Black Friday & the 7-Year Dishwasher

November 23, 2012

Recently, my sister-in-law was in the market for a new dishwasher. This shocked me, knowing that they had only moved into their new-build home in 2006. Really? A new dishwasher, already? Come on, I thought. And, as it turned out, so did she. But, the thing just wasn’t working effectively after many repairs, so she had finally embarked on a quest for her next, lifelong, dishwasher.

“Which model should I choose to last, because I don’t want to be back here again any time soon,” she asked the appliance salesperson.

His reply?

“Oh, I’d say that a typical lifespan of a dishwasher made this decade is about 7 years.”

!!!

Sad, but, apparently, true.

The best advice that I have ever heard about “stuff”, and shopping for it, is this:

Good. Beautiful. True.

A former professor at my husband’s alma mater said that in his family, they had decided to only bring an item into their home if it fit into the parameters of something that is Good, Beautiful, or True.

This has become a very real mantra in my life, my home, and my wallet (I have even heard of others who, having heard this advice, wrote these words directly onto their credit card!). I can’t say that I am 100% effective at implementing it – ask my daughter, who has convincingly begged me to allow in more than a few annoying, cheaply made junk toys, to her great delight – but, it has absolutely informed the way I think about shopping in general, and especially about the things I want to keep in my life & home.

It has also been a key mindset for my business, as I’ve sourced & stocked dignify.ca, and as I’ve purchased everything else needed to effectively operate it.

Today, on Black Friday, I encourage you to steer away from the “7-Year dishwashers” and their ilk, and choose instead stuff that means Goodness, Beauty, & Truth.

Here are some of my top picks:

- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Store

- Olive Manna: textile & paper goods

- Art, from society6, poster cabaret, etsy, etc.

- Who am I kidding? dignify.ca

- Don't shop at all; I'm sure that you have lots of great stuff already ;)

(one of my faves, Alberta homeboy Tim Okamura)

- SJ

Also in Shop Good Blog

Dress Every Day to Feel Good

January 30, 2020 1 Comment

I was inspired by a goal that Elise Joy (goal-setter extraordinaire) set for herself for 2020: "Get dressed (in an outfit I feel good in) every day."

In Bangladesh, there are some cultural “rules” about what to wear that is appropriate. This amounts, basically, to covering your curves: two layers over your chest and rear. When I was there for a week, I essentially wore the same thing every day (a long, plain navy, cotton tunic, as well as a scarf). That had its own benefits (the ease of a "uniform"!), but I was also thrilled to come home and wear what I wanted to again.

But, with the freedom to wear whatever I wanted, the question came: what did I want to wear?

Growing Pains

January 24, 2020 1 Comment

One subject I find really interesting is learning some behind-the-scenes of business and marketing. I've written before about how online brands use email subscriptions, discounts, and scarcity tactics to sell and grow. Some elements can be manipulative, but overall, I am just fascinated by how all of these hidden intricacies work.

In e-commerce businesses (retail stores that are all online) like mine, it is common to grow for the sake of growing. More sales, more staff, more products… isn’t that the definition of success?

Looking for a Good Book? Books to Give or Read this Holiday Season.

December 14, 2019

Book Club

Listen, I know that there are book lists for DAYS out there. This is another one, and I'm not pretending otherwise! It is completely biased and based on nothing other than what I have read recently. I love to read, I love to receive recommendations, and I love to share the books that I've enjoyed with others.

Every one of these books is my recommendation to YOU, but there are also ideas of other people in your life who might enjoy them. 😉 Comment below or fire me an email with your own best, recent reads!