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Pool on a sunny day
BRB Stories: Empowering a New Generation of Swimmers and Thinkers
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It is a wonderful gift to live in a time of shared ideas and growth. Modern technology and sensibilities can bring us together, but some demeaning stereotypes live on in unexpected and damaging ways. Black People Will Swim, owned and operated by Paulana Lamonier, works with gusto to modernize the image of black swimmers, and end the silent discrimination happening in our pools and minds. Black People Will Swim is an organization with one goal: To smash the stereotype that black people don’t swim. Through education, community-building exercises, and simply swimming, BPWS is a powerful example of how dedicated advocates can change perception through hard work. The voters in Kapitus’s Building Resilient Businesses Contest also saw the power in Lamonier’s vision and BPWS’s value, voting in quantity enough to win them a 3rd place $20,000 prize.

Winning in the first BRB competition, however, is just the beginning of the new day for Lamonier and BPWS.  

Education and Awareness

Stereotypes have a tendency to linger in “unfact-checked” territory. Stereotypes are supremely effective putdowns because they usually inflame an existing insecurity for the person being targeted. As a Black swimmer herself, Lamonier was familiar with the long-standing, hurtful stereotype that Black people can’t swim. And when she and BPWS were first offering lessons, she saw the harmful effect of this stereotype on full display. “This all started back in the summer 2019 when it was a challenge to teach 30 people how to swim. During that time, one of my students told me she couldn’t swim because her ‘bones are too dense.’ At that very moment I thought ‘Where did she get this idea from?’ From there, I started to do my research and realized that there are quite a few stereotypes and barriers that lead to the high number of drownings that take place in our community. I then realized ‘Wow! If she takes this false narrative as her truth, how many other black and brown people, who look like us, may have the same thought process?’”

This is why our program is rooted in education. Dispelling false narratives, but also educating non-POC, who teach people of color the racist history that takes place in aquatics.”

Starting a Business and Building a Community

Running an organization dependent on a pool and skilled instructors has its own unique list of difficulties in normal times; but maintaining those elements during the COVID-19 pandemic required some magical balancing. Lamonier, however, found impressive strength in her community even when pool access was extremely limited. “One of the biggest challenges in taking BPWS from an idea to a business was finding a pool to host our swim program,” Lamonier explains. “When we announced the opening of our program in just a few days, we postponed our start date due to the pandemic. This pushed us to get really creative and explore different ways to foster a community using the power of social media, despite not offering lessons.”

Among those creative concepts is the acronym F.A.C.E. which is a guiding principle for BPWS. “Our acronym F.A.C.E. is essentially our brand ethos. Any and everything we do within our brand must align with our acronym. The letter F is all about having Fun, the letter A is building Awareness, the letter C is creating a sense of Community, and the letter E is all through Education.”

Swimming and Empowerment

When asked if she sees swimming as a type of empowerment, Lamonier said, “Absolutely!”

“What I love about swimming Is that the ability to swim is not based off of height, looks, money, economic background, or anything of that sort. It is really a sport for the people. All people! Most importantly, swimming is the only sport that can save your life. It is a life skill that everyone needs to be equipped with. This is why I urge people to learn how to swim because it provides freedom.”

Swimming, then, has a power much grander than someone may guess at first. Building a community of people is an achievement in itself, but then demonstrating that that community can save lives and change minds is simply the first step in making a better, more understanding world. When asked what advice she has for people who want to be community organizers and activists, Lamonier explains that “I strongly encourage any and everyone who reads this to please remember your ‘why’! There are days when you are exhausted, may not have the funds to continue the mission, or the support either, but you have to remember your ‘why’ and the lives that you are helping and saving. That is what is going to help you continue. Also, it is vital for you to work smarter, not harder. Working hard is great, but working smart will take you further. Find help by assembling a team and delegate some of the tasks. You got this!

Building Resilient Businesses (and Communities)

To all those who followed the BRB voting period and those who put their power behind BPWS, know that your votes will go on to increase the scope and capabilities of Lamonier, her instructors, and all those in the BPWS community. Looking ahead, Lamonier has big plans for the next BPWS season: “At this time we are gearing up for our 2023 swim season. This means, hiring swim instructors, hiring an aquatics director, finding a pool location to host our swim lessons, and so much more. Most importantly, because swimming is a seasonal business, we really want to expand into merch. And with this win from Kapitus, we’re able to do just that.”

