The Desert Revive Home Decor Business Creation & Launch
ROLES: Owner & Creator, Creative Director, Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Product Photographer, Copywriter, Website Designer, Social Media Manager
I launched The Desert Revive in early 2023 with the goal of bringing the beauty of local Southwest artisans and desert-modern home decor to a wider audience.
What began as a side hustle and creative outlet quickly became a passion project that allowed me to build a brand from the ground up. The Desert Revive offered a thoughtfully curated selection of luxurious but affordable home decor and lifestyle items, spanning categories like pillows and textiles, pottery and ceramics, hand-carved wood accents, art prints, candles, kitchenware, clothing, and even custom-designed stickers. Every detail of the business was custom-created, ideated, and designed by me, ensuring that the brand reflected the original vision.
The store operated for 1.5 years, during which I sold out of the $10,000 worth of inventory I had carefully curated. While rising tariffs and shipping costs led to the difficult decision to close the store in late 2024, I am incredibly proud of what The Desert Revive achieved in such a short time.
Shipping and Packaging Materials:
I designed every element of the packaging to create a memorable unboxing experience for customers. This included custom hang tags, thank-you cards, branded shipping tape, and fun sticker sheets included with every order. I prioritized sustainability by sourcing print vendors who used recycled paper and soy-based inks, ensuring that the packaging was both eco-friendly and visually compelling.
Product Offerings:
In addition to collaborating with Southwest artisans, I sold my own creations, including:
-Art Prints and Stickers: Landscape photography prints and custom-illustrated sticker sets featuring agave plants and desert blooms
-Apparel: Two sweatshirt designs and one hat design, each hand-illustrated by me and produced by U.S.-based print vendors.
Candle Labels and Packaging
The top-selling products in the store, these candles featured custom scents like Canyon Leather, Sunset Bloom, Agave Aura, and special holiday release, Desert Bonfire. I partnered with a small-batch candle maker in California to create the scents, then designed and hand-applied the labels and packaging for each candle.
Product Photography
All product photography was shot and edited by me, ensuring a cohesive and professional aesthetic across the website and social media. From styled shoots in my living room to on-location sessions in and around Joshua Tree National Park, I captured the essence of the brand in every image.
Social Media Design & Strategy
Social media was essential to The Desert Revive’s growth, driving both storytelling and sales. Before launch, I built excitement with behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and interactive polls. Post-launch, I balanced styled product photos, tips on Southwest decor, and promotions for new products and sales to keep followers engaged. All content, from photography to copywriting, was created by me.
Website and Shopify Design
The online store was fully designed and managed by me and my husband. This included creating the layout, writing the copy for each page, managing inventory, handling payment and customer information, and ensuring all legal requirements were met.
