Free Drinks & Fast Pivots While Six Flags was busy adding a $25 parking fee to squeeze more revenue from families, a small theme park in Indiana made a decision that would have sent corporate accountants into cardiac arrest. Holiday World announced that drinks – all drinks, unlimited refills, all day long – would be completely free for every guest. No catch, no upcharge, no "premium drink package" for $15.99. Just free Pepsi products flowing like water in the Indiana summer

From recession to success When the economy tanks, restaurants typically face a brutal reality: customers vanish, costs soar, and survival becomes a daily battle. Industry statistics paint a grim picture – 60% of restaurants fail within their first year under normal conditions, and recessions turn that challenge into a near-impossibility. Yet throughout history, some remarkable establishments have not just survived economic disasters but actually thrived, turning crisis into o

When the 2008 financial crisis sent restaurant sales plummeting and forced widespread closures across the industry, Panera Bread made a decision that defied conventional wisdom: they raised prices on certain menu items[3]. This counterintuitive move was just one piece of Panera's contrarian strategy that not only helped the company survive the recession but enabled it to emerge stronger than before. While competitors desperately cut costs and discounted menus, Panera invested

Procter & Gamble's remarkable journey through the Great Depression stands out in stories of corporate survival.