Black People Will Swim currently operates in the Brooklyn and Long Island area and offers a wide range of classes. And those who are inspired by Lamonier and BPWS’s message for community strength through swimming, Make the Promise to you and your loved ones that you will learn how to swim.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution

Candle in middle frame
BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution
/in , /by

Fragrances and aromas can bring us back to our favorite moments. Whether under the protective charm of cinnamon and pine sap during the holidays or the essence of a seaside town and wet sand, a candle never fails to brighten even the most silent and grey days. The value and power of authentic fragrance are well understood by the team at Frères Branchiaux, a family-owned candle company currently based in Metro DC. In celebration of the Frères Branchiaux team’s 3rd place win in the Building Resilient Businesses contest, we at Kapitus had the pleasure of learning more about the inspiring story of three brothers and their parents who built an eco-conscious vegan candle company from the ground up.

Exclusively using soy and coconut wax, each Frères Branchiaux candle is hand poured with artisanal care. It is no exaggeration to say that lighting a Frères Branchiaux candle with your family is supporting a small business and strengthening a fragrance revolution calling for high-quality, natural products that enhance our own living.

Building a Business

The modern-day family business can be much more than a classic mom-and-pop shop, as exemplified by Frères Branchiaux. Let’s instead call it a brother-brother-and-brother shop; this is because the Frères Branchiaux story started with three brothers Colin, Ryan, and Austin who were faced with a big question. Their mother told the boys that they could make more spending money by either getting a job or starting their own business. Thank goodness they chose the latter. 

Celena Gill (mother of les Frères Branchiaux) explained that on top of making high-quality candles, she and her team faced several unexpected challenges when starting their business. “We had no idea of how to run an e-commerce business nor did we have any type of marketing plan,” explained Celena. “Most of what we learned was on Google and YouTube University.  After we figured out how to make candles, we had to figure out how to market them.  Because the boys were homeschooled, we were able to vend in major cities all around the country.  We were able to home in on our customers and determine our target market.  Our challenges helped us learn who our customer was and how to sell to them.”

Growing a Business

The Frères Branchiaux story is emblematic of a universal change in how our small businesses interact with their communities. By not engaging in ecommerce, small businesses don’t simply lose a revenue stream; they are shortening the potential of their community. Frères Branchiaux took this guiding concept in stride and even scored distribution for their candles in major retailers like Whole Foods and Target.

Any small business seeking national distribution is aware of the pitfalls and sometimes aggressive requirements from big-name brands for distribution, but Frères Branchiaux had some key advice for small business owners hoping to see their products on more shelves: “Start networking and getting connected to buyers.  Also, ask other business owners in Target about their process, their journey, and if they can share their buyer contacts. Apply for any local vendor programs or accelerator programs that would help you gain entry into department stores.  Also, make sure that your products are retail-ready—have proper packaging, UPC codes, ingredients (if necessary) and directions. Our CEO mom, Celena, leads the way in developing relationships and connections to launch in more retail stores.”

Building a Niche

Candles, like coffee or deodorant, are a market full of existing competition and big names who hold massive sway. From Yankee Candle to Harlem Candle Company, it’s clear that candle companies need a strong identity that consumers can identify with. Candles, by nature, are luxury products, so people need to be genuinely compelled to choose one candle over another. This is another fact Frères Branchiaux took to heart when building their business and brand.

Frères Branchiaux is family-owned, vegan, eco-conscious, and community-minded. And further, the team at Frères Branchiaux lives by these guiding principles. They make decisions not based on trend-chasing, but personal inspiration. That inspiration is more than present for Frères Branchiaux: “We care about the air quality in our home and wanted to create candles that would be as ‘clean’ as possible to everyone’s home environment. Austin, our youngest co-founder, has asthma so we had to make sure that any lit candle has the best ingredients for his health.  Soy candles are vegan, clean burning, and emit a better mix of fragrance and wax than paraffin candles.” In an ocean of impersonal brands, the value of personal inspiration cannot be overstated.

Further, consider the Frères Branchiaux recycling program. Co-founder Ryan explains that. “We are very invested in using renewable resources and reducing our carbon footprint.  Since we use glass jars, we thought it would be best to start a recycling program to encourage others to do the same.” After someone entirely burns a Frères Branchiaux candle, they can package up and ship the glass container to their Maryland base. Plus, processed returns can net the sender a $1 coupon for use at pop-ups or the Frères Branchiaux online store.

