what i loved in 2024

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mornin 2025 merry makers!

if you caught last week’s dispatch on the finest annual self-review templates, you know i'm all about reflection this time of year. so yes, despite it being 2025, my brain is stubbornly living in 2024 — i expect i’ll keep scribbling 2024 for months too!

to embrace this temporal dissonance, i’m dedicating today’s issue to a retro roundup.

24 things i loved from 2024.

across retail, work, & all the personal shenanigans.

please see this as a lil nudge from your future self to do the same (you can ofc skip retail if you wish 😉 ). as time flies & memories blur, i’m kicking myself for not starting this list a decade ago. 2014 MacK living in sf working at apple really dropped the ball.

i encourage you to whip up your own list of faves!

better yet share them with me & let’s keep those memories alive together! 🌟

quick psa: there’s a sprinkle of affiliate links below. but honestly, i’m such a fangirl i’d hype them even if there were zero perks.

they’re that good.

what i loved in retail

1. immersive theater-like experiences:  vision pro demo & camp stores

2. XXXL retail stores: the largest RH @ newport beach, the newest largest skims @ fifth avenue, & the louis vuitton trunk tower @ fifth avenue.

3. stores adding services & service businesses adding stores: think classes at stores & pet care near stores. spas & salons in traditional retail spaces are booming. very proud of my client, peachy. check em out in nyc, chi, dc, & atx!

4. brands as wellness hubs: nike live stores are now nike well collectives, therabody reset stores offer spa services, & many more medtailers .

5. retail nostalgia marketing: a&f’s comeback, the return of the j. crew catalog, gap’s 90s get loose a, simon property group’s meet me @themall.

6. frictionless checkout: apple pay, amazon go, amazon one, & just walk out.

7. shopping secondhand first at retailORs: h&m & banana republic added resale sections to their soho stores, & thredup offers resale as a service.

8. journalistic takes on retail as books: specifically the the kingdom of prep on jcrew & selling sexy on victoria’s secret + L brands

what i loved professionally

1. beehiiv: the host of this email newsletter! convinced part of why i love writing this is because i love using beehiiv. clearly a major fangirl & hmu with q’s.

2. my u-turn to retail: said a heartfelt goodbye to my stationery business to return to my brick & mortar retail roots. loving this way more than i expected.

3. canva: the tool that makes people think i’m a designer despite only ever working in analytical very left-brained roles.

4. entering my consultant era: this is such a better biz model for me than dtc cards. i love working closely with clients on big retail projects. grateful for amanda goetz & grace abbott helping me navigate this new world.

5. profit first systems: first read in 2022, but really implemented last year & wow is it effective at managing spend levels & keeping me focused on profits.

6. novo: my free online business banking account that sends invoices, tracks my spend, & includes systems recommend in profit first like reserves. plus free!

7. clockify: my free time tracking tool that holds me accountable for time spent on client projects. truly enlightening, but more important easy to use!

8. chatgpt: basically my only coworker that helps me brainstorm, learn, & most importantly, edit!

what i loved personally

1. function health: my bf & i gifted each other the exact same holiday gift — this yearly membership for testing 100+ biomarkers to keep us spry for 100 years.

2. million dollar weekend: getting to be an early reader & then guest on noah kagan’s podcast was such a highlight of the year. but more importantly, i’ve implemented & grown to love many of his systems

3. library books: living steps from the downtown austin library is a dream —endless books, no late fees, & the perfect nudge to keep reading!

4. peloton: i’m obsessed with their strength classes, especially after listening to this huberman pod on female specific exercise & nutrition for longevity.

5. no social media on my phone: as i work to create more content, i’m working to consume less content. i’m way less likely to mindlessly scroll on my laptop.

6. feedme newsletter: i love what emily sundberg is building. i feel so much more in the know when i read it, plus it helps me keep a pulse on my beloved nyc.

7. calendaring everything: yep, that means a cal invite for all the things! it’s my secret weapon for both planning ahead & reflecting back.

8. my crew: gratitude overload for my boyfriend, family, friends, & of course, my furry sidekick, bowser, who have been my rocks this year. y’all are the best!

alright merry makers, that's my 2024 highlight reel!

from mega-retail experiences to tiny lifestyle tweaks, it's wild to see how much can happen in 365 days. looking back at this list makes me even more excited for what 2025 has in store.

pun absolutely intended 😉

& hey, if any of these resonated with you or you've got your own 2024 favorites to share, hit reply! nothing makes me happier than hearing your stories & building this retail-loving community together.

cheers to lots of merrymaking in 2025!

p.s. if you want to make me extra merry, i’d so appreciate if you clicked on this week’s merry partners, hubsport & land.id 💛 every click counts!