Field Notes: Slowing Down to Speed Up ✏️

I’m notoriously bad at slowing down. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good night in, a good movie/tv show, and relaxing. But when it comes to business, I’m pretty much giving 100% or 0%. I don’t really know how to give say, around 50-60%, which is actually a massive detriment. Going 100% all the time is incredibly draining and has lead to burnout from time to time.

I think it’s time to slow it down a bit. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning on stepping back from anything necessarily, but I think there’s tremendous value in slowing down parts of your life for certain seasons. I put these lofty goals out into the universe (and into this newsletter!), but there’s also tremendous and underrated beauty in slowing down and moving the goal post.

I’ve been so focused on output, and that means that I’ve been moving incredibly quickly. I’ve often wondered about how the quality of my content, or how my business would be impacted if I slowed down and was more intentional in certain areas. As an example, I’ve been unwilling to explore new types of content for fear that it would slow me down, but I’m finally realizing that slowing down is the only way to re-examine what’s working and learn new skills. And ironically, this will likely end up giving me the mental clarity I need to actually speed up when I’m ready to do so.

Slow seasons are necessary. They’re good for the mind, body and spirit— I can say this with confidence about all three areas. I encourage you to look at what areas of your life deserve a slower season over the next few months. We really deserve it.

P.S.- I’m heading to SXSW for Mon/Tues next week, so message me if you’re planning on heading there too, and we can try to meet up! -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

🧴The Latest Teen Status Symbol Is $10 Hand Sanitizer Teenagers are turning hand sanitizer into a luxury must-have, with some brands charging $10 a bottle. Shoutout to my pre-teen niece, Cami, who first told me about these. Trendy packaging, viral marketing, and limited-edition scents have fueled demand. 🧴💸 (wsj)

👜 Prada (1913 HK) Said to Move Closer to Versace Deal for Up to €1.5 Billion Prada is in advanced talks to acquire Versace from Capri Holdings for up to €1.5 billion. This move would strengthen Prada’s position in the luxury market and streamline Capri’s focus on Michael Kors. If completed, it marks one of the biggest shifts in high fashion this year. The deal could close within weeks, shaking up the industry. 👜💶 (bloomberg)

🏬 New CVS Stores Go All In on Medicine and Skip Everything Else I’ve been expecting this type of move for a while. Lately, walking into ANY drug store in LA is a really apocalyptic event. Seemingly all of the products are behind plastic barriers, you have to ring a button in order to get customer service to help you, and it’s overall really depressing. It makes sense to double down on the pharmacy side, but I still wish there was a way to turn their retail side around. (wsj)

⚖️ Chegg Sues Google for Hurting Traffic with AI as It Considers Strategic Alternatives Chegg (the textbook & homework-help company) is suing Google, claiming AI-generated search results have siphoned traffic away from its platform. The lawsuit argues that Google's AI tools answer student queries directly, bypassing Chegg’s study resources. This battle could set a precedent for AI’s role in search dominance. ⚖️🤖 (cnbc)

🌴 How to Have a ‘White Lotus’ Vacation in Thailand Minus The Crowds I knew I wasn’t alone in dreaming about my next vacation to Thailand or some other dreamy island after watching the first 3 episodes of White Lotus. This read gives you some other options that are more off the beaten path. (wsj)

💄 Louis Vuitton to Launch Makeup Line Louis Vuitton is making its beauty debut with a luxury makeup line launching this fall. The brand has tapped legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath as creative director to lead the collection. The line will include 55 lipsticks, 10 balms, and 8 eyeshadow palettes with signature LV packaging. This move puts Louis Vuitton in direct competition with Dior and Chanel in luxury beauty. 💄✨(bof)

👟 Adidas Has Sold Its Last Yeezy Sneaker Adidas has officially sold off its remaining Yeezy inventory, marking the end of its Kanye West collaboration. The company severed ties with West in 2022 following his disturbing antisemitic remarks. Despite the fallout, Yeezy sales generated €50 million in Q4 2024. Adidas is now shifting focus to new sneaker lines without Yeezy’s influence. 👟🔚(nyt)

🍟 Sweetgreen is Betting on Fries and Michelin-Starred Chefs to Keep Customers Coming Back Sweetgreen is expanding beyond salads with its new ‘Ripple Fries,’ air-fried and free from seed oils. The company hopes to attract more customers by offering a healthier alternative to traditional fries. Michelin-starred chefs have been brought in to refine the menu. This bold pivot aims to boost sales and redefine Sweetgreen’s identity. 🍟🥗 (modern retail)

🍹 Kraft Heinz Dips a Toe Into Booze Kraft Heinz is launching its first alcoholic drink—a vodka seltzer infused with Crystal Light flavors (prior to reading this article, I hadn’t thought about Crystal Light in 8+ years). Initially available in lemonade and wild strawberry, it will debut in select Northeast U.S. markets. The move is a bid to modernize the brand👜. If successful, maybe we can expect more nostalgic brands to follow suit? 🍹🍓 (wsj)

✨PrettyLittleThing Unveils Rebrand to Usher in An “Elevated New Era” PrettyLittleThing is shifting away from its fast-fashion image with a more premium rebrand. The company is focusing on better sizing, higher quality, and a fresh aesthetic. However, customers are furious over a quiet change in return policies from 28 to 14 days. The rebrand is a risky bet that could either elevate or alienate its audience. ✨🛍️(fashion united)

