CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
The first thing customers usually notice when they walk through the door is my love of color. The shop is filled with at least 90% vintage and handcrafted goods and so many one-of-a-kind items, and that creates a certain energy I think people can feel when they walk in. I often hear customers say that “this place just feels good,“ and I think that’s what they are experiencing.
LOCAL STYLE
A FAMILY AFFAIR
folly
CURATING CRITERIA
Over the years, I’ve tried to get better at only buying what I truly love instead of buying what I think other people want. That helps to make it feel like the pieces all belong in the same space. And then, there’s my Mom. She’s always been a master at merchandising - our home when I was little and her shops throughout the years. I’m so grateful to have her help. We have so much fun merchandising together.
MOVING FROM the 1957 Boles Aero trailer, home to her once-tiny shop, into an expansive 2,000 square foot location wasn’t exactly on Folly owner Alyssa Remington’s radar. However, this bit of serendipity, met with a bold move, appears to have paid off in spades. The additional space has allowed Remington to spread her wings and flex her creative muscles in a way that wasn’t possible in her former digs. Folly’s Santa Claus Lane location is curated with vintage wares, handmade goods from well-established local artisans, beautiful botanicals and other singular surprises. The textile shop-within-a-shop, Indian Pink, offers a dreamy selection of pillows made from exquisite vintage fabrics, cotton voile p.j.s, ceramic pottery and other enticing items. Monthly Open Air Markets, featuring locally handcrafted treasures, are held in the back garden space. We recently popped into the store and chatted with the owner, and here’s what she had to say about Folly’s humble beginnings, her beachy location, conscious curating and more. THE GOOD FORTUNE OF FOLLY
Moving from the tiny trailer into this space happened very quickly, but the great thing is that it unexpectedly turned into a true family business. Of course, my Mom is on board with merchandising, but my husband and sons have also been instrumental with everything from construction and gardening, to furniture making and deliveries. And my son’s fiancé, Amiyo, has been an absolute lifesaver. She’s here with me several days a week and manages everything I can’t - she keeps me sane. And she’s also an artist and always comes up with brilliant creative ideas of her own.
SHARING THE LOVE and SPACE
My Mom’s friend had a business here at Padaro Beach Village in the ’70s, and I remember hanging out here as a kid. It’s a great community, and I love my neighbors. But, what I really love about my specific location is the yard. We host Open Air Markets every month, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to share this beautiful space with other local artists and makers.
My Mom, Lynn, and I started Folly as a collective with two other women in 2015. When that location closed, I moved my merchandise into a 22 x 8-foot trailer and set up shop in the garden of one of my all-time favorite shops, Porch. About four years, Porch moved to Summerland, and Diana offered me the keys to this beautiful space. It was super intimidating to expand so much, so quickly, but now that I’m settled, I couldn’t be happier. Follow @follyhome and @indianpinkgirl on Instagram for the latest Open Air Market dates. 3823 SANTA CLAUS LANE • CARPINTERIA 805.381.9248
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