Exploring Life & Business with Caitlin Gatewood Edwards of Gatewood Appalachia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Gatewood Edwards. 

Hi Caitlin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our business, Gatewood Appalachia, was inspired by my great-great grandmother and my mother’s great-grandmother – “Grandma Gatewood” of hiking fame. She was the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and the oldest at the time. She went on to hike it twice more as well as the Oregon Trail. She had a love for the beauty of the region and helping its people. She was even a co-founder of the Buckeye Trail Association. She is a true symbol of the grit and determination of Appalachians, and our mission is to continue her legacy of sparking interest and appreciation of the region. 

Appalachia is a region of vast natural resources, incredible beauty, and resourceful people. These qualities are often overlooked due to lack of awareness of what the area has experienced. While the area has been challenged for hundreds of years, we are working to reduce these struggles while preserving and sharing the unique culture. For each Gatewood Appalachia item purchased, a portion of profit is given to non-profit organizations focusing on providing education, wellness, and environmental conservancy within the Appalachian region. We carefully design each item to celebrate the wonderful people, creatures, and life in our home. We hope you join us and “Buy Appalachia, For Appalachia.” 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Gatewood Appalachia is our side business and as such has had a slower start than what we anticipated. The majority of our business is conducted online, but we have seen growth through our in-person grassroots efforts. 

We’ve been impressed with Gatewood Appalachia, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My mother and I run Gatewood Appalachia together in our free time. Professionally, we are technology consultants at different firms. Gatewood Appalachia is our creative outlet that enables us to not only design and produce our own accessories, it also allows us to give back to the Appalachian region and make connections with the people making a difference. Grandma Gatewood is also a legend in the conservation space in Ohio, and she was recently inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame. With the popularity of the New York Times Bestseller by Ben Montgomery, “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk”, she continues to inspire hikers and non-hikers alike to either spend more time in nature or accomplish their goals that may seem impossible. 

We design our accessories, including lapel pins, hiking socks, and custom rings as reminders to be resilient like Grandma Gatewood and to celebrate Appalachia. We give a portion of profit from each item sold to non-profits in the region working to improve access to quality education, wellness, and environmental conservancy. In the past, we have partnered with Discover Life in America (DLiA) which is a scientific research organization in Great Smoky Mountains National Park studying the more than 100,000 species in that area. We designed a glow-in-the-dark synchronous firefly pin for them, and this has been one of our top sellers. Additionally, we have started partnering with the Buckeye Trail Association and are excited to see where this leads. We look forward to developing partnerships as our business grows and we expand our product line. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We have three separate product collections in which we donate a portion of profit to one of our impact pillars: 

Critter Collection: This collection showcases the critters found in the Appalachian region. Purchases of items in this collection support our pillar of education. These include our Limited-Edition Rascal Raccoon Pin, Opie Opossum Pin, and Rascal Raccoon Outdoor Socks. 

A Nice Lark: In our opinion, everyone should have the opportunity to take “a nice lark,” just like our Grandma Gatewood. In order to do that, having good health can make the experience even better, but unfortunately, accessible quality healthcare is not prevalent in the Appalachian region. Purchases from the A Nice Lark collection support organizations working to bring the care this region deserves. These include our Cardinal and Carnation Pin and Brown Thrasher, and Rosa Laevigata Pin. 

Nature Hike Trail Mix: It’s universally accepted that Appalachia is one of the most beautiful regions in the entire world due to its uniquely wild and natural features. Unfortunately, this landscape is constantly under threat of large-scale development by outside organizations looking to exploit the rich natural resources. Purchases from the Nature Hike Trail Mix collection support organizations fighting for environmental conservancy in the region. These include our Grandma Gatewood Pin, Grandma Gatewood’s Tennis Shoes Pin, and Glow in the Dark Synchronous Firefly Pin. 

We also have designed a custom-engravable Appalachian Trail ring that supports all three pillars. 

Pricing:

• $10.00 per pin
• $15.00 per pair of socks
• $300 for a sterling silver custom AT ring

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gatewoodappalachia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewoodapp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GatewoodApp
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GatewoodApp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DmGQjKawDNs881NMfrFEQ

Image Credits
Gatewood Appalachia