Co-founder Brittney Valentine brings a rich background in healthcare management and organizational excellence – where she played pivotal roles before combining her passion for thrifting and entrepreneurial spirit – to Kitchen Switchen. Brittney works alongside her mom, Amy Powers, and her sister, Emma. When she’s not working on Kitchen Switchen, she’s a devoted mother to her three-year-old daughter. Read on to learn more!
My background is in healthcare management, where I worked in patient care and led the Ultrasound and Chronic Care Management departments for a private practice in California. After losing my father to cancer, I returned to Arizona to support my mom, Amy, at our family business, Alliance Labs and Summit Pharmaceuticals. Then, I tragically lost my long-term boyfriend to a rare cancer at the age of 25. Despite these hardships, our family remained strong and dedicated.
After mom sold the companies to a private equity group, our family sought a new business venture that would allow us to work together while bringing joy and giving back, and with my younger sister Emma on board, Kitchen Switchen was born. Inspired by my love for thrifting, I combined my entrepreneurial spirit with my talent for finding hidden gems and created a thriving business.
No matter where I go, I always visit thrift and secondhand stores. The thrill of finding a Staub or Le Creuset piece, restoring it, and giving it a second life fuels my passion. My best find to date was a collection of rare, discontinued Le Creuset Dutch ovens in the cassis color – a true treasure for any kitchen enthusiast.
I’m always on the hunt for a great deal and passionate about keeping kitchenware out of landfills, so when I found large lots of returned kitchenware from Target, I couldn’t resist. Excited, I dove right in and ordered not one, not two, but four massive loads. When they arrived, my excitement quickly turned into a gasp of disbelief. Everything was loose! No boxes, no order, just a mountain of mismatched pots, pans, and utensils. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work sorting, boxing, and organizing the chaos. Lesson learned: always ask about the packaging before diving into a kitchenware deal!
Three character traits instrumental to my success are humor, patience, and perseverance. Laughter has always been a source of strength for me, something I learned from my dad during his battle with cancer. Even in his toughest moments, he made everyone around him smile and never complained. Perseverance is something I witnessed firsthand. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, a liver transplant, and a Whipple procedure, he never gave up and always kept pushing forward. His resilience inspires me every day.
Kitchen Switchen started as a small resale kitchen store with a unique story. It began with Christa, a mom whose son happened to be friends with our Emma. When Christa decided to move on to new ventures, we saw an opportunity to carry on her legacy by transforming the business into a digital platform. From there, Kitchen Switchen grew into a thriving online hub for culinary enthusiasts, led by our mom and driven by our family’s passion for cooking and sustainability.
Patience has been key in trusting the journey. Just when we were feeling stuck on the development side, an incredible connection from India came into our lives, reminding me that trusting the path can lead to unexpected and wonderful opportunities.
As a small, bootstrapped family business, working with limited budgets while trying to capture attention and make our mark has required creativity, resilience, and perseverance. In a world where big brands dominate, gaining recognition and building trust as a small company takes time, but we’re committed to the journey. We focus on growing thoughtfully to build something lasting without getting swept away in a rush or eaten by a big conglomerate.
Kitchen Switchen is built on five key pillars: Us, Planet Purpose, Product Transparency, Simply People, and Standard Setting Prosperity. We strive to bring purpose, honesty, simplicity, transparency, and a standard of business care. Sustainability is at our core as we transform the way kitchen and houseware products are consumed, keeping cherished items out of landfills and in homes where they can continue to bring joy.
As we work towards a greener culinary future, I’m passionate about ensuring that we leave behind a healthier planet for my child and all future generations. The choices we make today will shape the world for those who come after us, and through Kitchen Switchen, we hope to inspire change, one repurposed kitchen item at a time.
We’re thrilled to be working on our marketing pop-up shops, and we can’t wait to connect with our amazing customers on the streets across the country. While the full details are still under wraps, you’ll want to keep an eye on Kitchen Switchen for exciting updates. Stay tuned by visiting kitchenswitchen.com or following along on Instagram @kitchenswitchenofficial.
