Hi Reader,

This is an announcement about our upcoming availability, and why you should care! If you've been thinking about hiring us someday, please read on. If you know someone who could use our help, please introduce them to me over email.

Both during the pandemic and now during this unusual economic time of tariffs and policy changes, I'm noticing a "survival of the fittest" situation for small businesses. My team and I see that businesses without a strong brand, smart website, and solid traffic-generating systems are holding back now. My concern is that holding back too long will be to your detriment. And my team is here to help you with all three things.

Many businesses didn't make it through the pandemic. If you did, first go ahead and be proud of yourself. That was a lot of work! And you truly must have built a resilient business that your customers value.

The next step will be to ensure your business navigates through whatever is currently happening. I know it is hard to figure out what to prioritize for a busy retail business. Sometimes the website falls to the back burner. Shop owners have checked in with us about an urgent website redesign before, only for it to take a year or so before they commit to begin the work.

During that year, their website gets more out of date, harder to use, and sales suffer. The opportunity cost of delaying can really hurt. Especially when you lose your customers' trust and interest, or are outpaced by a competitor. My team is here to make sure that doesn't happen to you!

We are now booking projects for October, November, and January.

Here are the reasons it makes sense to sign on with my team in October, and make sure you're putting your best foot forward in 2026:

We still have time to work on your top priority tasks before Black Friday and Cyber Monday -- usually the most important sales season for ecommerce businesses.
If you don't have time for a big project this fall, consider planning one with us in January. We'll sneak you in for a little pre-project work now to maximize your BFCM sales.
Many people contact us in January to make their 2026 goals work out. Our busy call schedule then means that it can be hard to get off to a quick start. Beat the rush by making plans now so you can get started right away after the holiday hubbub dies down.
We were recently certified as Shopify Plus partners, demonstrating our capability to work on complex projects for enterprise brands. We are happy to keep providing smaller projects now as we transition to this more involved work.
People often like to get a down payment on the books for tax purposes. If you'd like to keep more 2025 money from the taxman, we're glad to structure your payments in a way that works for you.
The next couple of months will be your last chance to book a project at our lower 2025 rates. Each January, we review how we've improved our skills, the value/ROI we've brought to shop owners, and inflation, to be sure we're able to sustain our team. Lock in our lowest rates now, even if you plan to start next year.
Every month with a low conversion rate, average order value, and customers that bounce without signing up for your mailing list is a missed opportunity. Turn more of your traffic into sales by working on your website strategy sooner rather than later.

Normally, I don't like to be pushy. But I've seen the costs that come with waiting, and my team is here poised to keep you afloat. So consider this your friendly nudge that a website is never done. Successful ecommerce brands are actively working on their websites at all times. Join us!

Q&A

Here's a reader question about the differences between a project fee and a retainer model:

Q: What's the difference between doing a project with Aeolidia and working with you on retainer?

A: A project with us is a focused, flat-rate engagement, ideal for when your site needs a full redesign or rebuild. We plan it carefully, complete the work, and launch your new site as a defined deliverable.

A retainer, on the other hand, is a smart choice once your site is already in good shape and you want ongoing support. Retainers let us continually refine your existing site: fixing accessibility or design inconsistencies, improving performance, and making data-driven updates over time.

Many of the high-traffic brands we work with stay on retainer with us after launch so we can keep optimizing for marketing campaigns, run A/B tests, and respond quickly as their shops grow. It’s a great way to keep your site evolving with your brand.

We're also able to meet you on retainer to solve a bunch of issues at once: your wishlist for your site, plus email marketing and maybe SEO. Rather than fully redesign, we just put our attention where it's most needed. Right before the holidays is a great time for this!

Question: Answered

Our team includes experts in branding, design, development, email & SMS/text marketing, search engine optimization, copywriting, conversion optimization, ecommerce strategy, business growth, and more. Have a question for us? Email back, and I'll consult one of our experts and share one weekly response over email.

Interesting Clickables

⚓️ Read past issues of Aeolidia's newsletter here

Pinterest is rolling out new features for retailers and shoppers alike, including Top of Search ads that showcase products where people start browsing, local inventory ads to highlight what’s in stock nearby, and tools that make it easier for brands to manage campaigns. With more Gen Z users turning to Pinterest for shopping inspiration, these updates could help small retailers connect with customers earlier in their buying journey.
Wondering how to make your marketing more strategic and cohesive? This article from Shopify breaks down the 7 P’s of the retail marketing mix, sharing how product, price, place, promotion, people, process, and presentation can strengthen your brand and drive more sales.
It might feel early to think about 2026, but the new Woodland Magic Wall Calendar from Little Truths Studio just launched and it’s too good to wait! Filled with vibrant artwork and forest charm, it’s an inspiring way to bring a little everyday magic to your year ahead.

In the Aeolidia Portfolio

A Shopify site for Little Apple Treats.

For Little Apple Treats, Aeolidia built a unified retail and wholesale presence that captures the brand’s vibrant, artisanal spirit. We redesigned their retail site, replicated it as a dedicated wholesale portal, and introduced bold visual language, custom icons, curated packaging, smart cart upsells, and subscription options to increase average order value and customer lifetime value. The result? A cohesive brand experience that supports growth across all channels and lets the deliciousness of their products shine through.

VIEW CASE STUDY

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