Building a Future

Thanks to the Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Frères Branchiaux took home a $20,000 prize to continue their mission of clean-burning, hand-poured candles for all. When asked what is next in store for les Frères Branchiaux, the team mentioned some major plans: “In 2023, we are launching in Sur La Table in February, pet products on HSN, and have collaborations with creative brands.  We are also opening our flagship store in Oregon next fall.  Our oldest co-founder, Collin, will be entering the University of Oregon in the fall as a starting cornerback on the football team—so we wanted to open one of our flagship locations where we would spend most of our time. “

Those interested in getting their own Frères Branchiaux candles can find them through the company’s online store or at one of several national supermarkets. And keep an eye out for news on the new flagship and more on Frères Branchiaux team’s social media.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Empowering a New Generation of Swimmers and Thinkers

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness
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Congratulations to Superfit Hero, a Los Angeles-based small business that provides premium activewear for plus-sized women, for being named a third-place winner of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest! Superfit Hero will receive $20,000 to help improve its business.

From Roller Skating to Workout Gear

It’s not often that one can use the words “roller derby”, an often-violent contact sport, and

Superfit Hero, Kapitus, building Resilient Businesses, small business

Micki Krimmil, founder of Superfit Hero, realized her passion for plus-sized sports wear for women after a stint as a roller derby player.

“entrepreneurism” in the same sentence, but in the case of Superfit Hero’s founder and CEO, Micki Krimmel, the two go hand-in-hand. Krimmel was a skater for the Angel City Derby team for nearly 8 years, and during that time, she came up with the idea of creating fashionable active sportswear for plus-sized women.

Krimmel credits playing roller derby for bringing out her inner athlete, as well as finding the will to stop being self-judgmental about her appearance. 

“I began playing roller derby around the same time I started my company,” said Krimmel. “What I thought was going to be a fun hobby quickly became much more than that. Roller derby became the most central part of my identity. For the first time in my life, I was an athlete.

This transformation proved nothing short of revolutionary. My entire relationship [with] my body changed and my confidence soared as a result. Like most people, I had a rocky relationship with my body and with fitness over the years. 

“I tried every diet, every fitness program, and I never felt like I was good enough. Once I began to think of myself as an athlete, my mindset completely shifted. Fitness became about performance instead of appearance…I applied this newfound confidence to every aspect of my life, including my business. As an athlete, I became increasingly frustrated with how fitness was being marketed to women. We are bombarded with constant messages that remind us of our inadequacy.”

Filling a Need

Krimmel has had an entrepreneurial spirit her entire career. In 2009, she founded Neighborgoods, a pioneering firm in the sharing economy, and served as a mentor for Code for America, a consultancy program for civic startup companies. When her career in roller derby was over, becoming an entrepreneur once again was a natural fit for her, especially given her new-found passion for helping women of all sizes get physically fit – a niche that had gone relatively unnoticed until Superfit Hero came along.

Superfit Hero provides active wear for plus-sized women, while encourage every woman to be proud of their bodies.

As the New Year approaches and many of us make resolutions to get physically fit, Superfit Hero is here to help plus-sized women keep that goal while encouraging them to be proud of their bodies. 

“Women are supposed to look a certain way, act a certain way, and fitness is a tool we use to conform to those ideals and as a punishment for not doing so,” said Krimmel. “I was frustrated that the real benefits of fitness were hidden behind these traditional marketing messages of the fitness industry. We all have the capacity for joy in movement. We all have the right to feel at home in our bodies. You don’t have to look a certain way to participate in fitness and enjoy the benefits. All you need is a body – any body.”

Manufacturing Woes

Like with all entrepreneurs, Krimmel faced some huge challenges when she launched Superfit Hero in 2015, with the biggest one being manufacturing. Krimmel found that despite Los Angeles being one of the biggest fashion and manufacturing capitals in the world, most of the factories in the city were geared to serve the larger retailers. 

In the first two years, Krimmel used six different factories and constantly ran into inventory shortages as a result. Krimmel was eventually able to find a manufacturing partner as well as slowly built a network of manufacturing hubs.

