35: Small World
Cheesecake, TikTok, and optimism.
Welcome to Small World, a series where I share all of my favorite things from the last month.
Good morning! I’m back with a new Small World. In today’s letter, we’re talking about cheesecake, some new-to-me small brands, and a new edition of Small Print, where I share all of the latest small business news with you.
This week has felt a little bleak, so I’m starting to work on holiday gift guides (I know, I know). If you have thoughts about what you’d like to see included this year, DM me.
I managed to snag a seconds sale chunky mug from Hotel Ceramics and I’ve been using it everyday
The tomato colorway is so good I have been listening to nothing but Black Moth Super Rainbow (their new album and old stuff too) since I saw them live again last month
I was in DC over Labor Day weekend and am still thinking about the dumplings I had from Lapis
Everyone I know is apparently a Virgo because I’ve been celebrating friends’ birthdays nonstop this month – I enjoyed sewing a couple of these bouquet bags for their gifts using this tutorial
I upcycled some canvas tote bags for these projects, very beginner friendly Related: I think Kyle’s Cakes N’at has possibly created the best cheesecake on earth
Small Print is a new section of Small World, where I share all of the latest small business news from the last month.
A framework deal for the TikTok sale has reportedly been agreed upon that would “have an American-dominated board with one member designated by the U.S. government”, which by definition is state media so… yeah, no thanks.
So much tariff news, so little time:
The Supreme Court is hearing an appeals case on tariffs during the first week of November
In the meantime, the de minimis exemption is officially gone and it’s creating chaos and uncertainty for small business owners
Beware of new brokerage charges from FedEx, UPS and DHL
If you’re looking to manufacture enamel pins, keychains, or washi tape, Alchemy Merch is covering all tariff fees for orders to the US
As Google’s AI overviews (which I hate btw) become more popular, you may need to start rethinking your SEO strategy if you have a small business
Economists are now saying ICE raids are responsible for a small business worker shortage
On the surface, it looks like small business optimism rose again in August, but when you look more closely at the data, you’ll see it’s being driven by expectations of a higher sales volume leading up to the holiday season – if you’re a small business owner, I’m curious how you feel about this?
To end on a lighter note, here are a few small brands I discovered this month:
Look at these lamps from Martina Thornhill
And also this plate from Nonporous Ceramics
And lastly, these very charming pieces by Toledo Jewelry
Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.
All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.
