it's personal: the new savant cofounder and ceo
erica anderson on what's more interesting than the weather
welcome back to “it’s personal” — where we’ll get personal with some of my favorite people to hear what they’re talking about that isn’t the weather.
it’s personal with the cofounder and ceo of the new savant (@thenewsavant), erica anderson…
a note from kaylee: making cozy scents for busy lives, the new savant makes some of my favorite candle scents. their notes (rich espresso, crisp hay, dried cornflowers) + descriptions (“countryside cottage on a wet spring day with a warm cup of teai n your hands”) transport me to the scene of the “crime” aka being bundled up with a blanket and a book. you can use code ‘stratabites’ for 15% off to be ~transported~ too.
things erica is listening to:
gigi perez who i’ll be seeing soon in nyc!
this new savant spotify playlist, witching hour, is on repeat. the team made it for our spooky season candle which dropped 10/1 at midnight. if you are into dark glamour, midnight energy and a set of songs to set the mood, this is for you!
the podcast exes & o’s, with shannon beveridge. unpretentious, free flowing (and informative) convos with lesbian and non-binary notables in art/music/entertainment. i love getting a look into queer lives like nikki hiltz, g flip and fletcher.
my intuition. one of the hardest aspects of building a business is slowing down to set the conditions to speed up. this year we started to fundraise, and because of that ~pesky~ voice of intuition, we turned down a huge check (didn’t feel right), turned down a huge collab (didn’t feel right), but we also had some major wins (our first angel checks, our first national retail order and two official, incredible advisors). when the external noise is loud, my intuition can be hard for me to hear, so it’s an ongoing practice and one i continue to hone. it’s the difference maker, in all aspects of my life.
things erica is reading:
out of your league by frankie de la cretaz on substack. It’s one of the voices I trust for smart takes on women’s sports.
frighten the horses by oliver radclyffe, a memoir about coming out trans later in life. essays and memoirs are my favorite genres because they give me insight into other people’s lives, which expands my understanding, view and appreciation of the world.
product labels from sol de janiero, aesop, bioderma and others. we’re working on our first non-candle product and the labeling aspect is so important, i had an advisor tell me to outsource it (she’s probably right!) but we just don’t have big budgets yet, so we’re doing it all in house. i now have a new appreciation for all the fine print.
artist’s way, by julia cameron. in 2019 i did it with a group of friends and it helped me summon the courage to leave google. i now see how it also helped me to start the new savant in 2020. now that i’m a full-time founder, it’s helping me to get out of my head and (back) into my intuition.
things in erica’s cart:
a getaway to urban cowboy in the catskills!
i’m a longtime wnba fan, but i’ve never bought an athlete’s sneakers. i like jewell loyd’s customized sneakers (air zoom gt cut 3 ‘justice’) tbh i should pull the trigger!
nopalera cactus bar soap. i just can’t get over how soft this makes my skin. key ingredient is cactus; and the founder, sandra velasquez, is one of the boldest, clear-minded and generous founders i know.
things erica is making:
so many things from salt fat acid heat! conveyor belt chicken, citrus salmon, vegetables made all six ways. this book continues to teach me new skills and i appreciate samin nosrat, and this book, for that.
a new fragrance product for the new savant. i’m currently testing a version of it at home. i’m obsessed. it’s a woody citrus scent, and we’re intentionally adding a higher fragrance load so that it lasts longer. it drops this december for our four-year business anniversary
my house a home! last year i bought a tiny park slope co-op, thanks to the proceeds i made from selling my twitter stock (side note, because financial transparency is important: i was an employee pre-ipo and sold my stock, then i held onto it - thanks vanguard - until i knew where i wanted to live). now, as a steward of this 100-year old apartment, i take comfort in maintaining it from painting to caulking to closing holes, and rewiring electrical. i do it all (thanks youtube) and i love it.
things erica is *swooning* over:
generation women by georgia clarke. I’m all about experiences and this monthly show at Joe’s Pub is special. It’s a multigenerational night of stories from women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. the format is so good and the stories will make you laugh/cry/cringe. go with your friends! it’s the best!
my girlfriend. i met her by chance after a wnba game last year. every time i consider all the things that had to perfectly align for us to meet, i am shook. swooon. city.
***
follow along socially on @stratabites; have a pitch? email stratabites@substack.com