We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsea Evans. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsea below.

Chelsea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I took the risk 4 years ago when we decided to create opportunity from defeat and dive into retail with next to no knowledge of what we were doing. I had lost my job due to the COVID pandemic, and there was a lot of uncertainty about what to do next.

Then, we took a leap of faith. A leap of faith that has since become our biggest blessing. My passion for fashion coupled with Andrew’s desire to own his own business created the perfect platform. In May of 2020, we opened our first brick and mortar in the middle of Joshua Tree, California – Roaming Travelers.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Our shop in Joshua Tree only brought us more inspiration. We dreamt of amplifying our reach and expanding our desert community. We quickly made great connections with our community and local makers; carrying many of their handmade products in our store and online. We were inspired by these individuals to create a place for those like us with small businesses and big dreams.

our vision came to life; a co-op styled space that would remove the barriers to entry for makers and vendors, allowing them to flourish in a store-front. In April of 2021, we were able to open the doors of Hi-Desert Daydream! Our second shop! Hi-Desert homes fourteen different vendors inside a common space, So it truly is everyone’s daydream dream alive in one place.

In the fall of 2022, we launched our mobile airstream shop! This unique store was built in a restored 1978 airstream, providing customers with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. We felt like taking our shop on the road, was the next big thing to do! It’s been a great way to expand our brand, being able to attend different local events throughout the hi-desert and beyond.

Most recently, during December 2023 we launched our largest space that over 3,000 sq ft at the “JT Trading Post,” in the heart downtown Joshua Tree, CA. It’s the same concept as Hi-Desert Daydream, but much larger footprint. JTTP offers a unique multi-platform seller experience in the heart of Joshua Tree. By removing barriers to entry for many up-coming and established brands JTTP is able to maximize your brands potential through our managed retail services. We currently have over 30+ vendors and continue to grow. We will continue to create a space for community and tourists all over the world. Offering an authentic Joshua Tree desert experience like no other.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

It all began with my travels across the US and abroad. I’ve always emphasized tagging locations and using relevant hashtags in my posts. Through collaborations, giveaways, and creative content, I aim to capture viewers’ attention. Consistency and relevance to my target audience are crucial for me.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Initially, we began selling our items on the Square platform. As our business grew, we found that Shopify better suited our expanding needs, providing a robust platform to meet our requirements effectively. Shopify has allowed us to link our store to all social platforms, integrate multiple store locations, and leverage drop-shipping.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.roamingtravelers.com
• Instagram: roamingtravelers
• Facebook: shoproamingtravelers
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/roaming-travelers-joshua-tree
• Other: tiktok – Roamingtravelers