Sammi’s Field Notes ✏️📥️ 

The lull after the Christmas holiday and before the start of the year feels deliciously indulgent. It’s one of my favorite weeks of the year. It’s as if everyone is in a collective “not right now” mentality and everything moves a lot slower. It’s the perfect time to take a step back to think about your year: the successes, the failures, and everything in between. I’m thinking a ton about my next 12 months ahead: 1) growing my content platform across social media, 2) building Social Currency™ (newsletter, podcast, merch), 3) expanding my team in order to accomplish point 1 & 2, so I’ll be looking to bring on 2-3 more people part-time.

My husband and I drove back from Tucson, Arizona yesterday and had a 9-hour drive back to LA. I’m currently researching all sorts of podcasts (as you know, I’m launching my the pod in Feb/March 2025), so we used the road trip back to listen to some of the most popular podcasts in the US from 2024. We listened to episodes from Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, and Andrew Huberman. After listening to these podcasts, I get the hype. They’re all intelligent, ask insightful questions, and have incredible & accomplished guests on the podcasts. But also, why are their podcasts all 2+ hours long? Am I the only one who thinks that the 2-3 hour podcasts are a bit much? Legitimately, when do people have the time to listen to podcasts that long?!

But my biggest question after listening to them is why we don’t have nearly as many top-charting podcasts with female interviewers that are talking to top business minds? I know from experience that people also want to hear these conversations from female interviewers. Women want to listen to this type of content, but does it need to be served on a 3 hour-long platter by a man who prays to the church of Elon Musk (no offense, Elon)? Anyway, you can see where I’m going with this, and I will continue to opine on the fact that we need more women who are talking about business in a way that’s not over-the-top tech bro or just plain bro. Full stop.

For the last few days of the year, I hope that you find time to think through your big goals for 2025. I want to hear what you’re going to accomplish next year, so feel free to write me a note about what you’re working on and I’ll cheer you on. One of my biggest learnings from my 20s is that I wish I started dreaming bigger earlier on in my career, so I encourage you to not push off your big dreams either (regardless of your age now).

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

Why the Decline of the American Shopping Mall Means We're Losing the Ultimate Brand Incubator 🏗️ Malls once acted as vibrant brand incubators, where new ideas, trends, and businesses tested their footing in front of diverse audiences. 🛍️ Malls provided an incredible launching pad for some of the most popular American restaurant brands like Chick-fil-A and Panda Express. Now, the decline threatens the pipeline for entrepreneurial growth and mall culture.🚶‍♂️➡️💡(sherwood)

Why Spotify Wrapped-esque Year-in-Review Posts Took Over Q4 Brand Marketing 🎧 Brands have jumped ALL OVER the year-in-review trend to create highly personalized marketing campaigns. 🛍️📈 These digestible, shareable content formats tap into consumer nostalgia and data-driven insights, giving brands a viral marketing edge. Even B2B Companies like Semrush & CreatorIQ published wrapped-esque LinkedIn posts to present yearly business reviews. It’s a win-win for customer engagement and brand visibility. 🌍💼 (modern retail)

A Sneaky Way to Boost Kids’ Literacy  🤓 Podcasts are emerging as a powerful tool to enhance children's literacy skills. Shows like Story Pirates engage young listeners by dramatizing their own stories, fostering creativity and a love for storytelling. 🌟👧👦 This interactive approach not only entertains but also encourages active participation, which is crucial for developing reading and writing abilities. 🎧📚(vox)

2024’s Hottest Fashion Trend? No Trend At All In 2024, fashion trends were fragmented. While aesthetics like boho chic 🌸, quiet luxury 🤫✨, and Charli XCX’s Brat 🕶️ fueled subcultures, none became universally defining. Industry insiders feel that trends are "over," citing exhaustion from rapid micro-trend cycles fueled by social media 📱 and algorithm-driven hype. As we move into 2025, the fashion industry appears to be shifting away from mass trends toward celebrating individuality and timeless style, emphasizing the unique over the uniform. 🌈 (vogue business)

Stocks Buoyed as ‘Santa Claus Rally’ Period Begins: Markets Wrap As the year-end approaches, markets are enjoying a seasonal boost known as the “Santa Claus Rally.” 🎄📉 Historically, stock markets tend to rise during this period, driven by festive optimism, holiday spending 💳🎁, and institutional adjustments. 🕒💹 (bloomberg)

Walmart Collaborates With Meituan to Boost China E-Commerce Sales Walmart is leveling up in China by collaborating with Meituan, a delivery and e-commerce giant. 📦🤝 This partnership focuses on expanding Walmart’s online reach 🚀 and speeding up delivery services 🚚✨, especially in densely populated urban areas. It’s a strategic move to tap into the country’s fast-growing e-commerce market, which is fiercely competitive. 🌐🛒 (wsj)

L’Oréal Catches New Rising K-Beauty Wave With Dr. G Acquisition L’Oréal’s acquisition of Korean skincare brand Dr. G signals the next big wave in K-beauty. 🌊Known for its dermatology-first approach 🩺🌟, Dr. G adds clinical credibility to L’Oréal’s portfolio. South Korea has long been a thriving ground for the skin care industry, and this acquisition move highlights the growing global demand for innovative skincare solutions rooted in Korean beauty trends. ✨🧖‍♀️  (wwd)

