Business
The Rise And Fall Of Netflix
For the first time in over a decade, Netflix has lost 200,000 U.S. subscribers and expects to lose more. This would be shocking news if it weren’t for recent decisions by the steaming giant’s executives. The rise and fall of Netflix is a story of trendsetting domination to a single-day 35% plummet in stock value.
To fix this, Netflix has proposed cracking down on password sharers and introducing ads.
Are they sure they wanna do that? Netflix was once the cool kid for not having commercials. It even relied on password sharers in order to grow.
What was once the future of media consumption has begun its inevitable downfall. The pioneer for streaming services has plummeted across the board. How did this happen? How could a company go from underdog to trendsetter to failure in just 20 years?
This is another business tale of cheer and woe: the rise and fall of Netflix.
The Birth of DVDs
Netflix was founded in 1997 by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings as an online DVD rental service. Hastings loves to say he was inspired to start Netflix after being charged $40 in late fees at his local Blockbuster.
“I had a big late fee for Apollo 13. It was six weeks late and I owed the video store $40. I had misplaced the cassette. It was all my fault.”
It’s a cute, relatable story, right? Well, it’s not true. It’s totally fabricated for marketing. Co-founder Randolph clarified in an interview:
“The founding stories are just that, they’re stories. They’re constructs that we come up with to take what’s a very messy process with input from many, many people and condense it into a story which you can get across in a sentence or two.”
Also known as an “elevator pitch,” the story of a company’s founding works as a sales pitch. Everyone loves a story, and Hastings told a good one.
The real story of how Netflix was founded was much like every other tech company’s story in the late 90s.
Hastings’s software company, Pure Atria, had just been sold for $700 million – a Silicon Valley record. Randolph worked as a marketing director for Pure Atria. The two came up with the idea for Netflix while carpooling between each other’s homes.
Randolph admired Amazon’s large catalog of items to sell over the internet. Hastings and Randolph wanted to take that model and apply it to movies. VHS tapes were too easily damaged to sustain an online delivery service, but the brand new DVDs proved to handle travel well.
And so, Netflix launched in 1998 with 30 employees and 925 titles available for rent. The races were off.
The Death of Blockbuster
You can’t talk about the rise and fall of Netflix without mentioning Blockbuster. Despite being direct competitors, very different and specific business decisions led to Blockbuster’s eventual downfall that cannot be attributed to Netflix’s success.
Still, it’s hard not to imagine Netflix being the company that “killed” Blockbuster.
In 2001, DVD players were the hot holiday gift item. Netflix was in a position to be the cool alternative to Blockbuster as DVD subscription services were growing like crazy. But Blockbuster was still the king of movie rentals. It was an event for friends and families to visit Blockbuster on a Friday evening to rent the hot new flick or a timeless classic.
But there was one thing that everyone equally hated about Blockbuster: Late fees.
Netflix, despite totally having late fees at the start of their business, jumped on this with glee:
Being the sexy alternative to Blockbuster helped give rise to Netflix. Eventually, due to poor leadership and the Great Recession in 2008, Blockbuster eventually declined. Today, only a single store remains open in Oregon.
Netflix continued to grow. By 2005, Netflix had 35,000 different films available and shipped 1 million DVDs in a single day.
But that wasn’t all for Netflix. They were about to completely upend the movie industry.
How To Binge An Entire Series In One Weekend
In 2007, Netflix launched its streaming media service. They had 1000 films available for stream and 70,000 available on DVD. With TiVO being the current “cool kid” in movie/television consumption, the original idea was to build a “Netflix box” where one could download movies overnight.
The success of YouTube, however, nixed that idea. People didn’t want to download content, they wanted to stream it.
Soon, Netflix acquired the streaming rights to series like The Office, Futurama, Friends, Breaking Bad, and many more. Viewers quickly latched onto this method like content junkies ready to fight sleep in order to watch “just one more episode.”
Before you knew it, Netflix was inspiring other streaming services like Hulu. Their viewership grew and grew as regular cable viewership dipped. Networks like FOX, CBS, and NBC soon began to openly tease their own streaming services. Why should Netflix get viewers for NBC shows?
With big networks in the rearview mirror, there was only one logical step forward for Netflix: original content.
Netflix is the New HBO
In 2013, Netflix jumped into the world of original content. When House of Cards, Hemlock Grove, and Orange is the New Black first aired it harkened back to the Golden Age of HBO with The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and Six Feet Under.
Netflix ran with original content as fast as they could. A deal with Marvel brought about Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Daredevil to the home screen. Comedies like BoJack Horseman, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Master of None, and Grace and Frankie expanded Netflix’s audience even further.
