Why We're So Excited to Work with Zooey Deschanel and the HelloGiggles Team

In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, Editorial Director Jess Cagle used his Editor’s Letter to introduce HelloGiggles, the newest member of our Time Inc. family.

One of my favorite Internet destinations is HelloGiggles, a pop culture and lifestyle site cofounded by New Girl star Zooey Deschanel. I first visited it because it’s aimed at young women, who are a big part of the PEOPLE audience. But I kept going back because – even though I’m neither young nor a woman – it’s incredibly entertaining and informative.

For me, HelloGiggles has become like a smart, funny friend who tells me about things I might otherwise miss, such as: an awesome new podcast called Limetown, described as Serial meets The X-Files; a 13-year-old girl who just became Mexico’s youngest licensed psychologist; why the sexist- if-you-think-about-it term “man up” is being banned in U.K. schools; and “What one woman learned when dressed like Kylie Jenner for a week.” (Short answer: It was exhausting.)

Founded in 2011 by Deschanel, Sophia Rivka Rossi and Molly McAleer, HelloGiggles is now more than a friend – it’s a member of the family. On Oct. 19, Time Inc. announced that it had acquired the site, and it will be a key part of our entertainment network, which also includes PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly (we’re the largest digital entertainment news network, with more than 50 million unique visitors a month).

It’s also part of our strategy to expand all our brands into new areas including video and TV, live events and e-commerce. At HelloGiggles, Sophia will remain the CEO and Zooey the chief creative officer. I’m honored to call them colleagues.

Speaking of e-commerce, I’m excited about our new digital venture called People Shop (Shop.People.com). There you will find great, stylish merchandise, most of it in the $25-$50 range and much of it designed exclusively for PEOPLE.

There are also mini-boutiques, like Pet Shop, and a “For a Good Cause” section featuring merchandise that benefits charities; for October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you’ll find products from Alex and Ani, NEST Fragrances and Conair – all of whom donate to breast cancer research.

Congratulations to Jessica Malloy, senior director of consumer marketing, for getting People Shop off the ground – and just in time for the holidays when we need it most.