Vermont Crossing Guard Turns Observations Into $14K Monthly Mail Club

Designer Christine Tyler Hill's handwritten notes and sketches from her street corner job have found a loyal audience.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Vermont crossing guard named Christine Tyler Hill has turned her 50-minute shifts on a street corner into a five-figure monthly business. Hill started posting her handwritten notes and sketches about what she observes at the crosswalk on social media, which gained a following. She then launched an $8-per-month, eight-page zine called "Cloud Report" that now has about 2,000 subscribers and brings in roughly $14,000 in monthly revenue.

Why it matters

Hill's success is part of a broader analog boom, with "mail clubs" providing physical, handcrafted goods as a "rebellion against digital chaos." The revival of traditional media is seen as a way for people to slow down and reconnect in a more human-paced way, as they feel overwhelmed by AI and constant digital stimulation.

The details

Hill, a 36-year-old designer and illustrator, took the Burlington crossing guard job to feel more rooted in her city. She started posting her handwritten notes and sketches from the crosswalk on social media, which gained a following. When she floated the idea of a mail subscription club in a seven-second TikTok in January, 1,000 people signed up within days and the waitlist swelled to 3,600. Hill now has about 2,000 subscribers and roughly $14,000 in monthly revenue for her "Cloud Report" zine.

  • Hill started posting her crosswalk observations on social media.
  • In January, Hill floated the idea of a mail subscription club in a seven-second TikTok video.
  • Within days of the TikTok video, 1,000 people signed up and the waitlist grew to 3,600.

The players

Christine Tyler Hill

A 36-year-old designer and illustrator who works as a crossing guard in Burlington, Vermont and launched the "Cloud Report" mail subscription zine.

Victoria Ng

The founder of the "Friends of Pinato" mail club, which focuses on handmade paper goods.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“People really want physical things. The response to it has been crazy.”

— Christine Tyler Hill (newser.com)

“With AI and the constant digital noise, people are feeling really overwhelmed, and mail clubs provide a moment to slow down and reconnect with others and with ourselves at a human pace.”

— Victoria Ng, Founder, Friends of Pinato mail club (Dazed magazine)

The takeaway

Christine Tyler Hill's success with her "Cloud Report" mail subscription zine highlights a growing demand for physical, handcrafted goods as a respite from the digital chaos. This analog boom reflects people's desire to slow down, reconnect, and experience more human-paced interactions in an increasingly digital world.