By the time the blockbuster series Stranger Things premiered in 2016 to great success and acclaim, Netflix was the premier network. Everyone had a Netflix. And if you didn’t, why the hell not?
Netflix was acquiring so much content at such a high rate that it soon became a joke amongst certain crowds that Netflix would buy anything.
Exclusive, multi-million dollar stand up specials with comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Hannah Gadsby, Ali Wong, Jerry Seinfeld, and more garnered even more viewership.
With a continuous stream of high-quality content, the desire for prestige soon followed.
Here Come The Awards
Now that you have all the viewers in the world, you need the awards to cement their status as a major player in entertainment. Netflix didn’t want popular soap dramas to gobble up audiences, they wanted those shiny awards.
Starting in 2019, Netflix began to dominate awards shows. Films like Roma, The Irishman, Marriage Story, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Don’t Look Up, The Power of the Dog, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Two Popes, 13th, Icarus, My Octopus Teacher, and many more were bestowed Oscar nominations and wins.
Netflix also dominated television. Starting in 2014 with Emmy wins for shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black began to rack up for the streaming service. Uzo Aduba and Claire Foy famously won Emmys for their performances in Netflix original series.
Nothing like a whole bunch of awards to cement your status as the king of content. When you’ve made it this far, why stop?
Too Much and Never Enough
If you were to scroll through Netflix’s massive library of content, you might find yourself a little overwhelmed. There is so much original and licensed content, with more being added and subtracted every month, that you can never run out of something to watch.
But all of that content means very little can succeed from within. Peter Csathy, founder of media advisory firm Creativ Media, summed it up nicely:
“Netflix is voraciously gobbling up movies and television shows across all genres, making it a seller’s market.
“The main negative for creators and content owners in working with Netflix is that there is so much new original content that is featured by Netflix, it is increasingly difficult to break out and find an audience on Netflix.
“Without a deep marketing commitment on the part of Netflix, those movies and television shows face the cold reality that they become lost in the content shuffle.”
If you were to have an original show idea, the smart thing to do used to be to take it to Netflix. Chances are, they were going to buy at least one season from you right off the bat. But if success isn’t guaranteed (and it never is in entertainment), you’re going to start exploring your options.
HBO, still one of the best networks for a creative series or film to take off, knows this. Casey Bloys, HBO president of programming, uses this very specific metaphor to explain how they give shows the necessary attention they need:
“If you have 50 kids, you’re not going to every soccer game. We go to every soccer game, and we’re the snack parents at every soccer game.”
HBO CEO Richard Pleper follows up:
“More is not better. Only better is better.”
HBO continues to dominate its reputation as a source of seriously high-quality content.
What Is Netflix’s Future?
Netflix will surely bounce back from this recent setback. Its stock will rise again, and subscribers may return. But their reputation as the future of media is no longer. The company went from thinking ahead to throwing all the money at anything.
Throwing everying at the wall to see what sticks is a necessary strategy for any company looking to grow. But that strategy has a limit. Netflix appears to be throwing more and more and more at the wall and letting all of it stick.
Who asked for video games on Netflix? That’s an odd medium for the company to step into. $30 million per episode of Stranger Things? Settle down, that’s way too much.
Currently, Netflix has three price tiers: $10, $15.50, and $20. No competitor costs more than $15/month. They may raise their prices once again. But as Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu, and HBOMax snag a sizeable share of the market, Netflix is looking like they’re playing catch up.
Suddenly, Netflix’s future looks a little more like this:
What was once old is new again: mid century modern is back in style. From architecture to furniture, the postwar look is in, and the hype extends all the way to office chairs.
Do you need a mid century modern office chair in your life? If so, there’s plenty to choose from. Your office chair should be tailored to your style, whether you like luxury, utility, or something in between.
That’s why we’ve put together our 10 favorite places to find your ideal mid century modern office chair.
What is mid century modern design?
After World War II, spirits were high in the US, and new technology was taking the country by storm. Mid century modern refers to the design concepts that came about during this time.
As opposed to the frilly, ornate designs of classical furnishings, mid century modern designs are angular, material, and functional. Wood is a common design element, especially teak. Mid century modern furniture may also have materials like glass, vinyl, and metal. Designs are simple and geometric, with bold accent colors to make them pop.
The mid century modern aesthetic never really went away, but it’s made a noted comeback in recent years. Some have chalked it up to Boomer and Gen X nostalgia, others point to mid-century-set shows like Mad Men and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Why should I buy a mid century modern office chair?
