Just in time for the holidays, a new party supply store has opened in Montecito to meet your entertainment needs.
Ready-Set-Confetti, the brainchild of born-and-raised Montecitan Emma Morton-Smith, held a soft opening this past week at its location at 1046 Coast Village Road, Suite G, between Blenders In the Grass and Occhiali Eyewear.
“I feel privileged and excited to start this journey as an entrepreneur here,” Morton-Smith told Noozhawk.
Although she always hoped to move back, Montecito’s deadly 2018 flash flooding and debris flows actually was the catalyst. Morton-Smith’s childhood home, near the San Ysidro Ranch, was destroyed by a gas line explosion in the early moments of the disaster.
Shortly afterward, she and her husband, Ben, made the move and began to rebuild her late parents’ house into a home of their own. Then came a baby, maternity leave and the decision on whether to resume her nursing career.
Brewing in the back of her head was the idea for a party supply store, which she knew would fill a void on the South Coast, as well as the name. Five months later, she was in business.
While we chatted as she gave me a tour of the store, Morton-Smith told me she does miss nursing and Serenity House.
“Our community is so blessed to have that resource for end-of-life care,” she said of VNA Health and Serenity House, which helped Morton-Smith and her family through multiple losses.
Providing that kind of care to others was some of the most rewarding time she had as a nurse, she added.
Morton-Smith has always loved throwing parties and entertaining. Her signature get-together is her annual gingerbread house decorating party.
“It’s always a hit,” she said.
Ready-Set-Confetti is gorgeous and inviting, with multiple themes available, as well as a beautiful selection of more basic tableware items. It carries some of the most beautiful party lines in the industry, such as Meri Meri, Caspari, My Mind’s Eye paper goods and Glitterville Studios home décor and ornaments.
The store also offers balloon services, including bouquets, garlands and custom arrangements by an in-house balloon artist.
Morton-Smith’s goal was to make it easy to find something specific or to get inspired when you come in — as I did.
Display shelving is organized by theme and color, and the store’s center tables have everything for your next seasonal gatherings.
She’s expanding her gifts and card selection, wrapping sections are available, and the store will soon have a ribbon display area with high-quality Italian ribbon by the spool or yard. In the rear is a party favor bar where customers and their little ones can select their bags of goodies for party goers to take home.
For kick-off week, the store hosted a succulent pumpkin workshop with Ojai Plant Works, with participants taking home beautiful fall centerpieces.
Another succulent pumpkin class is planned for next month and holiday workshops are on the horizon. Morton-Smith said she hopes to offer rentals, party planning and day-of event coordination, as well.
“Raising my daughter and dogs where I was raised has been a dream come true for me,” she said. “While a lot has changed, Montecito’s dedication to small businesses is thriving, just as it always was.
“I’m looking forward to integrating myself even further into this community that is already so special to me.”
Ready-Set-Confetti is currently open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
— Judy Foreman is a Noozhawk columnist and longtime local writer and lifestyles observer. She can be contacted at news@noozhawk.com. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are her own.