Curio Research Quarterly Vol. 28

I advised you not to rake your leaves in the fall to help pollinators survive the winter. Now that spring is here, have you considered not mowing your lawn? At least until the end of May (#NoMowMay)? Flowering plants that we traditionally classify as weeds, like dandelions, are an essential early food source for many of the same pollinators. Take a break! You don’t have to rake your leaves in the fall or mow your lawn in the spring. Think about what else you can do with that time and effort, like taking a walk and smelling the flowers/weeds.

Business

Work

I delivered the cross-event report for the online retail client I was working on through Suzy. It’s nice to have that project tied up in a neat little bow. Now, on behalf of Kalamuna, I’m starting a quick and dirty remote usability test for a civic organization on a tight deadline.

If you think you might need me for your next project, don’t hesitate to contact me. I'm available starting in late May.

Conferences

The QRCA’s Annual Conference in Philly was a great time. It was Research Camp, and Research Camp is the best! I learned concrete reasons and statistics for making research projects racially inclusive, tips for in-person ethnographic projects, generating referrals for new business, spotting and dealing with fake participants, creating better partnership relationships with corporate clients, and how to price myself appropriately.

Not to mention the fabulous networking opportunities. I went on a walking tour of Philadelphia's historic sites, hosted a small party at a James Beard Award-winning Thai restaurant and took them to an oddball dive bar for drinks after, played ping pong and danced the night away at the main conference reception, and went on a local food tour at the market across from the hotel. I met many great people and had many opportunities to reconnect with my peers.

I also accepted my Big Cheese Award, which is given to all past QRCA presidents. I used my stage time to thank everyone who accepted executive leadership after my term ended. It’s a tough job, and succession planning is hard. Knowing the board was in good hands made leaving so much easier.

Business and Sustainability

I’ve written about the circular economy before, and the latest data shows that the clothing resale market is thriving and will likely continue to do so. With a compound growth rate of 10%, the global secondhand apparel market could reach $367 billion by 2029. And 46% of shoppers say they prefer buying an item secondhand than new. That number is higher for younger generations.

The tariff situation only helps the resale market. We live in a global economy, and clothing manufacturing and sale are prime examples. With the introduction of the US Against EVERYONE tariffs, clothing prices are likely to jump. The percentage of people willing to buy secondhand in light of tariff price hikes goes from 46% to 59%.

We have certified pre-owned vehicles. Why not do the same with clothing? Replace outlet mall stores with a high-end shopping experience for used clothing that’s as organized and effortless as regular retail, only slightly more inconvenient. This is a way to meet this economic moment while raising the bar on sustainability. Unfortunately, 48% of retail executives say their companies are scaling back on resale efforts, but some brands, such as Patagonia, are bucking the trend.

Personal

Travel

I always book extra time in the QRCA’s Annual Conference host city to play tourist. The fact that Philadelphia won the Super Bowl the night I arrived made for an enjoyable time to absorb the local culture. I walked the streets with a friend during the immediate celebrations. The streets were packed with revelers, and the atmosphere was buoyant.

Before the conference I met up with other attendees from out of town to go to the Eastern State Penitentiary Museum, the Barnes Foundation Museum, and the Magic Gardens. The Penitentiary Museum probably isn’t on many people’s must-do lists, but I embrace weird tourism opportunities. Hearing Steve Buscemi’s voice as the narrator for the audio tour was a pleasant surprise.

After the conference I went for cheesesteaks and out bar hopping with fellow attendees, one of whom was a local who took us to this marvelous literary-themed establishment that made a mean twist on a Manhattan. The next day, I met an old friend for brunch, and we went to the Mutter Museum to look at old medical specimens and learn the good and bad of early science and medicine. 

Then I went to the Fabric Workshop and Museum to look at some textile art, including a flea circus and a dress that really spoke to me. After that, I met another friend for dinner before flying home the following day.

Next is a short visit to Victoria, British Columbia, followed by a week in Montreal. We’re going to be keeping it closer to home this year.

Media

Adolescence is probably the most striking miniseries I’ve seen in ages. If you haven’t seen it yet, SEE IT. All four episodes were filmed with a single shot, which is unbelievable when you consider episode two, which was filmed at a school with tons of teenage extras and a deliberately chaotic tone. The story feels very real and terrifying. It inspired me to do a deep dive with commentary from teachers and psychologists on the proclivity of ‘red pill culture’ and what social media is doing to children’s social patterns. The show wanted to avoid blaming the parents, which made it hit home that this could be any kid from any family. Hug a child in your life and talk to them about their lives, even if they think it’s “cringe,” because the kids are not all right.

And another thing. Consider staying safe and not feeding the social media ecosystem for a bit. John Oliver from Last Week Tonight has some tips.

Giving Back

I volunteered with a local political party to successfully elect their candidate to Vancouver’s City Council. I helped them clean their data, knock on doors, deliver yard signs, and validate early voting results. Local politics can have a highly impactful impact on daily life, and I wanted to help elect candidates with platforms that align with my values.

I also fulfilled my 1% for the Planet requirements for 2024 certification and renewed my membership for 2025.

Let’s look forward to brighter days by taking individual and collective action. Buy Canadian.

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