Perspectives

From the
Operator's
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Long-form thinking on e-commerce, paid media, endurance sport, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.

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The peloton rides through a field of sunflowers at the Tour de France

Cycling · Sports Business · Economics

The Racers Take the Risks. The Tour Keeps the Spoils.

The Tour de France generates hundreds of millions. Its winner takes €500,000 — and doesn't even keep that. A look at where the money actually goes, why no rider can afford to skip July, and what cycling's economics reveal about leverage.

📅 July 2026 ⏱ 12 min read 🏷 Cycling · Sports Business
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Cyclist in race kit

eCommerce · Returns Strategy

The $6 Phone Call That Turned Customer Dissatisfaction into Delight

We couldn't change the manufacturer. So we changed everything we could control — and discovered that customer service problems, handled right, become your biggest competitive advantage.

📅 April 28, 2026 ⏱ 10 min read
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Nood DTC eCommerce

eCommerce Strategy · DTC

What Nood Got Right — and What Every DTC Brand Can Learn From It

Nood built a clean, high-converting DTC operation in a crowded category. Here's a breakdown of what they did well, where the gaps are, and the playbook any brand can steal.

📅 2025 ⏱ 6 min read
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California sea lion at Shilshole Bay Marina

Seattle · Nature · Local

Ballard's Loudest Houseguests: The Sea Lions of Shilshole

Over 100 California sea lions have taken over the guest docks at Shilshole Bay Marina. It's chaotic, it's loud, and it's one of those rare moments where nature shows up uninvited and reminds you who was here first.

📅 April 23, 2026 ⏱ 5 min read
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