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Planet Money · August 21, 2026 · 37m

Who decides what big box sells? Our GAME got us answers

Planet Money creates a board game called “Sell Me a Sasquatch” and takes it behind the closed doors of big box retailer buyer meetings. The episode reveals how products actually end up on shelves—what buyers look for, how decisions get made, and how much power those deciders have. After pitching to several stores, the hosts learn the fate of their game and what compromises are required to land a deal.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

Inside the Buyer Meeting: How Big Box Stores Decide What You See
Planet Money gained rare access to the hidden process where retail buyers decide which products make it to big box shelves.
The Retail Pitch: What Buyers Actually Look For
When pitching their board game, the Planet Money team discovered the real-world criteria big box buyers use—from target audience to margins and packaging.

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