Hello, Goodbye

It's been a busy, buzzing few months in shop land, and we've hit the ground running this new year. So, what's changed in our world recently?

The last months of 2022 flew by in a blur. Sal & I both managed proper holidays for the first time in a long time (see our holiday album below), we grew our team, staged our biggest photoshoot to date with some of our favourite faces, and poured many a glass of bubbles at the annual Christmas Shopping Night in early December. The festive season crept up quickly (thanks to a pre-Christmas COVID break for me) and suddenly we're starting February and the holidays have slipped past us. 

What were the hot ticket items this Summer? How did our new team go? And what's on the cards for 2023? Keep reading to find out!

If you're a long-time reader of our blog, you would know that I love some statistics, and as the crowds have dwindled this week and our sleepy seaside town has returned to normal, I've spent some time studying the numbers.

Over the past six months, we increased our Louenhide budget by roughly 65%, and in return you guys cleaned us out of almost every handbag, purse and travel bag as quickly as we could unpack them. In December alone, over 140 Louenhide pieces flew out our door - maybe something found its way to you!

Our bag collection currently looks fairly sad as a result, but sit tight as the new season isn't too far away! New colours, new textures and new shapes await - keep your eyes peeled on our newsletter and socials for the Autumn/Winter debut.

Palm Beach absolutely boomed in December, and we moved through almost four times our monthly average in the lead up to Christmas. It is one of our most popular gifting options (with FinerRings following closely behind), so it's no surprise it dominates in peak gifting season.

Over 100 heads have found new hats in the past two months, and a similar number of feet found their Freedom Moses match, too. In fact, it's been our biggest summer slide season ever, and we're hopeful that there's still plenty of warm weather to come in February. Core colours will be sticking around for a while so if you're yet to try a pair, or you'd like to add to your collection, pop in and see us and we'll find your perfect fit.

It probably won't be a surprise that our top performing label after December and January is Betty Basics. We've raved for years about their linen/viscose capsule collections because we love their easy care nature and repeat wear potential, and it seems you all do too! Versatile, low-effort style is our bread and butter at Salt & Sand, and Betty always delivers this in spades.

In good news, their Autumn/Winter collections this year are some of the best we've seen, and I can't wait for the next few months of new arrivals. Think ribbed long sleeves, statement vests and coats, plus plenty of sweats and joggers to see you through every day of the week. 

Beyond Betty, Staple the Label only gets better with every collection, and I think they've really hit their stride this AW season. Trying to narrow my selections when ordering for the next couple of months was no easy feat! There's also plenty to love from SASS, Fate + Becker, Humidity Lifestyle and Nude Lucy too - cosy coats, comfy trackies, some really sharp blazers, and beautiful knitwear for the cold weather ahead.

We're also looking forward to another year with our brilliant team! Last year, we farewelled Elora to sunny Queensland in May, and for a couple of months it was just Sal & I on deck. Once Spring arrived, we welcomed Donalda onto the team, and boy, were we lucky to find her! She's slotted into our shop family so naturally, encouraged me to think about things in different ways, and befriended so many of you over the last couple of months. Staffing is one of the most challenging aspects of small business, so I feel incredibly grateful to have found someone who ticks all the boxes and more.

We also welcomed Abby to the team, and her sunshiney demeanor has brightened the store since her arrival. She's wise beyond her years, and a natural people person. Add our returning junior favourites Jayde and Marnie to the mix, and we had a bumper team that were a joy to work with, and hopefully made your shopping days fun, too.

Jayde and Marnie have headed back to school this week, but you'll still see them on weekends until the netball season gets underway. For the rest of the week, you'll find Donalda, Abby, Sal or myself in store to help you, and you're in very capable hands no matter who is behind the counter. After blitzing their first Summer season, it feels like Donalda and Abby have been there for years, and I can't wait to see them continue to shine over the next few months. 

This year will see me spend a little more time away from the store, and as nerve-wracking as it is to leave my shop baby and step back, I couldn't have found a better team to trust in my absence. And frankly, they're probably happy if I back off a bit and stop helicoptering around anyway...

We're very proud of another year in small business, and incredibly grateful to each and every one of you who keep our door open, and big smiles on our faces. Thank you for shopping small with us, it means the world. We'll do our best to keep bringing you affordable, versatile pieces in 2023 and beyond! And know that we're always up for a chat, too.

So long 2022, and welcome 2023! We can't wait to see what this year brings!