By: Eden Hensley; Photos by: Justin Hackworth for Alt Summit
Alt Summit Winter 2015 is 60 days from now (well actually it is 61 days but who is counting that precisely?). Can you feel the anticipation building? I can.
I do not know about you, but I race down the stairs every time I hear the mailman, excited to see what surprises Alt Summit Winter 2015 sponsors have in store for us.
I am in awe of the time each has put into selecting a gift that captures the spirit of the conference and the community. Kirkland’s delivered chalkboard easels for counting down the days or chalkboard canisters for keeping business card DIYs safe from curious toddlers. Minted provided stationery for us to express appreciation and gratitude this holiday season. Flipboard supplied notebooks where we could jot down takeaways in sessions or secure exchanged business cards from Flipboard. And there is still more to come!
How are you showing your appreciation for brands you work with? Creatives you collaborate with? A shout out on social media or featuring someone’s work you admire on your blog are simple ways you can say thank you and strengthen your community.
Be sure to search #AltSummit on Instagram to see some of the thoughtful gifts our sponsors are sending in advance of meeting in person in January. And if you love what your postal service worker has left in your mailbox, please share and tag #AltSummit so that we can see too (and possibly reshare!).
For anyone who is experiencing a few butterflies in their stomach, worried about what to wear, or struggling with the idea of an elevator pitch, these stories and advice from a few of our speakers should help:
- Alexandra V. Evjen of AVE Styles, a first-time speaker this past summer who is returning to speak this January shares her journey.
- Sara Downey Robinson of Meanest Look, a first-time attendee this past January who will be speaking for the first time this coming January gives six tips for easing your anxiety.
- Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society, a two-time speaker who will be once again be speaking explains why a stylist is not going to win best dressed at Alt Summit and why that is ok.
Got a story about your first Alt Summit that you would like shared? Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #altsummit_myfirsttime. We may include your first time adventure, tips, or revelations in an upcoming round up post.