OUR STORY…
Founder, Barb Salzman’s career started at ZONA in Aspen, Colorado as a Store Manager, Visual Merchandiser and Buyer. Zona was one of the countries first lifestyle/experience driven retail stores. Makes sense that she then found the perfect outlet for her creativity at Anthropologie as a Visual Manager and part of the store opening traveling team. Barb took what she learned at these ground breaking companies to become a sought after name in event and wedding design having been voted best floral designer for 4 years in a row, best of weddings hall of fame to top 10 most inspiring people by The Knot.
As all businesses do, Hatch evolved from their wedding and floral design days and became one of the early companies designing and producing experiential brand activations. After 15 years of brand development, strategizing and designing brand activations, Barb is excited to go back to her retail roots with her own shop, Hatch General Store. Started as an online shop that made it’s way on to Free People, its current manifestation is an eclectic and inspiring antique booth in the Catskills. You can currently find Hatch General Store at Red Owl Collective in Kingston, NY where Barb is working to spread peace and love through a curated and Hatch-made collection of inspired goods.
Barb always has a passion project in the works from house flipping, raising money for animal rescue at Funny For Fido, volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp to her ongoing project #peacelovechelsea where Barb and her husband Dave have been designing a public art installation of a 10’ peace sign on the front of a brownstone in Chelsea, NY and a second installation at Woodstock Way Hotel in Woodstock, NY.
In 2016, Barb begain a new career path and is currently in her 9th year as an Adjunct Associate Professor at The Fashion Institute of Technology teaching Product Presentation/Small Scale Window Design, Brand Activations, Portfolio, Intro to Business for Creatives and the Senior Capstone. If you know Barb, you know this is an opportunity of lifetime for her and truly a labor of love.