Meet Sarah Phillips, the New Editor of The Scout Guide, Alexandria
If you’re a member of the Alexandria community then there’s a very good chance you’ve seen Sarah Phillips scouting her way through town. Sarah recently took over The Scout Guide, Alexandria, a beautifully curated publication that showcases local independently owned businesses and business owners, and spent the last year scouting everything locals and travelers need to know about our city.Sarah always does such a great job of supporting us at TSALT and she has such awesome style, we asked to feature her in one of our photo shoots wearing all of our fabulous new arrivals. 
Frame Velvet Pants, Smythe BlouseFox Trim Scarf, $150 | Mabel Chong Druzy Gold Wrap Earrings, $240
Sarah gladly accepted and met us Patina Polished Living, a great place in Alexandria to find stunning one-of-kind holiday gifts, furniture, home accents, and holiday decor. TSALT and Patina are both a part of The Scout Guide, so it was a fun little reunion, except this time Sarah was the subject. But we didn't want to miss a chance to take advantage of her great eye, so we asked her to scout some great gifts for us, too. Throughout December, we’ve teamed up with Patina Polished Living: bring your TSALT receipt into Patina for 10 percent off, and bring your Patina receipt into TSALT for 10 percent off. 
Good American Good Waist Slash Fray Jeans, Frame Nubby Sweater, Smythe Neon Pink Tailored BlazerCrystal Encrusted Origami Post Earrings, $175 | Speckled Gold Washington, D.C. Snow Globe, $75
TSALT: You always look like you’re having a blast! What has been your favorite part of being editor of The Scout Guide, Alexandria?
Sarah: My first year as editor of TSG Alexandria has been a whirlwind, but in the best possible way! I’ve loved running around town getting to know all of the small businesses and the masterminds behind them. It’s truly incredible how many incredibly talented people live right here in Old Town!
TSALT: After spending a year highlighting everything extraordinary about Alexandria, what have you learned about this awesome place we all call home?
Sarah: Being a new Alexandria resident myself, each day is a new experience as I explore and navigate this amazing town. Not only am I scouting for the book but also for myself, my family, and my friends. My favorite part of this job has been experiencing and find new gems around town and sharing the entire experience on with our followers on social media. Our readers are very engaged and love hearing about new and old businesses that they never knew were there. I’ve loved sharing these experiences with our followers!
TSALT: We love following @thescoutguidealexandria on Instagram. How did you master the art of social media?
Sarah: Social media is a crazy world but one I’ve been living since the beginning. Before I came over to run TSG Alexandria, I was a full-time blogger and social media consultant, so I’ve learned lots of tricks along the way. I’ve by no means mastered social media, not sure if anyone has, but I feel like I understand what our readers want to see and with such a charming town like Alexandria, it makes my job easy! 
Smythe Blazer & Flood Pants, Frame Satin TankHand-crafted Natural Turquoise Disc Necklace, $318 | Janis Gold Cuff, $190 | Assorted Classic Liquor Bottle Ornaments, $15
TSALT: Give us an example of your typical day as the Editor of TSG Alexandria.
Sarah: It’s hard to define a typical day as Editor of TSG Alexandria because each day is very different! I’m still trying to figure out a routine myself. But from what I’ve learned there is a cycle that most editors follow. The book comes out once a year, so there is a timeline that we try to follow to make sure that everything happens on time. The first three months are focused on sales and customer relations, the next two months are focused on creative meetings and photo shoots for the book, it takes about one month to perfect the design of each spread and the layout before we go to print, and then we go into party planning mode!After the book launches it’s time to distribute the book and then the cycle starts again...all while keeping up with our social media channels, partnering with and supporting the needs of our local businesses! It’s a lot of work but incredibly fun because each day is different and I’m doing something that I love! 
Alice & Olivia Fur Cuff Top , Elizabeth & James Olive Cropped Jeans Serefina Necklace, $90 | Catherine Canino Pearl Earrings, $98 | Herend Coffee Mug, $175
TSALT: How can folks get a hold of this year’s copy of The Scout Guide, Alexandria?
Sarah: One of the largest parts of making this book successful for our community is making sure that it gets in the right hands! That is why we work so hard on the distribution plan and we implement it all year long. Many books will be mailed to homes around Alexandria and others will be delivered to our hotel partners, The Morrison House, The Alexandrian, and Hotel Indigo. You can also find books at most of the local boutiques, coffee shops, visitors center, Torpedo Factory, and more! And if for some reason you are having a hard time locating a copy, please reach out to me on social media and I will make sure you get one! 
Elizabeth & James Jones Pants , Ba&Sh July Top Le Georgette Diamond Cuff, $219 | Alexis Bittar Thorn Post Earrings, $135Alexis Bittar Gold Cuff Necklace, $195 | Assorted Ornaments, $6-$20
TSALT: Why should local businesses get involved in The Scout Guide? How can they join?
Sarah: The mission of The Scout Guide is to support and highlight excellent independently owned businesses within our communities and join our members together in one national network. Through our carefully curated branding, photography, social media support, and expansive network, The Scout Guide is truly in a league of its own. If you own a local business or are a budding entrepreneur that could use a boost, a partner, or an increase in exposure, then we should chat!Volume 4 just launched on December 6th, so we will be starting to scout for volume 5 shortly! If you are interested in learning more, please email me so we can chat to see if The Scout Guide, Alexandria is right for you and your business!
TSALT: Thank you, Sarah, for your support! We are so grateful for all you’ve done to promote local businesses in Alexandria!
