2019 | Year in Review
Tiffany Joy Photography
This year was all about the big picture.
I’ve been moving forward steadily with SS over the past few years, but challenged myself to think broader — beyond what’s expected and what makes perfect sense — to try some new things that would not only excite my customers, but excite me creatively. To take a few risks with new products, ideas, and experiences — which all seemed to appear and fall into place at just the right time. I really credit this to being open; last year I was very growth-focused, and that gave me the space to play and be creative this year. One of my favorite experiences was working with Brewella’s on creating the S.S. Brewella, which was a nautical, summer themed experience in their cafe. We brought both of our aesthetics to the table and created every element together, from the nautical decor to the seasonal menu, to a few exclusive products and a customized portrait of their mascot. I had so much fun working on everything with their team, and it really lit my creative fire.
That energy rolled right into fall, when I launched the SEAcret Society spooky capsule collection, which came from inspiration that I’ve had floating in my head for quite some time. A range of brand new products and fall accessories launched on Friday the 13th with secret password access, given only to those signed up for the newsletter. Over 400 people signed up for the list to experience the launch, which was SO exciting since I had no idea how it would go! It felt like a bit of a risk, but the success of it made me even more confident and motivated to try some new things in 2020.
This year, I also enjoyed working with Progressive as a partner in their Boat Club, and sharing more with you all about our second year on the water. We had an amazing summer and can’t wait to get back out there! I was also thrilled to work with J.Crew on the grand opening of their Pinecrest location, and popped up with my products at their opening party. We did a second pop-up together at the Crocker Park store which was so fun, they have such a great team!
I really love doing events like those — one thing I focused on this year was not overcommitting myself with markets and events, which vastly improved my stress levels, especially at the holidays. Last holiday season, I think I did around 10 events in 5 weeks (whyyyyy), and as much as I love to hustle, I was exhausted. I’ve focused on doing fewer events and using other methods to achieve my goals via online sales, and it’s made me a much better person to be around ;)
On the homefront, we celebrated our house’s 100th birthday and got our official century home sticker from the city of Lakewood. It was so fun to go back and share our home’s transformation with you guys through our #Home100 posts here and on Instagram. We’ve been renovating it from top to bottom over the past seven years, and to top it off, we tackled our front porch renovation this summer. It was a pretty big project and included new steps, new porch floor, storm door, furniture, and a fresh coat of paint. It looks amazing and we’re so excited that our house is looking good and is prepped for the next 100 years!
We traveled a bit less than usual this year, while focusing on finishing the house, but had a blast on our trip to Harbour Island in March. That little island is one special place, we absolutely loved it. We’re using our holiday break to plan our travel for this upcoming year, and I’m excited about the few spots we have in the works! After a busy and productive year, we’re definitely looking forward to exploring some new places together.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations (haha) and my sincerest thanks for being a part of another year of SS with me. I’ve met so many incredible people through this venture and many of them came into my life this year, and changed me for the better. Being a part of a community with so many amazing collaborators, customers, and supporters is not something I take for granted. Cheers to you all, and to a fresh year (and decade) ahead!
