Women-owned businesses inspire in Carlsbad

Female shop owners have built a community at The Beacon La Costa shopping center in Carlsbad.

The Beacon La Costa shopping center has created an uplifting community of women-owned businesses in Carlsbad.

Over the past few years, a variety of new shops, including Shout and About, Taylor Custom Rings, Glow Theory, Fuze Jewelry, La Costa Wine Co. and more have opened at The Beacon, at 7710 El Camino Real.

Tamara Houghten, the owner of Shout and About—a gift boutique that offers stationary, home goods, jewelry, and other items—said she was happy to find a home at The Beacon alongside other female-owned businesses. Her shop also carries women-owned brands including The Good Twin,

Roen Candles, 14e Cosmetics, Dapper House Menagerie, Misa Jewelry, and other brands.

“I always find that female owners are a little bit more collaborative and open to new ways of thinking about ways to work together and partnerships,” said Houghten, whose first Shout and About is located in Los Angeles. “I think just seeing that diversity among retail shops is just so cool.”

Ashley Taylor, who owns Taylor Custom Rings with her husband, Jerry, said they both fell in love with Carlsbad years ago when Jerry was studying gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

When they opened their shop in May, Taylor said she instantly felt like a part of the community at The Beacon. Their store specializes in custom and fine jewelry made with lab-grown diamonds and recycled metals.

“I’m always excited to tell people that there’s great food, great shops (and) great boutiques (at The Beacon),” she said. “You can come and ... make an afternoon of it. It’s definitely a fun place to be.”

Women-owned shops at The Beacon plan on doing an Instagram giveaway and a community event for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25. Learn more at thebeaconlacosta.com.

DANIELLE QUIGLEY