"Pumpkin Spice" — introduced in 2003 by Starbucks as a limited-run, seasonal latte flavor — has expanded far beyond even food & drink to a completely pervasive, mostly-loved, theme of North American, autumnal culture. To celebrate "National Pumpkin Spice Day", I wanted to reflect on: Why is this flavor/smell/experience so popular?! And, what can we learn about ourselves as shoppers and consumers from the mighty impact of the PSL?
I have long embraced & advocated for seeking out products with longevity & versatility. Buy once, buy to last, don’t be tricked by trends or fast consumption. This is not an innovative concept and I am far from a trailblazer of minimalism! Blogs, Tiktokers, & courses abound on capsule wardrobes & all manner of conscious shopping.
I’ve just finished reading the marvelous book Unreasonable Hospitality, by restauranteur and hospitality enthusiast, Will Guidara. The book is part foodie memoir, part management/business manual, and fully inspiring to creativity & connection. One of the concepts that he discusses is “The Rule of 95/5”: Manage 95 percent of your business down to the penny; spend the last 5 percent “foolishly”.
If you buy something in a store, there is a cost to get there: in time and in gas (or other transportation expenses). If you purchased something to be delivered, there are costs there, too — hidden costs, perhaps, but costs (to somebody) nonetheless. When we think about it all too much, it can get our heads spinning. What is the “true cost” of every dollar I spend, every item I buy?
When I travelled to Bangladesh in January 2020, most of my time was in Dhaka — the capital city and home office location for our production partner, Basha. For two days of the trip, however, I planned to travel to another production centre in another, smaller city. During this time, a Friends of Basha manager and I would visit the local Salvation Army office and go with the leader to “tour” the brothel across the street.
