Hi Reader, I thought I was a savvy shopper until…the deal backfired. My family and I were in Orlando for a wedding, and we stayed a few extra days to visit Universal Studios and hang out at the beach. That meant we needed lots of sunscreen to keep us all covered. I stared at the massive sunscreen wall in Walmart, lined with rows and rows of bottles. I spotted a large bottle with a familiar name: Neutrogena. It was SPF 50, “ultra-sheer” (I hate the sticky stuff), and it came with a $2 coupon. ✅ Name I knew ✅ Solid selling point ✅ High protection ✅ Great price Sold! My family and I slathered it on, confidently basking in the Orlando sunshine as we went from Jurassic World to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On the last day, we headed to the beach to swim and lounge. We slathered on the sunscreen once again. Everything seemed fine and dandy until our ride back to the airport. Everyone in the car was BURNT. Red as a tomato. We stared at each other. “How is this possible?” we wondered. “We applied multiple times…I guess we didn’t do a good job…” I pulled out the sunscreen bottle. That’s when I realized my mistake. Turns out, it wasn’t waterproof. We all had to laugh because I was duped by the coupon (a classic me move). As soon as I saw the sale and a couple of selling points, I stopped reading. I’d assumed all sunscreen would be waterproof these days. Apparently not. Price and familiarity blinded me to the details. It happens to the best of us. As consumers, we often get caught up in the cost of things, which means we overlook what that cost really covers. Then it ends up costing you. So take it from me and my peeling shoulders. Whether it’s sunscreen, your tech stack, or a service provider you’re hiring, don’t assume. That low-ball deal might be tempting, but no one likes getting burned. Get clear on exactly what the offer includes before you grab the cheapest option. Layering on the aloe,
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Hi Reader, Turning a big idea into a reality is no joke. For a while now, Hazel and I have been working on WholeSite, our new AI-powered platform to help small businesses build strategic websites. There are so many moving pieces required to build it, finance it, launch it…It felt insurmountable in the beginning. Where were we supposed to start? What if we focused on the wrong step at the wrong time? Thanks to the Pava LaPere award we won, we got access to a system that’s helped us...
Hi Reader, June was one for the books, packed with global adventures, local celebrations, and major milestones that reminded us why we love what we do. From volunteering at WordCamp in Switzerland to raising a glass with Maryland’s best and brightest, Team Drio was on the move, building community, launching purpose-driven websites, and celebrating meaningful recognition along the way. Here’s what we’ve been up to: 🌍 Drio Goes Global: Highlights from WordCamp Europe in Basel, Switzerland We...
Hi Reader, As soon as Rachel and I walked into the WordCamp conference in Basel, Switzerland, we spotted familiar faces from last year's event. We greeted each other with warm hugs even though it had been a year since we’d seen each other. When you think “website platform,” you might not think “cup-filling connections,” but it’s actually one of the things we’ve always loved about being a part of the WordPress world. WordPress is all about community, and it survives and thrives because of it....