Risely Hosts Pop-Up at Palisades Village

The Daily Wellness Shot Company was Founded by Palisadian Jessica Culotti and Shaelee Hansen

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

A couple of years ago, Shaelee Hansen noticed that she was feeling extremely fatigued, mentally foggy and run down.

She spoke to a friend in the health and wellness space who recommended taking minerals because Hansen’s symptoms sounded like a mineral deficiency.

“After a month of taking minerals, I noticed my digestion, overall health and mental clarity improve,” Hansen shared. “I began giving these minerals to family and friends … and everyone loved them.”

On her list of those she shared minerals with was one of her friends, Jessica Culotti.

Culotti grew up on Adelaide Drive, graduating from Archer School for Girls in 2013 and spending most of her time after school and weekends playing volleyball and soccer at Palisades Recreation Center. In high school, her family moved to the Castellammare area, where her mom still lives today.

While attending college at USC, Culotti met Hansen, who was born in Alaska and grew up in a suburb of Denver, when the two were both working at elysewalker.

“We met while Jessica was working at elysewalker in the Palisades as a stylist, and I was working as a personal stylist,” Hansen shared. “We instantly clicked and stayed in touch ever since.”

Hansen explained that when the two recognized the “overwhelming benefits” of minerals, they knew they needed to work together to create a mineral product to share with the world.

“Jessica felt as much passion toward the benefits of these minerals as I did,” Hansen added, “so we knew that we needed to share a mineral product with the world so everyone could feel this good.”

After doing additional research, Hansen and Culotti learned that without the presence of minerals in one’s body, “vitamins cannot do their intended job.”

“Due to modern agriculture practices, it is more difficult now than ever to receive all the necessary minerals from the foods we eat,” Hansen explained. “We discovered that it is crucial for the minerals we source to be plant derived because our bodies cannot process ionic minerals (which are rock derived) as efficiently.”

Almost a year after being introduced to minerals, the two launched Risely, a daily wellness shot comprised of 72 trace minerals, including zinc, chromium and potassium, and spring water.

“We are a woman-owned business with a mission to improve people’s overall wellbeing,” Culotti explained. “Our mineral shots are plant derived, making them easily absorbed and great tasting. These shots are meant to be taken every day like vitamins.”

Hansen shared their customers inspire them to keep going with “passionate testimonials on how amazing they feel when taking Risely,” and they hope to inspire other female entrepreneurs “to take risks and go after their goals.”

Risely is primarily sold online, but the two recently hosted a pop-up at Palisades Village, near diptyque and Bonjour Fête.

“Our pop-up at Palisades Village was amazing,” Culotti said. “We were so lucky to be there and meet so many great people. We really wanted people to notice our pop-up, be curious and engage with us. We felt as though by being in an environment that caters to such locals, we were able to introduce Risely in a meaningful and important way.”

Culotti, who currently lives in Brentwood, shared that she plans on purchasing her first home in the Palisades soon.

“Growing up in a big city like Los Angeles, the Palisades gives you that small town community feeling that you don’t get elsewhere,” she said. “I’m so grateful to still be part of that community and am so excited to have the opportunity to raise my family here.”

Culotti shared that the benefits of Risely are “countless,” that “everyone takes vitamins” but that people don’t often talk about minerals.

“They support everything from your emotional stability, energy levels, digestion, immunity and everything in between,” she said. “It’s meant to be consumed daily. I take a shot every morning. It is also an easy addition to your coffee or smoothie.”

Hansen said they are currently working on getting Risely a spot in select retail locations and also preparing for a new product launch. She added that they would “love to have another pop-up” as soon as they get the chance.

“We work well together because she is more business minded,” Hansen concluded. “I am more of the ‘creative,’ and we are both very passionate about our baby, Risely.”