Inspiring Conversations with Kate Pawlicki Bourne of Ghost Town Ranch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Pawlicki Bourne.

Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a business and creative strategist based in Palm Springs. I’ve spent the last 20+ years working with companies—from Fortune 500s to nonprofits—to help them with their marketing strategies and cut through the noise. I’m drawn to complex challenges where you need to translate big ideas into clear action and align teams around a shared vision.
I’m also the founder of Ghost Town Ranch, a lifestyle brand started out of my love for desert living and the open road spirit of the American West. GTR is about creating elevated essentials for people who value intentional living and quality over quantity—modern pioneers who understand that less can be more when it’s done right.
Whether I’m guiding a marketing transformation or building a brand from the ground up, I’m interested in work that strips away the unnecessary and focuses on what genuinely matters. Life’s too short for anything else.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a brand from scratch has been has centered around building partnerships with like-minded people and companies, and learning to listen to feedback from the community. Building something authentic in an era of AI-generated everything and endless content is genuinely hard. You’re fighting algorithms that reward volume over substance, competing against massive budgets, and trying to earn trust from people who are more skeptical than ever. The real challenge isn’t just creating a great product; it’s telling a story that actually means something to others.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re developing home and body products using natural and organic ingredients and sustainable methods, with biodegradable formulas and a commitment to environmental care, because if you’re going to make something, it should be clean, sustainable, and actually good for people. Our “Bring the West Home” campaign is about bringing that sense of freedom, open space, and authenticity into everyday life, wherever you are. The lifestyle and wellness industry is crowded and oversaturated, but I see a real hunger for companies that aren’t just performative—people want products and stories that reflect genuine values and craftsmanship.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The home and body care space is at an interesting crossroads right now. Big brands are trying to look small and authentic while small brands are fighting to stay visible and viable. Consumers are smarter and more discerning than ever—they’re reading ingredients, asking questions, and calling out greenwashing. There’s real opportunity for brands that can deliver on both quality and values. For GTR, our aspiration isn’t to be everywhere or scale at all costs. We want to build a company that people genuinely connect with and trust, that grows sustainably, and that proves you can create something beautiful and profitable without compromising on what matters. We’re thinking about strategic partnerships with retailers and hospitality brands that share our aesthetic and values, expanding our product line thoughtfully, and building a community of people who see their homes and daily rituals as extensions of how they want to live in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ghosttownranch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghosttownranch/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theghosttownranch/