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Empowered by Faith and Creativity: The Story Behind Growing Grace Creations



Melanie Salgado, Growing Grace Creations
Melanie Salgado, Growing Grace Creations

At EmpowerHer Ventures, we’re proud to shine a light on women who build businesses not just to make a living, but to live out their calling. Melanie Salgado is one of those women. Born in Puerto Rico and now rooted in Florida, she turned a journey of personal growth, faith, and motherhood into Growing Grace Creations, a faith-based apparel and lifestyle brand inspiring women and girls to boldly live out their beliefs.


From Reluctant Relocation to Renewed Purpose

Melanie’s story began in Puerto Rico, where she spent her early years before moving to the U.S. as a teen—a move she resisted at first. Like many who experience cultural displacement during their formative years, the transition was tough. But over time, Melanie began to see that her life was unfolding exactly as it should.


She and her husband established their home and family in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Becoming a mother of three shaped her life profoundly, but it also stirred a deeper desire to create something of her own outside the home. That longing turned into a business idea that combined creativity with spiritual purpose.


From Home Décor to Holy Design

Her entrepreneurial path first took shape during her second pregnancy when she began crafting custom wood signs and home décor under the brand “CraftyNest by Mel.” While she loved expressing her creativity, balancing a newborn, toddler, and full-time work soon made the endeavor unsustainable. But the spark hadn’t died…it just needed to shift.


A request from a friend to design T-shirts led Melanie down a new path. That simple favor reignited her creative spirit and eventually grew into something far bigger than she expected. In 2023, she officially rebranded as Growing Grace Creations, leaning fully into a faith-based brand that reflects her walk with God and desire to uplift others through apparel, gifts, and words of encouragement.

 

Branding with Bold Faith

Choosing to lead with faith wasn’t easy. Melanie wrestled with imposter syndrome and a fear of judgment. In a social media-driven world where trends often trump truth, she hesitated to speak openly about her beliefs. But that hesitation didn’t last. The brand name, “Growing Grace,” came to her organically and began to take on deeper meaning as her vision clarified.

 

Today, Melanie describes her brand not just as a business, but as a ministry. Every shirt, every design, and every piece of content is an extension of her mission to help women feel seen, confident, and aligned with their faith.


Her unexpected biggest supporters? Teenage girls. What began as a business rooted in motherhood turned into a brand resonating deeply with the next generation. Their fearless embrace of faith-based fashion continues to inspire her.

 

Looking Ahead: Expanding Beyond the Marketplace


2025 represents a major turning point for Melanie and Growing Grace Creations. After years of setting up at local markets and events, she’s now shifting toward a more focused, mission-aligned business model. Recently, her merchandise was accepted into Maker and Merchant, a curated retail shop inside Citrus Mall in Tampa. With over 200 applicants and only 17 brands chosen, it was a validating moment that confirmed she's on the right path!


But Melanie’s future plans go far beyond shelf space. She would like to expand to additional retail locations, including Maker Merchant’s sister stores in Alabama and North Carolina. That’s only the beginning.


Equally important to her growth strategy is the spiritual expansion of her brand. Melanie is leaning more deeply into ministry work in 2025, launching Bible study groups and community events that go beyond products and focus on building connection and faith.

She’s already hosted a prayer board party and is preparing for more gatherings centered around spiritual growth and support. “God told me, ‘You’ll still make sales, but I want you to serve again.’ That’s exactly what I’m doing,” she says.


This evolution reflects Melanie’s broader vision: to create a lifestyle brand that nurtures both the soul and the spirit. Her long-term goal is to build a network of women who can walk in faith together supported by meaningful products, community, and a shared belief that purpose is bigger than profit.


Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice she’d give to others walking the path of entrepreneurship, Melanie doesn’t sugarcoat it.


“Don’t give up.”

It may sound simple, but it’s the advice born from lived experience. Entrepreneurship is messy. It’s emotional. It’s full of moments when you question if the hustle is worth it. Melanie knows what it’s like to want to quit. She knows how hard it is to show up when results aren’t immediate and self-doubt is loud.


Her advice? Keep your eyes on your why. “If it's something placed on your heart, that means it was meant for you. But you have to keep showing up for it, especially when it feels like no one’s watching.”


She emphasizes not comparing your journey to others, especially in the age of perfectly curated social feeds. “Someone else’s Chapter 20 has nothing to do with your Chapter 2,” she reminds us. Everyone’s timeline is different and so is their calling.


Melanie also encourages women to trust their instincts, lean into their faith, and surround themselves with community even if that community is small at first. Every empowered brand starts with belief, the belief in God, in your gifts, and in your future.

 

Final Thoughts

Melanie Salgado’s story is more than just a tale of starting a business -it's a blueprint for building something lasting, meaningful, and aligned with your values. Growing Grace Creations is a testament to what happens when faith leads the way.


As Melanie continues to expand her impact both in business and in ministry, she remains anchored by a simple, powerful goal: to help others grow in grace, just as she has.

You can follow and support her journey by visiting Growing Grace Creations on Instagram or shopping her collection of faith-based apparel and gifts.

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