Why I need Avenida — Part 1: The Suitcase

It happened out of nowhere. My trusted suitcase, the one I’ve traveled with for years, broke. I don’t just mean any suitcase. The one I’ve faced thousands of travel adversities with. The one I’d emergency-purchased at a Moscow airport because my previous suitcase broke — and that rushed purchase turned out to be the Perfect Suitcase.

All this to say, my next suitcase will have pretty big shoes (or wheels) to fill. As soon as I saw the broken wheel, my first thought was: great timing, it’s Black Friday week. I impulsively went from broken suitcase to I need a new one.

So I dove into research. Tabs opened, screenshots taken, notes filled with links, carts duplicated across marketplaces. I sent a few options to my partner, who’s had to lug my suitcase up and down his fair share of stairs — his input matters, too. Cross-checking data points like price, volume, pockets, number of wheels, and materials, I narrowed it down to five alternatives (I know.).

But then I paused. After looking at all those options, I realized something: I really didn’t want to spend that extra money. I wasn’t planning on it right now, not this Holiday season. What if I could patch up the one I had, keep my money, and wait just a few more months? I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. Not to Perfect Suitcase, not to my money.

So what did I do? I improvised. Out came the screwdriver. I patched up my current suitcase. Fix done, decision postponed. It’s not a great fix, much less definitive, so I know I bought my suitcase a couple of trips at most.

And that’s when the problem hit me: how do you keep all your options organized until it’s actually time to buy? My research is now done, my options are chosen, scattered across marketplaces, and I have no clean way to make a decision when the buying moment will finally come.

The issue is riddled with friction, frustration, and time wasted. You know you’ll have to revisit options eventually, but the longer you wait, the harder it is to find what you liked, compare items again, and make a confident decision. The “not now, but soon” items are quick to fade away.

That’s exactly why we built Avenida: a place to save, organize, and revisit your options so the research you do today doesn’t disappear tomorrow. Every product you’re considering finds a home until the moment is right — making intentional purchases easy.

Imagine a single space where you can:

• Save products from any marketplace (yes — even pre-loved items)
• Compare options side by side: price, delivery time, sustainability
• Share your shortlist with friends or family for input

With Avenida, the story of Perfect Suitcase doesn’t end in frustration or lost tabs. Every option explored, every screenshot saved, every tab opened — it all stays ready for the moment I’m actually ready to buy. Choosing your next purchase becomes a deliberate step, not a scramble. I can pause, plan, and pick with confidence, gaining control back over how and when my money is spent.