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The Bay Area lifestyle boutique Malt + Stone is more than just a source of apparel, homewares, and other daily-use goods. It’s a source of inspiration and connection in the coastal community of Pacifica, just south of San Francisco. The store is deeply rooted in the community, hosting monthly handicraft workshops and private events, and is just one of three successful businesses that founder Caitlyn Cuadra has launched in recent years.
Caitlyn is an entrepreneur, interior designer/decorator, and creator with a firm understanding of the market in which women come together as one. After leaving her hometown of Bakersfield, California, to complete her degree, Caitlyn started small with a range of handmade earrings. She wanted her designs to “depict how a woman should feel in the fashion world,” and the response from her online followers was resoundingly positive. From there, she expanded her digital business with pop-ups around Pacifica and eventually a brick-and-mortar offering a curated selection of fashions, homewares, and more.
Caitlyn’s advice to other retailers is to leverage the power of community in meaningful and authentic ways. This can be seen in her work on Second Saturday, a tradition in Downtown Pacifica that gathers more than 15 micro-businesses for a monthly pop-up market. The monthly events help support other small businesses in the community and bring people together in a way that isn’t usually possible online.
“Creating community organically means that you also have to be willing to put in the effort. It cannot be from a place of convenience. I’m such a community driver over here, and a lot of people want that community feel, but a lot of people don’t put in the effort to have the community.”
Upon discovering the platform in 2021, she quickly made Faire a preferred source for apparel, accessories, home goods, stationery, and gifts from other independent businesses and became a Faire Insider shortly after. We had a chance to talk to Caitlyn about her always-in-stock items from brands on Faire, and we’re excited to share those with you here.
What’s always in stock at Malt + Stone?
Caitlyn prefers to make small but frequent purchases from her favorite brands on Faire, which makes it easy to adapt based on customer feedback. She typically places an order on Saturday night, new items arrive by Wednesday, and her shop is open for business on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She doesn’t innately follow trends, but instead has a consistent, defined perspective on her customers and their aesthetic. “I want Malt + Stone to feel like a warm, cozy hug,” Caitlyn says. “My customers are really unique—they’re professionals, they’re moms, they’re the ones who are looking for everyday wear that is timeless.”
These are a few of her customers’ favorite items that she always has in stock at her shop:
Snake Chain Bracelet from Dreamer of Dreams
If there’s one item that Caitlyn can’t keep on the shelves, it’s the Snake Chain bracelet from Dreamer of Dreams. She initially connected with the owner in person and was impressed by her range of gold chain jewelry. Once she started stocking the bracelets next to her register, she found that customers started adding them to their purchases at the last minute. “This last weekend, it felt like every single purchase, they were just adding it to their buy,” Caitlyn says.
Patch Pocket Style Jeans from Just Black Denim
Caitlyn’s customers love the patch pocket style jeans from Just Black Denim, which is the only denim brand she carries because of the high quality, the price point, and the fact that they’re made in the USA. “Any denim by them is good denim,” she says. “The patch pocket looks good on every figure. I can’t keep it in stock.”
Wooden Children’s Toys from Speedy Monkey
Although Malt + Stone started as a jewelry and clothing shop, it has since evolved into an “all-encompassing, you-go-here-for-everything kind of vibe” with home goods, gifts, and a range of merchandise for children.
The wooden car display case from Speedy Monkey is a favorite for kids and parents. She always keeps one out of the box as part of a display in the kids’ corner, where children can play while their moms shop. “They’re neutral colors and really stimulating for children,” she says. “I found them on Faire when I was trying to find the right clothing and accessories to curate my Malt Mini Collection after I had my little one and was like, I hate all the toys out there because they are too colorful for me!”
Cardigans and Sweaters from Wishlist Apparel
Caitlyn places an order with Wishlist Apparel pretty much every week. “They are just carrying everything that my customers want,” she says. “It’s really hard to not add everything they make to the cart.” Their cardigans and sweaters are “the best quality, never itchy, always soft.” She especially loves to display them paired with jeans from Just Black Denim.
Meal Planner from Ruff House Print Shop
Caitlyn’s customers also love the meal planner from Ruff House Print Shop. “This is a brand I have really loved, and this is one of those perfect filler pieces when people are in here shopping,” she says. “They grab a piece of jewelry, they grab a little stationery piece, and this is where the gifting concept comes in when people come to our shop.”
The meal planners are designed with a serrated piece where you write your grocery list, then tear it off, take it with you to the grocery store, and then post your meal plan for the week on the fridge when you get home. She displays them on the main table in her shop along with other bestsellers and quick grabs, such as jewelry and denim. “Whenever I explain it to customers, they’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is perfect. It makes complete sense.’ I can never keep them in stock.”
Corduroy Puffer Vest from Buttermelon
The corduroy puffer vest from Buttermelon is another item that Caitlyn simply can’t keep in stock. She brought them in two to three times last year, and they sold out every time. “The way that I’ve seen people wear it is just a no-brainer,” she says. “When they were out of stock, my customers were like, ‘Wait, I didn’t get one!’ They’re doing pre-orders now, so I’m bringing them back again. Customers are really looking forward to this because it’s a great gifting staple but also perfect for the day-to-day buyer paired with leggings, jeans, or a cute jumpsuit.”
Do Caitlyn’s bestsellers sound like they could be customer favorites at your shop? Shop Malt & Stone’s picks on Faire.
Bonus: Lightning Round with Caitlyn
We ended our interview with a few “lightning round” questions for Caitlyn to better understand her routine as a small business owner.
What’s the first thing you do when you open the shop?
“The first thing is to throw my bag down because I am a person who doesn’t like to do multiple trips, so I dump everything the moment I get through the doors. Then I usually put on some music.”
What’s on your playlist?
“Anything by Olivia Dean or Dijon right now. And Justin Bieber’s new album.”
What’s your favorite Faire discovery of all time?
“Just top of mind is probably Wishlist Apparel, because of how much it has fallen into my personal style. If I were to start designing clothes, it would be a lot like what they do.”
Coffee or tea?
“Decaf coffee, because I’m already so high-strung as it is!”
Who’s another retailer you admire?
“In Southern California, there’s this brand called Stitch and Feather, and they have just multiplied. I worked for them back in the day, and I know that they’re designing some of their pieces, but they buy wholesale most of the time. Their model, the aesthetic, everything that they do just works. I really, really enjoy watching what they put out.”
What’s the most complimented product in your store?
“Probably that corduroy jacket from Buttermelon.”
Describe Malt & Stone in three words.
“Cozy, chic, and inviting.”
