Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Whitney.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Stylechilde was founded in 2013 after years of working in the fashion and retail industry for brands including Kenneth Cole, Nike Golf, Converse, and Will Leather Goods. Those experiences taught me the power of branding, storytelling, and customer experience, but they also showed me that my greatest fulfillment came from helping businesses discover who they were and communicate that with confidence.
After years of freelancing, I officially launched Stylechilde to bring together my background in branding, graphic design, photography direction, and web design into one creative studio. As my business evolved, I realized that websites had become my greatest passion. In 2019, I introduced **Style Websites**, the web design division of Stylechilde, with a vision of creating strategic, custom websites for businesses that wanted more than a template they wanted a website that truly reflected their identity and where they were headed.
At the time, I was the only female-owned website design agency in my hometown of Salem, Oregon. I wanted to create something that felt different. Too many women were carrying the weight of running a business while feeling overwhelmed by the technical side of websites or embarrassed to ask for help. I wanted them to walk into a space where they immediately felt seen, inspired, and understood.
In 2020, I poured my heart into designing our downtown studio. It was soft, feminine, and welcoming, filled with blush pink velvet couches, a pink marble table, warm wood counter height desks, twelve-foot windows draped in flowing white chiffon curtains, and a beautiful gold chandelier that welcomed natural light throughout the space. It honestly felt like stepping into a dream.
That studio became more than an office. It became a place where women could slow down, dream again, ask questions without fear, and discover the value of what they were building. My goal was never simply to create beautiful websites. It was to help women gain confidence in themselves and their businesses.
Education has always been at the heart of my process. Rather than simply building a website and handing it over, I teach clients how their website works, why each decision matters, and how to confidently manage their digital presence. Every client owns their domain name and hosting account because I believe business owners should understand exactly what they own and have complete confidence in the investment they’re making.
Today, Style Websites has grown into much more than a web design studio. We partner with businesses, nonprofits, and organizations to build strategic brands, thoughtful websites, and meaningful customer experiences that support long-term growth. More than anything, my passion is helping people gain clarity in who they are so their business can reflect that with confidence, purpose, and excellence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Over the years, the business has evolved alongside my own life. I’ve experienced the excitement of hiring talented designers, the heartbreak of saying goodbye to team members, and the responsibility of leading through constant change. Every transition taught me something new about leadership, communication, and building a business that people can truly depend on.
Over the past three years, my priorities shifted even further as I stepped into a season of helping care for my parents while continuing to grow the business. At the same time, I was intentionally expanding Style Websites as Stylechilde my main brand name throughout the Portland market, working from coworking spaces, meeting new clients, and building relationships across the region. Eventually, I transitioned the studio to operate fully remotely; a change that gave our clients the same level of service while allowing me to remain present for my family.
Through every season, one thing has never changed: my desire to build a business rooted in trust. Whether I’ve had a team beside me or have been leading projects myself, I’ve remained actively involved in the day-to-day creative work. I still lead strategy, guide every client relationship, oversee design decisions, and ensure every project reflects the level of quality and care that Style Websites is known for.
Building a business isn’t just about growing revenue or adding employees. It’s about creating something that outlasts yo. It’s something clients know they can rely on year after year. My goal has always been to build a studio that combines excellent creative work with genuine relationships, where every client feels seen, supported, and confident in the investment they’re making.
The road hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has strengthened my leadership, deepened my faith, and reinforced why I started this business in the first place. Twelve years later, I still wake up excited to do this work, and I believe the best chapters of Style Websites are still ahead.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My creative career has been a journey that started in New York City, where I studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and built my foundation working for brands like Kenneth Cole. Those years shaped the way I see design and not simply as something beautiful, but as something intentional. I learned that every detail matters, from typography and photography to merchandising, customer experience, and the story a brand tells before a single word is spoken.
When I returned to Salem, Oregon, I brought that perspective with me. I saw an opportunity to introduce a higher standard of design and branding to small businesses that deserved the same level of thoughtful creative direction often reserved for larger companies. That philosophy became the foundation of Stylechilde and later Style Websites.
Today, I specialize in strategic branding, custom website design, creative direction, and visual identity systems. My clients hire me because they want more than a website but they want a brand that reflects the quality of their work and gives people confidence in their business before the first conversation ever takes place.
What I’m most proud of is helping businesses elevate the way they’re perceived. Whether it’s a startup finding its voice, a nonprofit expanding its impact, or an established company preparing for its next chapter, I love bringing clarity, refinement, and good taste to every project. My goal has never been to follow trends. It’s to create timeless brands that feel authentic, memorable, and built to last.
I believe good design is an investment. It should build trust, communicate value, and create an experience people remember. That’s the standard I learned early in my career, and it’s the standard I continue to bring to every client I serve.
Some of my recent projects
1. Marion Polk Food Share
Website Redesign & Digital Strategy
Complete redesign of a regional nonprofit website focused on improving donor engagement, volunteer recruitment, and food resource accessibility. Included UX strategy, custom WordPress development, third-party integrations, staff training, and long-term website support.
2. 504 Partners NW
Naming, Brand Identity & Website Launch
Led the complete rebrand from Cascade Capital Funding to 504 Partners NW, including business naming, logo design, visual identity, messaging, photography direction, stationery, and a fully custom website designed to build trust with lenders and small business owners.
3. Chemeketa Community College – Information Technology
Technology Department Branding & Recruitment Campaign
Partnered with Chemeketa Community College’s Information Technology Department to develop recruitment and marketing materials that elevated the program’s visibility, strengthened brand consistency, and attracted prospective students through strategic design and messaging.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
One of the most rewarding and challenging projects I’ve worked on has been the Marion Polk Food Share website redesign. The project involved multiple departments, stakeholders, third-party software integrations, and balancing the needs of donors, volunteers, and families seeking food assistance and all within a single website experience.
What I learned is that successful projects aren’t just about good design. They’re about listening well, building trust, and helping people navigate change together. We approached every challenge with transparency, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt. By the end of the project, we hadn’t just built a new website plus we had built strong relationships and a long-term partnership that continues today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stylewebsites.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylewebsites/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylechilde/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stylechilde/
- Other: https://stylechilde.com/