🎬 Saint Laurent, the Oscars and the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Problem Saint Laurent is making waves in cinema with Emilia Pérez, a crime musical directed by Jacques Audiard. While the film earned critical acclaim at Cannes, some industry insiders have raised concerns about a fashion house financing and producing a movie, questioning the influence of luxury brands in cinema. This move signals a bold new direction for Saint Laurent, but also stirs debate over fashion’s expanding grip on entertainment. 🎬👗🔥 (nyt)

🧘‍♀️ How Nancy Green Is Scaling Beyond Yoga, Levi’s Bet on Athlesiure Levi’s is doubling down on activewear with its acquisition of Beyond Yoga, tapping into the booming athleisure market. Former Athleta CEO Nancy Green now leads the brand, signaling big growth plans ahead. Beyond Yoga will continue as a standalone label, expanding its premium, comfort-driven apparel. Levi’s is betting big on leggings, not just denim. 🧘‍♀️👖🔥(wwd)

🎯Target Wants to Bring Back the ‘Tarzhay’ Magic Target is making a comeback by revamping its private-label products and in-store experience. The retailer is rolling out 600 new items under Good & Gather and Favorite Day. With a mix of nostalgia and innovation, it’s reclaiming its aspirational-yet-affordable identity. 🎯🛍️(wsj)

Concept of the Week: The Dentist’s Chair Paradox 🦷⏳🧠

Time perception shrinks when you're engaged and expands when you're suffering—a dentist’s chair feels like an eternity, while a night out with friends flies by. Business parallel? Apps, games, and products that create a "time sink" effect (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, casinos) feel effortless and addictive. Bad user experience (complicated software, long forms) feels like a dentist appointment and drives users away.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

🛍️ Google’s Shopping Tab Has a New AI Tool That Takes Your Fashion Idea and Suggests Similar Clothing Google is launching an AI-powered feature in its Shopping tab that lets users turn fashion ideas into real clothing recommendations. The tool uses Vision Search to analyze images, sketches, or text prompts, finding similar styles instantly. This move strengthens Google’s e-commerce game, making personalized shopping easier than ever. AI isn’t just suggesting outfits—it’s understanding your style. (tech crunch)🛍️🤖✨

😃 In other AI fashion news, there’s also this AI fashion startup called Doji, which just scored an investment from Alexis Ohanian’s fund. It’s a new app that allows users to create AI avatars with their own likeness and virtually try on clothing, launched from stealth in January and has been rolling out access to its private beta. (business insider)

🤖 Meta Plans to Release Standalone Meta AI App in Effort to Compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT Meta is developing a dedicated Meta AI app, aiming to challenge OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the AI chatbot space. This move signals Meta’s aggressive push into generative AI, seeking to dominate conversational AI experiences. The AI wars are heating up. 🤖🔥💬(cnbc)

🏃‍♂️Aviron’s $2,499 Gamified Treadmill Will Keep You on Your Toes Aviron is shaking up home fitness with its new gamified treadmill, priced at $2,499. The machine turns running into an interactive experience with virtual races, challenges, and immersive gameplay. Designed to make workouts more engaging, it blends fitness with entertainment to keep users motivated. Say goodbye to boring cardio. 🏃‍♂️🎮🔥 (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

🃏Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts Annie Duke, a former professional poker player, breaks down how to make better decisions by thinking probabilistically rather than emotionally. She teaches how to embrace uncertainty, separate luck from skill, and avoid cognitive biases. The book is a game-changer for anyone who wants to improve strategic thinking. Because life, like poker, is all about smart bets. 🃏🤯📊 (amazon)

🚀 How to Deliver Bad News When it's Not Your Fault Tough conversations are inevitable, but how you communicate bad news can make all the difference. The key? empathy, transparency, and a solutions-oriented mindset. It’s not just what you say—it’s how you say it. 💬⚖️🛠️

💬 When a Product Doesn't Fit: Skype's Decline Inside Microsoft Skype was once a household name, but its integration into Microsoft led to slow innovation, identity confusion, and internal struggles. Overcomplicated redesigns and a lack of focus made it lose ground to Zoom and FaceTime. The lesson? Even iconic products can fail without a clear vision. Sometimes, a great product just doesn’t belong. 📉💻❌

📉 How to Take Bigger, Bolder Product Bets — Lessons from Slack’s Chief Product Officer Slack’s Chief Product Officer shares key insights on risk-taking, long-term vision, and prioritization when placing big product bets. The lesson? Small iterations matter, but transformational growth comes from bold, strategic moves. The challenge is balancing data with intuition to bet big on the right ideas. Smart risks drive the best products. 🎯🚀💡

😴 The 2 Best Sleep Headphones of 2025 Wirecutter tested the latest sleep-friendly headphones to find the best options for comfort, sound quality, and all-night wear. 🎧💤😴(wirecutter)

🎤 This mini mic for content creation This is already one of the most popular mics used by content creators, but I just got it and it does live up to the hype. (amazon)

Call Me, Beep Me

If you liked this newsletter, it would be very cool if you shared it with your family, friends or even a random person that you know loves business & culture news! Link to share here 💌😄 

I seriously love chatting with you all; please feel free to send me a note on any of these platforms:

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram

• TikTok

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

P.S. - If you see any typos in this newsletter, know that I did it on purpose just to make you giggle.

Collaborate/Sponsor This Newsletter

I’m always looking for new companies, people and stories to highlight. If you have any ideas for a future newsletter, please feel free to drop me a note ✏️✍️ 🥰