bhasin take a look at the changing trends in the industry and talk with New York startups Rebe and Catbird about what might be coming next.

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Everyone knows it's almost impossible to eat just one potato chip. Why is America's favorite salty snack so addictive? Jenny and Lindsey dig into the science behind the mouthwatering taste, the evolution of the business from local to national and the diversification of flavors from plain to things like everything bagel with cream cheese, pico de gallo and crispy taco. Jenny travels to Frito-Lay's Plano, Texas headquarters to get the scoop on how chefs, cooking competitions and healthier eating are reshaping the chip business.

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For the rich and famous, a name is often much more than just a name, and the Trump family hasn't shied from capitalizing on that opportunity. This week on Material World, we explain how Ivanka Trump turned her name into a brand. Now that the First Daughter has taken a position in the White House, what happens to her namesake company? Jenny and Lindsey speak with branding expert Allen Adamson on the challenges of using a person's name as a brand; actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba on her decision not to use her name as her masthead and Bloomberg's Kim Bhasin on how the Ivanka Trump Co. is helped or hurt by the election of its founder's father.

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Jenny and Lindsey are taking a vacation.

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In our last episode, Jenny and guest host Craig Giammona explored how technology could shape the grocery industry's future. This week, Jenny and Lindsey look at what the biggest grocers are doing to stay on top -- and discover it has a lot to do with produce. As part of its plan to fight off competition, Wal-Mart, the world's biggest grocer, joined forces with an agriculture giant to design a new, sweeter cantaloupe. If the new melon is a success, it could set the stage for a makeover of the crucial produce aisle across the industry.

"The Cantaloupe Song" was written by Russ Rogers.

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For decades, the experience of buying groceries has remained much the same — and stayed largely immune to tech disruption. But that may be about to change. Amazon's bid for Whole Foods shows that it's determined to revolutionize the way Americans buy their groceries. Jenny and guest host Craig Giammona talk with grocery experts about how stores are already changing — and the challenge that Amazon faces in charting a new future for the industry.

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She's been called a role model -- but also creepy and superficial. So who is the real Barbie? Matt Townsend looked into an 58-year-old toy that's become much, much more than a mere plaything. He and Lindsey trace the life and times of this 11-and-a-half inch doll -- from her Eisenhower-era debut  her stumbles (who knew she struggled to compete with Britney Spears?) and what Mattel is doing now to revive her.

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When you think innovation, Big Tobacco probably doesn't spring to mind. But Philip Morris International alone has spent more than $3 billion trying to create new products and push towards a “Smoke-Free Future.” Jenny and Lindsey dig into the tobacco industry's race to move beyond cigarettes and towards potentially better-for-you products. Philip Morris veteran Tony Snyder, talks about how the largest publicly-traded tobacco company in the world says its turning away from its core product; Businessweek's Felix Gillette describes how the move from “analog” cigarettes to “digital” gadgets snagged his interest; and Truth Initiative President Robin Koval discusses the importance of treating these innovations with caution.

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From the success of Coachella to the cataclysm that was Fyre, music festivals are omnipresent these days, drawing colossal crowds and clogging Instagram feeds. But it isn't just partiers who have caught the festival bug -- consumer product companies want in, too. This week on Material World, Jenny and Lindsey examine how and why these gatherings have become the ultimate millennial experience and marketing mecca. They talk with executives from Live Nation, Heineken, and The Infatuation to get the scoop on what's behind the trend.

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The beauty industry is on fire, thanks in large part to technology. Prestige beauty sales in the United States grew 6 percent to $15.9 billion in the year ending in February, according to the research firm NPD Group. Makeup alone rose 11 percent to $7.3 billion. Lindsey and Jenny talk to lifestyle website Goop and makeup brand Glossier about how the prevalence of social media and online shopping are driving some of these sales figures. Industry investor TSG Consumer Partners, with $5 billion under management, explains the opportunity smaller brands have to carve out a niche market thanks to the Internet and what makes these upstarts appealing companies to invest in or even buy outright. Bloomberg's Stephanie Wong breaks down how big, traditional players are trying to get in on the growth.

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