How SharkNinja is Investing in Celebrity and Influencer Marketing Campaigns Home appliance brand SharkNinja is diving headfirst into influencer marketing! 📱🎥 With campaigns featuring celebrities like David Beckham and social media stars, the brand is making waves in the highly competitive market for vacuum cleaners, kitchen gadgets, and more. 🏠⚡ The strategy? Build trust and relatability by showing products in action in everyday settings. 🧼✨ (modern retail)

Fentanyl Almost Killed Michael Brewer. Now He Wants Snap to Pay After almost losing his life to fentanyl, Michael Brewer is suing Snap Inc. 🔗📱, accusing the platform of facilitating illegal drug sales through its messaging feature. 🚨💊 In court, Snap argues it shouldn't be held accountable for the fentanyl crisis, comparing its platform to a phone provider not liable for users' communications. This case spotlights the growing concerns about tech companies’ accountability and the dark side of digital platforms. 🕵️‍♂️🔍  (bloomberg)

David’s Bridal Acquires Video Platform, Launches Media Network David’s Bridal is shaking things up by acquiring a video platform 📺 and launching a media network 📡. The goal? To connect more deeply with digital-savvy brides and offer creative solutions for wedding planning. 💒💐 It’s part of a broader strategy to modernize the brand in a competitive industry. 🎥📸 (chain store age)

Fashion Briefing: The Fashion Industry is Entering its Acquisition Era The fashion world is buzzing with M&A activity as big players buy up smaller, innovative brands. 💰🤝 This trend reflects a shift toward diversification and future-proofing. From luxury giants acquiring sustainable labels 🌱 to retail brands boosting their tech capabilities 🛍️, the industry is entering an era of consolidation. 📦✨ (glossy)

Elon Musk Is Creating His Own Texas Town. Hundreds Already Live There  🏙️ Named “Starbase,” this Texas development is home to hundreds of workers (and many more to come!) and aims to create a self-sustaining community for employees of his companies. 🛠️✨ Most area residents are SpaceX employees or their families, living in company-owned housing near its facilities, including an employee-only restaurant. This whole setup kind of reminds me of a similar situation that The Wonderful Company has in Delano, CA. 🌟🌵 (nyt)

Concept of the Week: 🧠🛋️ Hyperbolic Discounting

The tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones, even when when the immediate reward is less valuable. An example of this would be an online shopper who decides to keep adding items to their shopping cart that they don’t need just to hit the “free shipping” minimum.

Venture Capital/Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

This CEO Wants Her Grocery Store to Become the Sephora of Food Retail A trailblazing CEO- Emily Schmidt, is reimagining grocery shopping by blending high-end aesthetics with curated selections inspired by Sephora’s successful retail model. ✨🛍️ Her innovative approach emphasizes premium, hard-to-find and better-for-you products, a personalized shopping experience, and a focus on wellness trends. The aim? To transform grocery stores into lifestyle destinations where customers don’t just shop—they indulge in a unique experience. Pop Up Grocer plans to expand across the US as younger consumers widely opt for luxury grocery purchases. 🚀🌟 (business insider)

Breastfeeding Can Be Hard and Lonely. These Women Are Trying to Change That Breastfeeding can be challenging and lonely for many women, but a new wave of support is here to change that. 💪💕 From online resources to in-person meetups, advocates are building communities that provide guidance, encouragement, and connection. SimpliFed and the Lactation Network connect parents with insurance-covered lactation consultations 🏥🤱, while Pumpspotting focuses on community support. 🌟💬 Through its app, parents share stories, get advice, and consult lactation experts. This year, Pumpspotting’s colorful "Breast Express Bus" 🚍✨ toured the U.S., offering parents a friendly space to nurse and explore breastfeeding tools. 🍼 🌟🤱 (cnn)

Onyx Motorbikes is back, One Year After its Owner Died Leaving the Company in Shambles Onyx Motorbikes faced a dire future after the sudden death of its founder a year ago, leaving the company in disarray. 💔 But the team persevered, restructuring and reigniting its vision of producing stylish, sustainable electric motorbikes. 🚲🔥 With new leadership, loyal fans, and a commitment to innovation, Onyx is making a triumphant comeback, proving its place in the electric vehicle market. 🌍⚡ (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

How Mars is Modernizing its Marketing Strategy Mars is modernizing its marketing by shifting to digital 📱, using data 📊 and AI 🤖 for personalized experiences and connected brand interactions 🔗. They're also revitalizing their gum portfolio for younger audiences while maintaining core brand messaging 🍫. This involves less TV advertising 📺 and more digital content. 💻 (retail brew)

The 200 Best Inventions of 2024 A celebration of innovation! From groundbreaking tech to life-changing gadgets, these inventions are shaping our future. 🌍🔧💡 (time)

The 9 Next Big Things in Consumer Technology for 2024  From smarter homes to AI-driven gadgets, these trends are set to redefine how we live, work, and play. 🤖🏠🌐 (fast company)

Apple Honors 2024 App Store Award Winners Apple shines a spotlight on the best apps and games of the year, celebrating creativity, innovation, and impact. 🎮✨📲 (apple)

25 Fastest Growing Companies & Startups Meet the trailblazers! These startups are breaking barriers, redefining industries, and driving global growth. 💼🌍🔥 (exploding topics)

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