" If you “know” why you are in business, the word 'no' won’t deter you when you hear it" with Chantel L. Powell

In 2018, after picking her then six-year-old son up from basketball practice Chantel L. Powell said to him, "You smell like a grown man!"  Being unable to find any deodorants in the stores that she either felt comfortable putting on her little boy or that were not boring, she decided to create her own!  After wearing it to practice, he came home and said "Mom you should make this for everybody!" and Play Pits was born!

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I went to college for fashion merchandising and after graduation, I started out in TV/film production in the costume department for 10+ years. From there, I worked for a media company and was able to learn the marketing side of the business.

What inspired you to start your business?

My six-year-old son came home from basketball practice smelling like a grown man.  I could not find any deodorants in the store that I felt comfortable with, and they were all so boring. So I decided to create my own!

Where is your business based?

We started out in the Washington DC area but have recently relocated to Metro Atlanta

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started mixing ingredients that were already in my kitchen adding other natural products along the way. I formulated for nine months until I came up with something that got rid of my son's underarm smell. The business started after he came back from practice not smelling, he said: "Mom you can make this for everybody!”

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Fun and exciting! Our packaging is fun, and kids are excited to receive them!  Parents post their children's reactions to opening our packaging and adults post about how impressed they are with how sexy the adult products look and how great they work!

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge has been educating potential customers about converting to natural deodorants and introducing them to the idea that they no longer have to settle for traditional antiperspirants on the shelves.  We've been able to overcome that challenge by existing customer’s word-of-mouth reinforcing the benefits and effectiveness of our product.

 How do you stay focused?

I'm an avid user of an agenda book and the to-do-list.  I use an agenda book to jot down my schedule and a to-do list to prioritize for the month, week and day. I also have an amazing assistant who makes sure I get to every item within the week and helps me stay focused on administration and meetings.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Play Pits was never meant to make money; it was meant to kill funk in my son’s underarms.  Therefore, no corners were cut, and real love, time and attention went into creating the product. I often say Play Pits is my 4th child!

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Play Pits is marketed in underserved communities by partnering with and donating percentages of our sales to various youth organizations in these communities.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Know and No.  If you “know” why you are in business, the word “no” won’t deter you when you hear it. Become an expert at whatever industry you're entering, research, and be able to answer difficult questions when they arise.

What are your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app its Shopify it's very user friendly and makes a cash sound every time someone orders no matter where I am...What a wonderful sound!

Favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I like to say I'm enrolled in Google "University" and YouTube "Tech”, as both can teach you anything!

Who is your business role model? Why?

I have several but Tyler Perry is one. I started out working with him for seven + years, witnessing his work ethic and drive gave me an idea of what it takes to be successful. Another is Myleik Teele, Owner of Curl Box. I admire her execution and candor in connecting with her customers to build her company. 

What is your beauty routine? What are some of your favorite products?

I rotate a lot of products but I'm currently using Urban skin RX as a facial cleanser, use coconut oil as a moisturizer and use witch hazel as a toner.

How do you balance work and life?

Still working on this but I'm fortunate to have a husband who is awesome at making sure the home is in order and our children are occupied while I run the business. No matter what is going on I make sure we all eat dinner together. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Grab a glass of wine; take a bath while listening to the Side Hustle Pro Podcast, or binge-watch a show with my husband.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

We are quickly outgrowing the home so our strategy is to move out of the kitchen into warehouse space and obtain distribution.

How can our readers connect with you?

I can be reached on Instagram @Playpits, Facebook.com/playpits and hello@playpits.com