Business Profile — (photos by Connie Cody)
My mom is taken, but my aunt is hot and single,” reads an infant T-shirt at Kaylin’s Gift Boutique. Others are emblazoned with the words “Boob Man” and “Milk Junkie.”
Those fun shirts represent an interesting collaboration between Tom and Joanie Trebbow, the husband-and-wife retail team who own Kaylin’s and California Tease. Both businesses occupy the same space on Alisal Road in Solvang.
“We carry cute, unusual merchandise at a good price,” said Joanie Trebbow.
While Tom Trebbow has operated California Tease, a shop that specializes in custom shirts, for over two decades and offers shirts adorned with contemporary graphics such as tattoo art, skulls, angel wings, and fleur-de-lis, Joanie Trebbow got into the business far more recently. She began with a selection home decor items but has expanded to include baby and toddler items.
“We don’t carry any expensive designer stuff,” Joanie continued. “Our goal is to keep everything affordable. Anyone who comes in here will find something great within their price range.”
To make that happen, she and Tom do a lot of research and spend time combing the markets in Los Angeles and elsewhere, seeking out the best deals for their customers.
“It’s like a treasure hunt,” Joanie said.
The T-shirts, though, are the stars of the shop. These are available in a variety of sizes and colors and, because they are made to order on the spot, they are always in stock. “People will come in and see one they like but be disappointed because it’s not the right size and color. Then they get really excited when they realize we can make it for them right here in only a few minutes,” Joanie said.
And that’s where the collaboration comes in. By combining Tom’s expertise with the demand for Joanie’s infant T-shirts, they have helped the customer base for one business become the customer base for the other.
California Tease, which has a long history in Solvang, began in 1988 in a 300-square-foot basement in Hamlet Square.
“It started out as a shop for joke and souvenir T-shirts,” explained Tom Trebbow, who got into the business as a teenager. With his knack for identifying trends, however, the shop became so successful that he moved into the larger retail space upstairs. “It’s really been evolving over time,” said Tom.
In 2007, Joanie Trebbow took over a small section of California Tease, and her business grew such that an even larger space became necessary. They moved to their current location in 2008.
“The baby section was really growing,” Joanie said, “so we expanded that section and added a selection of purses, children’s shoes, and children’s sundresses.” Always looking to improve their customers’ shopping experience, the Trebbows have made Kaylin’s and California Tease a kid-friendly environment with a play area in the back complete with books, drawing supplies, and movies.
“Parents can let their children stay back here and play or watch a movie, and they can shop knowing their kids are safe,” said Joanie.
In his own space, situated at the back of the store, Tom displays his selection of graphic designs, most of which have an edgy quality to them.
A customer can select an image, choose a T-shirt, thermal or sweatshirt, and Tom will heat transfer the design onto the clothing. Because the work is done right there in the shop—and because Tom is something of a T-shirt artist—he and his customers sometimes collaborate on the final design. Rather than situating an image in the chest area of the shirt, for example, he might place it along the shoulder and sleeve, or up onto the collar. He can also layer images to produce a shirt that is even more individualized.
At Kaylin’s and California Tease, the creative, collaborative spirit abounds and even customers can enter into the process!
INFORMATION: Kaylin’s (686-8200) is located at 446 Alisal Rd., Solvang, and California Tease is located inside Kaylin’s. www.kaylinsgifts.com. 10% off to those with a local ID.
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