The holiday rush came roaring back and, for a weekend, the mall felt alive again. We landed a two-week pop-up at the Bangor Mall, solved a tough layout challenge, and ended up with a space that felt like our own shop—clean sightlines, a long counter for checkout, and room for people to browse without bumping shoulders. Pair that with neighbors selling handcrafted American flags and our tees hanging in the windows all week, and we saw what seasonal storefronts can do: bring community into the brand and remind us why relationship retail matters.
We share the small wins that add up to real momentum: doubling last year’s numbers at the same event, reconnecting with loyal families who show up every time, and feeling the old-school buzz of busy hallways and shared smiles. That energy sparked bigger thinking. A full-time shop may not fit our model, but strategic pop-ups during the right seasons could blend the best of brick-and-mortar and e-commerce—deep relationships in person and lasting connections online. We talk candidly about planning for lean months, restocking smart, and choosing events that match our audience instead of chasing every fair on the map.
Then we turn to something heavier and more important. The headlines about a young pro athlete’s death by suicide shook us, and a recent night of worry for someone close brought the topic home. We unpack a simple “onion” approach to mental health: start with the people at your center and work outward, checking in with real questions and real time. Tell folks you love them. Tell them you want them to stay. Make space for “I’m not okay” without judgment. It’s not about fixing everything—it’s about being there long enough for hope to return.
If this resonated, share it with someone who needs the reminder, leave a review to help more listeners find the show, and hit follow so you don’t miss what’s next. And if you need someone to listen, reach out. It’s okay to not be okay—and you don’t have to carry it alone.
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