mornin’ merry makers 🎨🖌️🌿💎🎧

amanda and i met in a cozy corner of the internet in 2023 in an online community of personal brand builders, marketers, & newsletter girlies.

within minutes of chatting, i knew she was my kind of person. thoughtful. a little spicy. sharp as a tack. sweet as a timtam. the kind of strategist who won’t just ask what your brand looks like, but what it believes. plus she’d spent years living in sydney, australia (aka my favorite city), so obviously she passed the vibe check right away.

she has that uncanny ability to name the thing you’ve been trying to articulate about your brand but couldn’t quite get to.

i’ve decided she’s a human highlighter for the stuff that actually matters.

this week’s interview is for anyone asking deeper questions about brand. not just what it looks like, but what it feels like, and how to translate that feeling into physical space.

because when a retail brand is done right, it’s not just a store.

it’s a worldview.

bts q&a: amanda gordon

Q1: can you share a little bit about you and the work that you do?

Hi! I’m Amanda. I help founder-led brands turn belief into brand—so people buy in, not just buy. I’m most energized when helping brands grow in ways that feel bold, values-led, and sustainable. I’ve spent 15+ years turning chaos into clarity inside fintechs, cultural institutions, and globally awarded brand studios. My work sits at the intersection of brand, business, and belief—and I’m lucky to spend my days helping founders turn what's in their heads into brands the world can actually rally around.  It’s strategy with a pulse. Storytelling with a backbone. And marketing that doesn’t just sell, but sticks.

Q2: what's your definition of a "brand-forward" retailer & which brands do you think exemplify this approach today?

you’ve made it to the good part 😎