Heading into Small Business Saturday, I always take time to reflect on the past year. 2022 brought us ups, downs, uncertainties, and milestones - all of them have taught us something during another unpredictable year. And through it all, you were there holding us up, reminding us to keep going, and solidifying how strong this community is.

It was an exciting year filled with new opportunities and even more growth. This fall, we opened our second popup in the desert, this time in Palm Springs! We’re beyond excited to have a presence in one of our favorite cities, a place that’s felt like a second home. Our friends Emily and Lora of LOREM made the most beautiful custom fixtures for the shop that sits inside the Mojave Flea. We also celebrated our one-year anniversary at Prism Yucca Valley. 

Getting fully back into the swing of events, we had some really special ones where we got to meet some amazing women. The first was our Terracasa Affiliate Retreat at my rental in Yucca Valley where we had time to connect with our affiliate team. The next was the Ladies Night Panel at Compound. We were honored with the women who sat on our panel and the women who were in attendance. Unfortunately, the Compound has since closed, but I’m so proud of the turnout and that we did everything we could to try and keep it open. 

We’ve poured even more of ourselves into seeking out and adding new brands, artists, and makers to our ever-growing roster. I have mostly our amazing buyer, Alyssa, to thank for that. She’s been with us for 7 years and has been my rock - especially during the last couple of years and I’m so thankful for her. She and I went on our first buying trip to NYC this fall (get ready for some amazing stuff this spring!); we continued with our Marketplace Collection to give artists and makers a platform to sell their work; and we teamed up with Ceremony ChainStitch and Large Lemonade on some really cool vintage collabs.

Aside from all the good that’s happened, this year’s definitely been about survival. We’ve had to adjust to the aftereffects of the e-commerce boom that the pandemic brought and the effects of inflation. None of this could have been accomplished without my amazing team. The women who work in the boutique and who run the show from behind the scenes are who’ve kept Prism in motion; working so hard and staying nimble to adapt to all the changes that get thrown our way. 

Overall, I’m just so thankful for another year doing what I love and living out my lifelong dream, and getting the chance to support other women, independent brands, small businesses, and our amazing Long Beach community. Shopping small is so important during the holidays and when you shop at Prism, you’re keeping the livelihoods of the over 50 brands, artists, and makers we stock alive. 

Thank you for continuing to love, support, and inspire us. I’m wishing you & yours the happiest holiday season!