Meet Jenna Gumto | Owner I Caravan Culture

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenna Gumto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business came to me one day. It was in the middle of the pandemic and I was doing creative things and spending a lot of time reflecting on my life. I had recently been working at a children’s boutique in South Park, called So Childish. I loved working there for the 6 years I had been there. I became close friends with the owner and got to do a lot of decision making about merchandise. I accompanied the owner to Vegas a few times to go on buying trips. We always had a great time and I loved seeing all of the options out there for kids. My taste in merchandise was always slightly different from the owner’s, although I loved what she brought in, as well. She always let me pick some things to sprinkle into her mix of product. I always liked more edgy things and gravitated towards music, culture, inclusivity and sustainability. Even though we always had a little a great selection, that also included some of these things, we were really a more traditional children’s shop that was geared for grandparents, new parents and newborns to 1st birthdays. After the owner sold in 2020, a new owner kept the store going for a year. I stayed on and continued to manage the merchandising of products and social media accounts.

One day, I was in the shower and it all came flooding in. I wanted to keep going with selling children’s goods and do it all how I had always envisioned. With so many kid’s shops closing, I knew there was still a need for them. I wanted all families to find something special for the children in their lives and I even came up with the name, logo and started popping up at markets with beautiful handmade clothing and accessories. One of the longtime vendors from So Childish was still making her sweet handmade goods and was not able to get out and sell them. I started with her items and did a few holiday markets. I knew I wanted to grow from there, but was not sure just how I was going to do it yet.

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?
Caravan Culture is my little mini boutique for kiddos age newborn-6 yrs. I love to fill my shelves with things that any child will enjoy. I carefully select toys that are not found at every other store. I love stocking items that are sustainable, fair-trade, made from organic materials, encourage thought and creativity. My selection of books are fun, funny, endearing, educational, multi-cultural, inspiring and empathetic. I especially love to find stories about caring for animals, the earth and each other. I find that my customer loves arts & music related items and books. I love to support small businesses and brands that are not oversaturated in the market. Wooden toys, knit rattles, organic cotton & bamboo kid’s tees and clothing are things I love. No plastic beach buckets here! I do as many bamboo or silicone beach toys as I can find for the shop.

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?
Oh…I love to play tourist in San Diego! My favorite things consist of good food, beautiful sights, fun finds and just enjoying the beauty of sunny San Diego.

1. Grab some food and drinks outside at Panama 66 and walk around Balboa Park
2. Have an adult night out at Mothership & Kindred in South Park
3. Do some vintage shopping at one of San Diego’s many vintage marts and marketplaces (like Sea Hive Station)
4. Grab some tasty craft beer by the water (Hess in Seaport Village, Eppig in Shelter Island, etc)
5. Take a drive to Sunset Cliffs and walk along the cliffs at sunset
6. A trip to the San Diego Zoo because I love seeing the animals and the beautiful views in the park
7. Hike Torrey Pines (or any other great hikes that we are lucky to have so close)
8. Take the ferry to Coronado and do dinner someplace (it’s been a while…any suggestions?)
9. Visit different neighborhoods that have cool spots (North Park, South Park, Normal Heights, University Heights)
10. Brunch at Nate’s Garden Grill next to City Farmer’s Nursery
11. Grab some bagels & coffee at Ben & Esther’s and picnic at Lake Murray
12. One last dinner on the SD Bay at Bali Hai

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Id’ really like to just credit all of the great bosses I have had in the past. I have worked in the retail industry since age 17 and I have learned so much along the way. I have always preferred to work in small businesses and those were the jobs where I learned the most. My favorite job was in my hometown of Richmond, VA. I worked for a locally-owned clothing boutique called Need supply Co. They recruited me from another retail store called Up Against the wall, where I got to hone my merchandising skills and fall in love with that particular aspect of the industry. I worked at Need for 6 1/2 years, until I made the move to California in 2004. At Need, I was the store manager, assisted in buying clothing and accessories, helped manage merchandising and floor moves, managed hiring, was company liaison for photoshoot/fashion show collaborations and probably had a few more hats that I wore. I loved that part of the job. Getting to have my hands in a few areas and learning so much in the process. I am certain that my knowledge expanded the most here. I had some pretty great bosses and a team of amazing employees. Definitely very hard to leave this job when I moved.

I have to give my friend Dave a big golden star for hiring me to manage his clothing shop, Material that opened in North Park in 2006. Dave and I worked at Need back in the day and we both ended up in San Diego. We bumped into each other randomly one day and he told me to get in touch with him, that he wanted to talk to me about managing the shop he was going to open.

My dear friend Thea, who owns World of Mirth in Richmond, VA. She’s someone who has always had my back. She always gives me good advice and we have worked at jobs together in the past. She is someone who crushes it as a boss and in her own business and I admire so much about her.

I also have to say thanks to Leyla from So Childish. She always trusted me, was transparent about aspects of her business that people don’t often feel comfortable sharing. She taught me a lot and took my suggestions many times, which gave me more confidence and encouragement.

Even my bosses from my first job in San Diego have supported my business and believed in me. That feels so good. Thanks David & Patrick from Babette Schwartz.

My husband has always given me all of the support and encouragement that I could ask for. Numerous friends back home and in San Diego have been big supporters of me starting my own business. I am grateful and I couldn’t ask for more love than that.

Instagram: @caravancultureshop

Facebook: @caravancultureshop

Image Credits
Jenna Gumto