In the wake of the shelter-in-place COVID saga, new consumer trends have been popping up like spring flowers from the dead of winter.
Pick up a magazine such as International Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and peruse online articles, including ones at clevergirlfinance.com, and you’ll learn all about “stealth wealth” — more casually called “quiet luxury.”
“Instead of trying to keep up with everyone else, those who practice stealth wealth spend their money on things they truly enjoy,” according to Clever Girl Finance writer Marissa Geannette. “Whether that’s experiences or material possessions they actually want, it doesn’t matter.
“What matters is that spending money on what you want, rather than what you think will make you look good in front of others, leads to a more relaxed and happy life,” Geannette wrote.
And the “quiet luxury” trend is fueling yet another movement.
Given the opportunity to reassess their priorities while they were shut down or isolated, a growing profusion of consumers now desire to live differently than before, spurring growth in a variety of at-home services that provide the most indulgent and luxurious of luxuries: quality time and experiences!
And we’re not talking about traditional services such as auto detailing and landscaping. Check out how some busy women choose to indulge.
PERSONAL CHEF, PLEASE
For the ultra-swamped professional woman with children, a spouse and many community obligations, who can’t always carve out time to prepare family dinners, cuisine for parties or family gatherings, no worries.
Laura Bernardi Piovesana, personal chef/cooking instructor and owner of The Wooden Spoon, turns time-consuming cooking nightmares into carefree kitchen dreams, all with her Northern Italian accent and authentic Italian recipes handed down from her mother and grandmother.
“I do in-house dinners, simple or upscale,” said Piovesana, who hails from Conegliano, Italy, a small town near Venice. “I come with all of the groceries, sometimes bringing my own pot for risotto, and even often set the table.
“What I am most excited about is sharing my enthusiasm for real Italian food,” Piovesana said. “Everything I do is authentic with fresh products. You can get all of my information from my website intalianwoodenspoon.com.”
Piovesana extremely values her Italian heritage, so much so, that she returns to her homeland twice a year. And, for this July, she arranged a group to join her, an experience that will include visiting Venice, vineyards and her family farm.
Lindsey Lacz of Gulf Breeze, who is going on the July trip, said booking Piovesana to cook a meal at her home is one of the best decisions she’s ever made. The wife of a physician’s assistant, and mother of two children, ages 10 and 13, Lacz said she and other moms wanted to thank two third-grade teachers in a special way.
“Instead of buying them something, we wanted the gift to be a quality experience,” Lacz said. “Laura came to my house and made gnocchi. She brought all of the ingredients and talked to us, explaining why she chose the ingredients she brought, what she was doing, why she was doing it, every step of the way. It was almost scientific!
“It was so much fun,” said Lacz, who enjoyed the authentic Italian cuisine with nine others in her home. “And that’s what it’s about today. COVID woke up a lot of people. Experiences are more desirable than things. We should be improving our daily lives, enjoying life every day.”
That life philosophy is a staple on Piovesana’s menu. She’s married to heart surgeon Dr. Giovanni Piovesana and is the mother of 10-year-old twins who fill her afternoons with ballet, karate and sailing.
“I enjoy cooking at another person’s house so they can see what I am doing, and maybe, just maybe, they can do it themselves the next time,” she said.
Well, let’s think about that while we enjoy a massage at home. Arrivederci, Piovesana!
HOME SWEET HOME MASSAGE
It’s not unusual to find the owner of Pensacola’s Coastal Vibes Massage Therapy, Chris Kuhn, packing his auto with tools of his trade to work at a client’s home.
Kuhn has been a practicing massage therapist since 2015. His official title is licensed massage therapist LMC-MLDC. He works in conjunction with Kim Martin at Result Medical Aesthetics in East Hill.
“We are a luxury medical spa that offers massage therapy, skin care, lash services, acupuncture and more,” Kuhn said.
He has several years of experience in the spa industry and tailors each massage to the individual needs of the client.