Mid century modern is the perfect fusion of style and utility. If you want to cultivate an office space that commands respect without being ostentatious, mid century modern is the style for you.
When it comes to office chairs, an MCM one is often made with sturdy wood and vinyl. They combine the ergonomics of a modern office chair with old-fashioned grace.
If you’re concerned with utility and utility only, a more bog-standard office chair may suit you. But a mid century modern office chair is great for someone who wants to wow colleagues with a mature, thoughtful business space.
Where can I get a mid century modern office chair?
1) Wayfair
When it comes to furniture, Wayfair offers the best of both worlds. Their goods, including their mid century modern office chairs, are stylish and affordable. You can get a sturdy task chair for less than $100 or a more distinguished seat for less than $350.
MCM office chair examples: Dovray ($126), Bradford ($139), Lithonia ($133)
2) France & Son
Wayfair’s chairs are affordable, but France & Son is the perfect option for luxury shoppers. Their mid century modern office chairs are robust and sleekly designed. If you dress to impress and enjoy the finer things in life, these are the chairs for you.
MCM office chair example: Brooks ($695)
3) Houzz
Started as a community for people to share home decor tips, Houzz has become a great ecommerce platform for finding stylish furniture. They’re more known for home decor than desk chairs, but they have plenty of great, affordable finds if you know where to look.
MCM office chair examples: Arvilla ($173), Rathburn ($259)
4) Laura Davidson
The Laura Davidson collection offers a fairly limited selection of classic office furniture. Still, there’s a reason they’re trusted by big-wigs like Apple, Disney, and Salesforce. Their chairs are sturdy and beautifully designed, reimagining classic Eames and Knoll designs.
MCM office chair examples: Rockefeller ($275), SOHO II Soft Pad ($450)
5) Icons of Manhattan
Icons of Manhattan has a simple philosophy: do one thing, and do it right. Their office chairs are handcrafted from premium materials and tailored to a mid-century modern style. If you want that Mad Men energy in your office (hopefully with a lot less angst), these are the chairs for you.
MCM office chair example: Ribbed Medium ($219)
6) Amazon
Yes, the internet’s premier shopping destination has a robust collection of mid century modern office chairs. Like with most products, their selection of seats is vast and can be hit or miss. Still, they’ve got stunning chairs available for any style, whether you care about comfort, class, or ergonomics.
MCM office chair examples: IDS Home Modern ($219), Art Leon MCM Swivel ($139)
7) AllModern
AllModern’s collection of desk chairs and other furniture truly embodies the mid century modern spirit. Their work is tight, angular, and functional above all. They’re part of the Wayfair family and they traffic in a number of modern styles, but their sleek chairs are perfect for any mid century modern space.
MCM office chair examples: Frederick ($229), Kealey ($349)
8) Overstock
Overstock is known as a one-stop shop for quality home goods at sub-wholesale prices. If you want a spiffy mid century modern office chair that won’t break the bank, they’re the first place to look. While they’re somewhat less reliable than the more upscale platforms on this list, their selection is massive.
MCM office chair example: Joseph Modern ($163)
9) Walmart
Hayneedle’s selection of mid-century modern office chairs falls somewhere between the minimal Laura Davidson and the endless Amazon catalog. Their array of mid-century designs is affordable and versatile, with chairs that match almost any style. While they may be part of the Walmart family, these chairs are anything but second-rate.
MCM office chair example: Waleaf ($97)
10) Target
Why splurge when you can save? As usual, Target is a hidden gem, offering a sturdy selection of mid century modern office chairs for some of the cheapest prices out there. Many of the chairs they offer are from the same designers as these other stores—Christopher Knight, LumiSource, Armen Living, etc.—at reduced prices.
MCM office chair example: Lombardi ($136)
A quality payroll service is one of the most invaluable tools any entrepreneur can have. Whether you’re a small business owner or an HR manager, paying your employees on time is crucial. This makes choosing a service even more weighty, after all, it is a heavy administrative burden. The good thing is, you can outsource this duty to an online payroll processor.
According to statistics, 49% of workers begin a new job search after just two paycheck errors, and with 65% of workers living paycheck to paycheck, it’s more important than ever to ensure an efficient, effective payroll process.
These services can save you precious time and mitigate potential issues. To make it easy for you to choose, we listed the best online payroll services for 2025.
Top 5 Online Payroll Services
Gusto
Gusto is a great option for both new and experienced payroll administrators, boasting an incredibly clean user interface and a first-rate payroll setup. Gusto lets you manage your employee’s time off (vacation and sick pay), company health insurance, and worker’s comp. Gusto offers excellent mobile access, too. This allows employees to manage aspects of their Gusto profiles, view payday insights, and access Gusto Wallet financial tools.
