Meet Kasey Scott, Kelly Giovannetti, and Kristen Gallegos

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kasey Scott, Kelly Giovannetti, and Kristen Gallegos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kasey Scott, Kelly Giovannetti, and Kristen Gallegos, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My sister Kelly and I were pharmaceutical sales reps and really hated our jobs. I think we both felt like there had to be more we could offer the world, and there had to be a work environment out there that felt more fulfilling to us. Our Dad had been an entrepreneur, so I think it that entrepreneurial spirit was always in our blood a bit. Kelly had a finance background and I had a marketing background; therefore, our combined skill sets really lent themselves well for a partnership. We had always brainstormed about ideas for starting our own business (at the time it was spray tanning), and it really took me getting laid off to take the plunge into our own venture.

We began a mobile spray tanning company, called Faking it Flawless. We partnered shortly after with a CA staple swimwear brand, Diane’s Beachwear, and tanned out of multiple locations with her. We saw how many of our customers were being brought in to tan by us and ended up spending more money on retail. We realized how symbiotic the two services were, and launched our own store, shortly thereafter.

It began as a tanning studio with beach and swimwear, but quickly evolved to be a retail clothing boutique exclusively. The shop grew organically, as did our love for buying and offering affordable fashion that felt approachable and sophisticated, while still being a bit fun and vibrant. Thus, Salt and Freckles was born.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Salt and Freckles is at its core, a sister owned and curated boutique, where we pour our heart and soul, and our love for functional, approachable fashion runs deep. For so many years, my sisters and I were the shop’s only employees. We did and still do wear ALL of the hats. I think this level of dedication, grit, and serious attention to customer service, has made a lasting imprint on our brand. We have fostered so many incredible relationships within the community and our beloved “freckle fam”, as we lovingly refer to our loyal customers, I think when people shop with us, they know they are leaving with more than some great new pieces to wear. They come in knowing they are going to laugh, tell stories, see familiar faces and have a friend to shop with. It’s an experience. And I think that has and always will be our number one priority. We like our shop to feel like you’re sitting in your living room with a bunch of gal pals, enjoying a little retail therapy along the way. And in a world where the focus on experience seems to be diminishing just about everywhere, I think that is what keeps our doors swinging open.

The lessons have been many and I am so grateful for each one of them. We have learned that what began as a mobile spray tanning business, had to pivot SO MANY TIMES, to find our true self. And even as I say that, I know that we will have to continue to pivot and bend as new seasons of life unfold.

Kelly and I both were business owners as we became new mothers. Being able to learn how to balance those responsibilites, without losing sight of the shop, was hard. But we had each other. And we had each other’s backs. We both picked up the slack when the other couldn’t and we have forgiven each other, and we NEVER held anything over each other’s heads.

We used to fight so much over what to bring into the shop, from the buying end. We would flex our personal style muscles and battle it out. It took a long time for us to realize that we aren’t buying for ourselves, but for our customer. But learning who are customer is and is not took years to refine. And now, buying is like clockwork. We almost always choose the exact same things because we are so clear on what our shop is and equally important, what it is not and what are customers are looking for and what they are not interested in. Being able to narrow it down has been one of our greatest assets.

We have had financial highs and lows over the past 12 years and have had to learn how to navigate the challenges that come with each side of that coin. Ironically, COVID was our largest year of growth, which was unexpected. Our shop was closed down indefinitely to in-store traffic, but it was one of those times where we were able to quickly pivot. We were able to put more attention into our online shop and social media and realized during that time, how our customer base was limitless in an online world. We also realized how our perspective and voice could be expanded on creatively through e-commerce and social media platforms. That was when Kelly and I really leaned into being our own models and talking about fit, style, how to wear the clothes, etc. We realized we could bring that in-store experience to more people through our webshop and social media platforms.

We also learned that with growth, comes new problems. Currently, our biggest obstacle is really believing in ourselves enough to go a little bigger. We are trying to buy more aggressively so that our online and in-store customers have more access to each style, before we sell out of it. That feels scary. Even 12 years in. But we are pivoting and slowly getting more confident in our growth phase everyday. We are saying yes to social media as much as possible and have found our roles shifting to a more creative place than administrative one. I love that shift, I think Kelly hates it (lol). Which again, is the brilliant part of having two different brains driving the same bus.

And lastly, we have learned time and time again, through all the challenges, to have fun. That is what inspired us initially to start our shop and that is what keeps us going 12 years later. We have so much dang fun doing this, and most importantly, doing this together. And I think that undertone of fun is the magic sauce that people are attracted to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a bit of a tricky question because my sister and I live in different cities. If we were in Santa Clarita, we would DEFINITELY advise hitting Main St in Old Town Newhall, right by the shop. It’s a great part of town that has been dedicated to locally owned and operated businesses. We would suggest hitting a Pilates class from our pal Ashley at Grit and Gratitude, grabbing some breakfast and coffee from Eat Real Cafe and strolling some of our fav shops! We love Mascot Aesthetic, Soapish, Form and Content, White Fig Designs and so many more. We would def recommend the Junction for dinner and cruising the copious amounts of wine tasting options after.

I live in Ojai, tucked away a bit and it really is the place I pull so much inspiration from. There is a calm, a peace and a creative energy here like no other. I think it’s because of its proximity to nature. But nonetheless it is home to so many of my favorite shops and eateries. The Duchess, the Nest, Kariella, Barts Books, deKor, the plant shop, so many vintage shops, the ice cream shop! There are literally endless options to feed your cup. I would suggest hiking, biking, and just enjoying the beautiful town for what it is, a little throwback country gem.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think the real shoutout for us is to the local retailers that came before us. My sisters and I have always had a massive love for clothing and shopping, but the local folks that started their own little boutiques are really where we felt and still feel most inspired. You can really feel someone’s passion in a small boutique that has been thoughtfully crafted and curated. There is a sense of community, sisterhood and FUN when you shop locally within your own community. That was the spark that drove us to want to have our own space that told our own story

Places that inspired us most where Ignition (one of the first SCV boutiques ever that has since closed), Diane’s Beachwear (where we began our journey), Wet Sands (a boutique that used to take my paycheck weekly in Ventura), Iron and Resin, No Rest for Bridgette and the many other local shops in cute little towns all over SoCal that made us fall in love with fashion from the very beginning.

Website: https://saltandfreckles.com

Instagram: @shopsaltandfreckles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Saltandfreckles/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/salt-and-freckles-santa-clarita

Image Credits
Salt and Freckles
Chelsea Breiner Photography