November 22nd, 2023:

This week in tabs: Here's what's new in commerce and culture

Happy Thanksgiving thingtesters!

Beyonce's fragrance has finally arrived, and consumers have a lot to say about it. It's currently available for purchase on parfum.beyonce.com for $160, and is described as having notes of clementine and golden honey. However, the one flaw that keeps echoing among consumers is that the packaging does not match "the vibe" of the perfume.

Kim Kardashian must love hot sauce, because her private equity firm, SKKY, took a minority stake in hot sauce startup Truff more than a year ago. Since then, Truff has entered its next phase of growth, specifically in product differentiation opportunities and pop culture marketing tactics. Over the past year, Truff has partnered with Taco Bell, Hidden Valley Ranch, and just released a limited-edition trio of sauces for the release of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros Movie. With Kim Kardashian's help, anything is possible, so I'm excited to see where Truff expands to next.

Have you ever held a baby and thought to yourself, "I wish I could bottle this scent!" Well...apparently a lot of companies have had that same thought, and for $230, you too can buy Dior's new Bonne Étoile scented water fragrance for babies. I never thought there would be a day when expensive children's perfumes would be a hot new product, but I'm constantly surprised by what people choose to spend their money on. Dior is not the only company tapping into this new children's fragrance market: Hermés, Jacadi Paris, Bulgari, and Macy's all sell perfumes designed for children. If someone does buy Dior's $230 water fragrance for babies, I'd love to hear your product review.

D2C powerhouse Boll & Branch is moving to grow its physical presence. The company just opened its new Dallas flagship and has intense plans to expand its physical retail footprint. Boll & Branch had 3 stores going into this year and opened 3 more in the last 2 months. Currently, the plan is to open 8 more locations in 2024 and 10 in 2025. Personally, I love Boll & Branch products, and I love any opportunity to lay on a luxurious bed in a retail store, so this is perfect in my eyes.

Have a lovely holiday!