Today, I share some November updates, including what's ahead for 2022. More at www.bemovingforward.com.
Moving Forward is also available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
November updates
As we near the end of the season and head into the holidays, I wanted to provide some updates and a look at what's ahead.
Poshmark book
The proposal for my book on Poshmark is finished and in the hands of my agent. Shout out to Jen Chen Tran for all of her hard work in helping me shape the proposal. Now, she is in the process of sending it out to editors at publishers along with an introduction letter. The next step for me is one of the hardest. Waiting. That said, I'm grateful to be at this stage and to see what happens next. Fingers crossed. You can also check out my new bio page on Jen's client website.
Next book
I'm already thinking ahead to my next book and will start working on that proposal soon. In the next season on the podcast, I'll be covering this in greater detail. I'll also devote an episode or miniseries breaking down the major differences between self-publishing and the traditional route.
Speaking of writing, I've been engaging a lot more with the writing community on Twitter. Follow #writingcommunity to connect with authors, editors, and other professionals in the space. It's a very supportive community and a great way to share and connect with fellow writers.
Poshmark
With regards to Poshmark, there have been some recent updates to both the platform and the larger business model. Platform-wise, Poshmark has been developing greater customer-relationship-management (CRM) tools for sellers to get a better understanding of their closets.
Platform
My Shoppers (within My Seller Tools): This new feature allows sellers to engage with potential customers based on "likes." As covered on the miniseries, likes are one of the most common touch points between buyer and seller. My Shoppers allows sellers to take a like and nurture it into a relationship and potential sale. From there, you can create bundles, send offers, and post comments. I'll be diving deeper into this feature on a future episode.
My Closet Insights (within My Seller Tools): This section provides sellers with a snapshot of their closet's performance, including best-selling brands within their listings, buyer demographics, and other sales metrics. The page provides charts and graphs giving sellers a visual 10,000 foot view of how their store is performing which can help with goal setting and planning. I'll be breaking down this feature in greater detail on a future episode.
Business
Poshmark is recognizing a shift within its user base. In 2018, we were one of the first small businesses to use Poshmark as an ecommerce solution for a brick-and-mortar retail shop. Today, more small businesses are on the platform and its millions of buyers have now attracted larger brands. In response, Poshmark has opened its platform to larger businesses, including name brands to sell and market on the platform. As I've talked about on the miniseries, Poshmark's business model works for both solo-sellers and established businesses looking to grow their businesses online.
Supply chain
If you've been keeping up with the news or the many jokes on social media, the phrase "supply chain shortage" has become a part of our daily lexicon. However, it's not just a broad economic headline or a meme. We're experiencing real shortages on the shelves. I've recently noticed that staples like frozen breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and even ubiquitous items like potato chips and potato salad (I recently had a craving for the later) are harder to come by. This squeeze is the result of a national shortage of drivers, shortages in raw materials, a glut of transport carriers stuck at ports, and rising costs due to inflation. As we head into the holiday season and into 2022, I expect this will get tougher before it gets easier.
What's ahead in 2022
As we approach the end of the year, here's what's ahead for the podcast. Next week, will be a Thanksgiving holiday special, the first I've ever done on the show. I'm looking forward to sharing something lighthearted and fun with you. There will be no episode the week after, which is Thanksgiving. Moving Forward will resume the first week of December and I'll wrap up the season with details on season 9's release date then.
I'm also mindful that I'm that much closer to the end of Moving Forward. A while back, I mentioned that I have an exit planned for the show. While I'm not close enough yet to start packing up the virtual boxes, the other side of the tunnel is much more in view than at the start of 2021. When I launched the podcast in 2015, I didn't have an exit in mind. I just started and kept going on the fly. These days, I look at the exit in almost everything I do and that includes this podcast. I think of Moving Forward with the same mindset as my writing. I apply the classic arc: a beginning, middle, and end. Right now, I'm past the midpoint and while I have more chapters to write, I'm aware that the end is that much closer. I'm glad that I've been able to take this journey and look forward to sharing more with you in the coming season. I'm not quite ready to announce when the show will end, but you'll be the first to know when I do.
In the meantime, have a great rest of your week, stay safe, and I'll be back with some Thanksgiving cheer on episode 364.
Check out the Moving Forward mini-series collection
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