January 18: the app you need & books you'll want to read in 2024

TODAY IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

WHAT TO EXPECT

• stories — quiet status symbols, FedEx is launching a new e-comm platform, Princess Diana was a style icon

• quote

• extra extra

• get to know — Kristine Locker

• this week’s watch — The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

• recent article — 10 best reads for a strong start to 2024

LIFESTYLE: THE QUIET STATUS SYMBOLS YOU’RE GOING TO BE SEEING EVERYWHERE
Status symbols are no longer huge, in-your-face logos that scream 'expensive’. Now the trend is shifting to a quieter approach even though the items are just as expensive. For instance, the Dyson airwrap, a Le Crueset pot, the Baccarat perfume or the Augustinus Bader skincare — all come with hefty price tags and are status symbols.

BUSINESS: FEDEX IS LAUNCHING AN E-COMMERCE PLATFORM
FDX launches this fall as a new “data-driven commerce platform” that will provide merchants solutions alongside supply chain management data. Folks see this as a move to compete with Amazon but Fedex states that they’re looking to enhance efficiency & cost-effectiveness.

FASHION: 26 PRINCESS DIANA STREET STYLE LOOKS
Princess Diana is the style icon when it comes to fashion and she did not adhere to social standards. She wore everything from a varsity jacket paired with a skirt to blazers paired with denim jeans. Her fashion sense is still relevant and adopted today.

🍚 This pesto risotto with shrimp recipe is a quick 20 minute wonder when you want something simple yet flavorful. Try to avoid cooking it in a teflon coated non-stick pan, especially if it’s got any cracks or scratches.

💻 Remote working can definitely seem like a dream due to the flexibility, but it can be equally (if not more) tough. There are best practices you can refer to so you can truly understand that no one-size-fits-all formula.

💅🏻 Cranberry nails were the holiday nails of 2023, but they’ve carried into 2024 as the Winter shade. Social media influencers like Alix Earle made them even more popular! It’s not a bright red but it’s also not a deep maroon, it’s cranberry and it’s trendy.

Kristine is the founder of Locker, a platform that will forever change they way you shop and discover products online. We loved the platform so much that we had to make our own lockers: Jasmine’s Locker & Sheenu’s Locker. Kristine has raised $1M in funding which is no easy feat and insanely admirable. We had the opportunity to get to know her a little better:

Gazette: Tell us a little about yourself
Kristine: My name is Kristine Locker (yes, my last name is actually Locker!) and I grew up in Los Angeles, CA.  I am the youngest of two girls and our last name, Locker, was going to end when I got married so not only was Locker a perfect name for the company but it was also an ode to my family. I went to college at SMU in Dallas, TX where I studied Real Estate Finance.  My dad is in commercial real estate so I wanted to follow in his footsteps.  I started my career at Goldman Sachs after college and then shifted into a more entrepreneurial role as a commercial real estate broker in Los Angeles.  Throughout my life I have always been considered a “good consumer” as someone who follows the trends, brands and adopts what suits me best.  I have always loved to keep up with brands and their most recent drops - and as I sift through, I share pieces I think any friends and family members would love. After years of making Google spreadsheets to organize and share links, losing screenshots in my phone and texting links back and forth, I decided I needed to leave my successful career in real estate to build a solution: Locker. 

Gazette: Pivoting from real estate to starting a tech company is quite the change. How did you pivot and learn everything you needed to know to start a company?
Kristine: I think no matter what career path you are coming from to starting a company you have a lot to learn becoming a founder. I think no matter what it is really important to always be learning, surround yourself with the right people, don’t be afraid to ask questions and make Google your best friend.  

Gazette: What does an average workday look like?
Kristine: As a founder, we pretty much work 24/7 - it is almost impossible to escape. When I first started building Locker, I used to start working as soon as I woke up riddled with anxiety. As I found my stride, I decided it was critical for me to carve out time for myself in the morning before the day starts.  Each day, I start my morning with a 20-30 minute strength training or pilates sculpt workout on my bedroom floor around 6:30a followed by an hour walk outside, which I use to habit stack and catch up with my mom on the phone or listen to a podcast - and of course answer work Slack messages that have already started coming in from our east coast team members. By 8a, I am in the shower and then at my desk by 8:45a - first things first I get caught up on Slacks and emails.  On any typical day, I have back to back calls with our team, investors and potential investors. I typically try to sign off for about an hour so I can make and eat dinner with my husband and then sign back on for a few more hours before going to bed.  Oh and at some point, I try to read some of whatever book I am currently reading :)  

Gazette: What is your advice for goal-setting, taking action, and then measuring success? How do you deal with failure?
Kristine: Goal-setting and accomplishing goals was a big shift for me post-college. In college you have a very clear structure for setting and achieving goals - for example, I majored in real estate, took the proper classes to graduate, excelled in my classes and ultimately got the job at Goldman Sachs. All of the tasks leading up to ultimately getting my dream job were tangible and provided a clear trajectory towards achieving my goals. As a founder, setting goals feels like trying to chase an ever-moving target - you get to where you thought you wanted to be a month ago and end up raising the bar even higher.  Failure also comes with the territory - but if you aren’t failing, you're not trying hard enough.  With any failure or feeling of defeat, I’ll let myself cry for a beat and then I pick back up right where I left off.  

Gazette: What are some online resources for women who want to start their own business?
Kristine: There are truly so many incredible platforms supporting women in business. A few of my favorites are Dreamers and Doers, Female Founder Collective and Forward Female. Some of the networks have a free tier so you can get a feel for the community. And you can also meet incredible people through cold outreach on LinkedIn.  

Gazette: At Gazette Gal, we’re all about community. How important is “community” at Locker and what are some ways you build community?Kristine: Community is everything - which is why we built Locker as a community-first platform. To help paint a picture for anyone who is not yet familiar with the platform, every single product that is on Locker was saved by a member of the Locker community. A few ways we build community are by treating our everyday users as influencers in their own worlds through social media shoutouts, shopping sprees, and merch gifts. We also plan monthly in-person community events - so far we’ve hosted a collage party, two city walks, and a volunteer cooking event. We also are always inviting our users to share their feedback so we can build Locker alongside our community. We do this through weekly user feedback calls, social media AMAs, DMing with users, personalized newsletters and email correspondence.  We talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to community - it pays off in the end by resulting in a highly loyal community that wants to help you grow.

Gazette: Do you believe in a work-life balance? How can women achieve a balance, personally and professionally, while running a business?
Kristine: I definitely believe in work-life balance but I definitely have not achieved work-life balance in my own life.  As a founder, my wheels are always turning and it can feel impossible (and usually I even feel guilty) to step away from work or shut my brain off to spend time with family and friends. However, I have also realized that in order to actually give Locker my all, I have to carve out time for myself.  For me this looks like protecting my mornings, stepping away from my computer to cook dinner at home with my husband, and having very productive Sundays full of errands and home things. 

Gazette: Where can we find you and connect?
Kristine: @kristinelocker and @wantlocker on IG, TikTok and of course creating an account on Locker (www.wantlocker.com) and Locker in the Apple App Store. 

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KRISTINE, CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLE:

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society is a novel turned film starring Lily James and Michiel Huisman. In 1946 London, a writer visits the island of Guernsey which is occupied by the Germans at the time. The writer who is engaged visits the island to learn about the society when she ends up falling for one of the members. This is an old-fashioned romantic film that’s ideal to watch on a Friday evening or for date night! You can watch it on Netflix