The Year of Growth: Reflecting on Wins, Lessons, and What’s Next

As I close out 2024, I’m taking a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come and all that I’ve learned. This year has been transformative—not just for me but for my brand, ‘97 Appeal. Every challenge, win, and lesson has shaped me into a better business owner and brought my vision into sharper focus.

One of the biggest changes this year was rebranding from 1997 Appeal Clothing to ‘97 Appeal. This wasn’t just a name change—it was a refinement of what my brand represents. ‘97 Appeal is about reflecting where I’ve come from while keeping an eye on the future. It’s a name that captures the essence of my journey and resonates with the story I’m telling through my work.

No When I purchased my mobile clothing store in 2023, I envisioned building something that could connect with people on a personal level. This year, that vision came to life as I traveled to new places, met incredible people, and saw my brand grow in ways I hadn’t imagined. But growth also came with lessons. Operating in a city with long winters and snow made running a mobile store challenging. Finding locations with good foot traffic and parking wasn’t always easy, but those challenges pushed me to strengthen my online presence and improve my branding.

This year, I invested in upgrading my camera equipment, became more consistent with posting, and started this blog to connect with you in a deeper way. I’ve also doubled down on the production side of my brand. Early in the year, I purchased an embroidery machine, but I eventually sold it. Embroidery is still something I want to bring in-house—I know it’s part of the future I envision for ‘97 Appeal.

In the meantime, I made other key investments to elevate my production process. I purchased a commercial direct-to-film printer and a hat press, giving me more creative freedom and the ability to expand my offerings. I’m also planning to use my sewing machine more often, sewing my own samples to streamline my creative process and bring my ideas to life faster.

As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited to lean into more photoshoots and cinematography to better share my brand’s message. Visual storytelling will be a major focus for me this year, and I can’t wait to show you what’s in store. I’m also planning to triple the product drops I had this year and continue to improve in every area, from content creation to production.

This year wasn’t about failures—it was about learning, adapting, and finding new ways to win. To everyone who’s supported ‘97 Appeal—thank you. Whether you’ve shopped with me, shared a post, or simply followed along, your support means everything. Here’s to more growth, more wins, and more connections in 2025.

Let’s make this next chapter unforgettable.