“The trend for at-home massage therapy has been growing and will continue to grow for many reasons,” he said. “One of the main reasons that receiving a massage in your home is beneficial is because it saves you time and energy. You don’t have to sit in traffic or take time out of your day, and you still get all the therapeutic benefits of having a massage in the spa.”
There are other perks as well.
“If you have a busy schedule, or issues with childcare, or you just feel more comfortable in the privacy of your own setting, then in-home massage is a great alternative,” Kuhn said.
Some of Coastal Vibes’ in-home choices: Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Prenatal Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Florida Salt Glow, Seaside CBD Massage, Bamboo Renewal, Coastal Signature, Couples Massage and Manual Lymph Drainage. You can book various lengths of time, and prices vary. All info is available on the website, coastalvibesmassage.com.
“Oh, I have booked my Deep Tissue Massage for every two weeks,” said disabled U.S. Air Force veteran Pamela Smith of Gulf Breeze. “I am blessed to have Chris come to my home because as a veteran I have many, many Veterans Affairs appointments.”
Smith feels it is convenient and more comfortable and calming in her home setting,
“I don’t have to do anything, to worry about anything. He brings everything he needs. Chris is very professional, focused and respectful,” she said.
Kuhn’s in-home services benefit people with various challenges.
“Some clients have mobility issues,” he said. “Whether it be age or physical ailments or not having transportation, that should not prevent anyone from receiving quality therapeutic massage care!”
There are so many benefits to at-home care.
“The practitioner can come to you; you can even set a monthly or bi-weekly schedule so that you literally have nothing to do but relax and let go of your stress,” Kuhn said.
And, he added, “It leaves you more of your valuable time.”
DELIVERING THE GOODS
Kristan Brinkley immensely values the concept of “quiet luxury” for herself and family to such an extent that she created a life system using a variety of delivery services to handle the competing demands on a precious commodity — her time.
Why is time such a big deal to Brinkley? Let’s see. For starters, she’s a wealth management advisor, managing director of the Pensacola/Destin region, and partner of Vaughn Brinkley Wealth Strategies Group. She’s a wife and mother of two children, ages 3 and 5, and an elder at her church, First Presbyterian Church of Pensacola.
“Since I have a finite amount of time to spend with my children every week, I don’t want to spend four hours on a Saturday morning doing all of the shopping,” Brinkley said. “I also love cooking; it brings me amazing joy. It’s about finding what brings joy to your life and leaning into that service to help you.”
Today, she manages to pull it off, and then some, with the use of delivery services. Brinkley’s list, which changes with her needs, family needs and running a household, includes Blue Apron, Hungryroot, Imperfect Foods, Misfits Market, Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Stitch Fix, Walmart Plus, Amazon Subscribe & Save and more. She uses Walmart Plus probably the most because she can simply add what’s needed to the list — such as that oft-forgotten fridge water filter.
“My use of delivery services started during COVID when I was pregnant with my son,” Brinkley shared.
It was a high-risk pregnancy, so she was advised to not go into stores.
“Now, almost every store has a delivery app that fits into every season of your life and lets you order ahead. For instance, when I had a newborn and a 2-year-old, I was in survival mode,” she said.
Carrying on with her delivery plan also makes economical common sense, Brinkley said.
“I am a person who was raised by a coupon mom, a person who likes to understand my own spending habits,” she said.
A successful delivery services plan perpetuates mindful shopping and prevents impulse buying and overspending on items you don’t need, Brinkley said.
“There is a privilege associated with shopping in general, but when you stick to a list and order, you don’t just pick up this and that. I actually spend much less money by using delivery services, trying to use ones without upcharges. But I always tip the drivers because to me that is a matter of supporting a small business owner.”
And she price shops, meaning every now and then you’ll find Brinkley in a grocery store looking for valuable BOGO items.
So, what’s Brinkley’s idea of a serendipitous splurge?
“When I forget my lunch, I’ll order from Uber Eats,” she said laughing.
