Social Commerce Fest™ wasn’t a walk-in event. I RSVPed, waited, got approved as a creator, and then bought a ticket to lock in my spot even though I was actually invited by JoinBrands. I was told around 1,000 creators had RSVPed for Saturday, October 17th, and the event would take place in a space on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. I wanted to know whether a curated, approved-only room would feel different from the usual gifting-suite shuffle. Here’s how the day went.
The Brands
The day was built around talking to people: brands on one side, creators on the other, and a lot of us in the middle figuring out who we’d want to work with. These are the ones I’m still thinking about.
Intake Breathing: They had their nasal breathing products on the table, and I tried one on the spot. I took home the magnetic nasal band, which gently opens the nasal passages to improve airflow during sleep, exercise, or everyday congestion. I deal with chronic sinusitis and hay fever, so breathing through my nose isn’t something I take for granted, and the band helps me breathe better when things flare up.
Jollie Collagen jelly sticks: These were one of my favorites of the day. They come in strawberry, peach, and mango, and I tried all three. What got me was how much they tasted like candy instead of a supplement. Powders need a glass and a spoon, and gummies get forgotten halfway through the bottle. A jelly stick skips both problems. The brand sent me home with a box of mango, which they told me is their best seller.
Sweet Sweat: This was the one brand I already knew, and I’d used the waist trimmer and workout gel before. What I’d been wanting to try was their electrolytes, so I finally did. I got an assorted pack of flavors, and they’re not salty. For me they’re more about extra hydration than a workout boost. I also left with their collagen and creatine powders, which I haven’t opened yet, so I’ll report back.
Bloom: I got to try a brand new Bloom flavor which tastes good. It tasted light, and I’m pretty sure there were berries in there somewhere. I also took home two Bloom electrolyte samples, Rocket Blast and Strawberry Lemonade.
Electrolytes, head to head
I came home with two sets, so I’m going to compare them because I take electrolytes to help with recovery and fibromyalgia. Sweet Sweat’s creatine electrolytes have about 800mg of sodium and are built for performance and muscle recovery. They’re not gritty, not overly sweet, and there’s no aftertaste. Bloom’s sit at about 500mg and lean toward beauty, with collagen peptides and daily hydration as the pitch. The taste is where we split: Bloom’s has an artificial, slightly unusual flavor, and it’s too sweet for me. I’d reach for Sweet Sweat’s first, though I like that Bloom’s is trying to do something different.
Operation Human
The event’s theme was “Operation Human” and I tried products with the people who made them, and I got to ask questions and hear honest answers. Most of what we buy now is decided by a feed, a link, or a ten-second clip. Standing at a table while someone hands you a mango jelly stick and tells you it’s their best seller is a different kind of trust.
What worked, and what didn’t
What worked: I got to try products with the people who made them and I asked questions and got straight answers. Two of my favorite finds, Intake Breathing and Jollie, were brands I’d never tried before. Approval kept the room full of creators instead of walk-ins, and everything else ran smoothly.
What didn’t work: I paid $129 for early access, and general admission was $79.99. That extra $49 was supposed to buy me a head start, but I still waited in line, and at some point the early access and general admission crowds were blended together. I paid more for a perk that didn’t show up. I’d tell the organizers to either protect the early window or stop selling it.
Here are some of the brands I already created content for:
A surprise give from QVC (very exciting)
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