It All Started With A Poncho
Written by Cally Taylor
While working at a surfing Backpackers in Cornwall, the Autumn breeze sifted through the county, signalling the long awaited change that was about to rustle Christie’s world.
In the distance, she watched the winds of change ripple through the poncho that gently clung to the figure of one of the guests, and she was instantly inspired !
Set to head back to her roots in KZN, Christie boarded her plane with a fresh idea, eager to put it in motion as soon as she touched ground…And boy did she hit the ground running!
Having achieved her Honours in Entrepreneurship, Christie identified the gap in the market and got to work.
With the encouragement of her family and the help of a recently retrenched CMT, the team put their heads and hands together to create the product of Christie’s dreams – the first building block to her brand baby – the Quick Dry Microfiber poncho.
Never seen before by the South African market, the Quick Dry poncho spread throughout the country. Known for its practical yet stylish look, this product quickly became Salty C’s best seller.
Starting off with only two sizes and six prints, Salty C began as a Pop Up Shop, making their way around the market scene of Durban. With a vision and a hunger for more, Christie packed her car full of Salty C, and hit the road for a tour of the country. Visiting as many stores as possible, Christie marketed herself and her brand by approaching each retailer with her stock and her story.
Christie got her foot in the door and earned Salty C a spot on many shelves around South Africa. Salty C can currently be found in eighteen different retailers located in Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Gauteng.
After returning home from her highly successful Road Trip, Christie headed straight for the drawing board in search of new eye-catching designs to keep her ever growing clientele wanting more – and she didn’t stop there…
From board shorts to beach chairs, Salty C now caters for all your beach related needs, keeping it fresh and funky with their nature-inspired designs.
Salty C was born out of a love for the ocean and the natural world. Whenever possible, the brand donates a percentage of it’s profit to an initiative that promotes the preservation of nature. Adding to this, Salty C sources all their materials and manufacturers locally in hopes of reducing their carbon footprint.
Salty C is currently hunting for the perfect Headquarters, bearing in mind that this is Christie Bradford we’re talking about. Since when has location ever stopped her ?
