by George Gramlich
Pepper Stafford always had a dream of owning a boutique. Even while she was an elementary school teacher, and then raising her kids with her husband Trent, she always had that idea. When the Stafford’s moved to Westcliffe years ago, Pepper knew that Westcliffe and the Valley was the place for her to fulfill her goal.
After much searching, Pepper found the perfect building: Wanda’s Garden Shop at 411 Main Street, Westcliffe. Wanda wanted to retire so Pepper purchased her cooler and decided to continue to offer floral service to the community since Wanda’s was the only flower shop in the Valley.
She decided to initially open as a boutique on December 1, 2012, and focus on that until the holidays were over, then spend the month of January focusing on the floral part of the business.
The opening was great but there was a lot to learn about the flower business and a short time to do it.
Pepper knew it was meant to be for her to have her own business as out of nowhere a local guy known as the Wild West Wondering Artist shows up and says he was an expert in the flower business having had his own shop for a long time. And guess what? He told Pepper
he would help her learn the business and get her ready for Valentine’s Day.
Her first Valentine’s Day was a huge success and continues to be. Pepper enjoys being able to provide flowers for all occasions to Wet Mountain Valley residents. She and her staff deliver throughout the entire valley all the way from Cotopaxi to Wetmore as well as south to the Centennial Ranch area.
Pepper’s favorite thing about having her boutique is her customers! She values all of the relationships she has made over the past years.
The boutique is fully stocked throughout the year with an emphasis on each current season. Pepper specializes in trendy clothing as well as a large variety of gifts and accessories. She also enjoys creating gourmet gift baskets for her customers.
In the summer, Pepper uses her greenhouse to offer beautiful hanging baskets, patio pots and bedding plants. She also has a fun assortment of metal yard art.
One of the keys to being successful, Pepper says, is keeping regular hours. Salty Pine is open six days a week all year and then seven days a week during the summer months. She always has a full cooler of beautiful floral arrangements ready for purchase, and of course, Salty Pine can customize anything you need. Just give her a call.
Pepper even has an online flower ordering site: go to westcliffeflowershop.com to order. You can email her at saltypineflower@yahoo.com. Her phone numbers are (719) 783-9393 or cell, (719) 371-3597. Pepper will be having a big Back
Friday sale as well as Shop Small Saturday so don’t miss that plus various other sales leading up to Christmas.
Drop by and congratulate Pepper on a great eight-year run:
411 Main Street, Westcliffe, CO 81252.