Gusto offers four tiers of membership, the most affordable of which is the Contractor’s Only plan, which offers unlimited U.S.-based and global contractor payments, supporting more than 100 countries, plus 1099 creation and filing at a rate of $6 per person per month with no base price.
The other three are Simple, Plus, and Premium. Here’s a deeper look into each plan:
Simple
Price:
$40/mo + $6/mo per person
Plan details:
- Full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
- Employee profiles and self-service
- Basic hiring and onboarding tools
- Gusto-brokered health insurance administration
- Employee financial benefits
- Payroll and time-off reports
- Custom admin permissions
- Integrations for accounting, time tracking, expense management, and more
Plus
Price:
$80/mo + $12/mo per person
Plan details:
(All Simple plan features +)
- Full-service multi-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
- Next-day direct deposit
- Advanced hiring and onboarding tools
- PTO management and policies
- Time tracking and project tracking
- Workforce costing and custom reports
- Team management tools
- Full support
Premium
Price:
Bespoke pricing, reach out for a personalized quote
Plan details:
(All Plus plan features +)
- HR Resource Center
- Compliance alerts
- Access to certified HR experts
- Full-service payroll migration and account setup
- Health insurance broker integration
- R&D tax credit discount
- Waived fees and exclusive pricing
- Performance reviews
- Employee surveys and insights
- Dedicated support
QuickBooks Online Payroll
Founded in 1983, Intuit is a California-based financial software company. Since its inception, Intuit has developed into one of the best-known providers of accounting software. Their online payroll service, QuickBooks, includes the essential features you need to run payroll.
QuickBooks offers three tiers of membership. The least expensive membership covers basic accounting features, such as invoices. For more features, check out the Essentials and Plus memberships. Each plan’s features are as follows:
QuickBooks Simple Start (2025)
- Price: $38/month for 1 user
- Best for: Freelancers and small teams with basic payroll needs
Features:
- Automated bookkeeping
- 5 free ACH bank transfers/mo for bills
QuickBooks Essentials (2025)
- Price: $75/month for 3 users
- Best for: Small businesses needing deeper financial tracking
Features:
- Includes all Simple Start features, plus:
- Recurring invoices
QuickBooks Plus (2025)
- Price: $115/month for 5 users
- Best for: Growing businesses with HR and compliance needs
Features:
- Includes all Essentials features, plus:
- AI-powered profit & loss insights
- Anomaly detection and resolution
- Budgeting
QuickBooks Advanced (2025)
- Price: $275/month for 25 users
- Best for: Established businesses with HR and compliance needs
Features:
- Includes all Plus features, plus:
- Custom user management and permissions
- Custom report builder
- Data sync with Excel
- Revenue recognition
- Forecasting
OnPay
OnPay is a cloud-based full-service payroll processing system capable of running payroll according to a preset schedule, automatically disbursing wages, and calculating and withholding taxes.
OnPay can sync up with several other software your team is already using, making it easy to integrate the service into your team’s system. Another benefit of OnPays model is the simple, transparent pricing structure. No tiers; just one base rate.
Pricing:
$49/mo + $6/mo per employee
SurePayroll
SurePayroll’s award-winning service supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Additionally, it handles 401(k) deductions and manages flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA).
SurePayroll also offers a mobile app— available on both Apple and Android devices.
SurePayroll offers live support through its United States-based support team through chat, email, or phone.
Small Business Payroll
- Price: No Tax Filing: $20/month + $4 per employee, Full Service: $29/month + $7 per employee
- Best for: Small businesses and startups
Features:
- We file and deposit your federal and state taxes!
- Run payroll in 3 simple steps
- Schedule payroll to run automatically
- Unlimited payroll runs and free 2-day direct deposit
- Reports and pay stubs are available online 24/7
- Supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors
Nanny & Household Payroll
- Price: Full-Service Household, $39/month, includes 1 employee, $10 per additional employee
Best for: Homeowners
Features:
- Signature-ready Schedule H
- We file & deposit your federal and state taxes!
- Run payroll in 3 simple steps
- Schedule payroll to run automatically
- Unlimited payroll runs and free 2-day direct deposit
- Reports & paystubs available online 24/7
- Supports W-2 employees & 1099 contractors
Be sure to choose a payroll service that works for your business, and provides you with the peace of mind that comes with a reliable bookkeeping system. Your employees will thank you.
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