“I’m in a much more secure place in that I now have more options and a bit of leverage that comes with larger order sizes,” she said. 

A Passion for her Mission

Krimmel is just as committed to building a brand of plus-size fitness clothing so that no woman feels ashamed of or excluded from becoming physically fit, especially when they work out in public. Since launching, Superfit Hero continually offers new bundles of activewear, including its Daydream Eco-Leisure line, while continuing to offer its best-sellers such as its Superhold line of leggings and sports bras.

“My vision for the world is a future where the natural diversity of body shapes and sizes is celebrated, and everyone is welcome to participate in the fullness of life regardless of their size or ability…Superfit Hero is the world’s most inclusive line of premium plus size activewear with sizes L-7X,” said Krimmel. “Our mission is to make fitness and movement more inclusive and empowering for women. Over 68% of American women wear plus sizes but only 8% of fashion brands serve them. 

“Working with our community, we’ve spent years perfecting our fit for plus size bodies. We have established our brand as a leader in the plus size fashion industry. We partnered with Kohl’s to bring our entire size range to stores across the country. For many of our customers, this was the first time they were able to try on their size in-store anywhere.”

Marketing Expansion

Krimmel said that the company’s goal is to increase its reach through digital advertising and expansion, and the $20,000 from Kapitus’ BRB contest will help with those efforts.

“We are looking to hire a marketing director and increase our reach via digital advertising to expand our impact to a wider audience,” she said. “We’ve proven that we have what it takes to get our brand off the ground and now we need your help to get to the next level. Thank you for your support.” 

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Small Businesses, Kapitus
BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!
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Congratulations to TFTI Experience, a Houston-based small business that takes “selfies” to a whole new level, for winning the 2nd place prize in Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest! TFTI, which stands for “Thanks for the Invitation,” will receive $50,000 to help grow their business

Picture Perfect

TFTI launched its first “selfie” exhibit at the Marq’E Entertainment Center in Houston in 2018 and became an immediate success. The business creates specially designed rooms that are ideal places for individuals, families and friends to take selfies. TFTI then took their unique business idea to showrooms in Atlanta and Dallas. 

After surviving the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, TFTI took off by opening a 5,000 sq. ft. space in

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses

TFTI’s Love Room has been the setting for many romantic gestures, including marriage proposals.

the Galleria in Houston which features 15 custom-designed rooms that provide unique experiences and backdrops for  customers to take the perfect selfies. 

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s the case, then we’ve created libraries worth of unforgettable memories with all of our guests,” said Bryan Andaya, founder and partner at TFTI. “TFTI is the original photo experience concept and we’re ready to create more. We are family-owned and started by first-time entrepreneurs who have learned so much since our opening back in 2018. All we need is the fuel to grow. Our name TFTI stands for the popular social media acronym ‘Thanks For The Invite,’ and we definitely want to thank Kapitus for inviting us to this wonderful opportunity.”

The Upside-Down

TFTI Experience, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, contest, Brian Andaya

TFTI’s Upside-Down Room is one of its most popular attractions.

No, we’re not talking about the parallel universe in Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things,” but we are referring to one of the coolest rooms at TFTI’s space at the Galleria – the room that mimics an upside-down apartment. The ceiling consists of hardwood floors and a fully decorated Christmas tree. Wrapped boxes and basic furniture are bolted to the ceiling. Photos of guests are turned upside-down, giving the appearance that they are defying gravity. 

There’s also the cherry blossom room where guests can sit on a swing, as well as the space station room where customers can put on astronaut gear and pretend that they’re floating in a space station. These are just some of the creative rooms TFTI has created for its guests. 

“People come just for the upside-down room,” said Andaya, adding that the room will change once the holiday season is over. He added that the “Love Room” has been used for marriage proposals, and the entire space has been rented out for parties. The creativity of the business is still flourishing, despite the bumpy economy. 

Expanding the Lens

Andaya said that the company will use the $50,000 to enhance the specialized rooms by installing high-quality photo booths in them. 

“TFTI plans to use part of the winning funds to start building photo booth systems in our interactive rooms,” said Andaya. “This will allow guests to take high-quality photos and receive them via text message or email on the spot. Perfect for guests who may not have the latest phone or [hightest] quality camera.”

Part of the prize money will also be used to enhance the company’s marketing strategy, said Andaya, noting that online advertising is the company’s biggest challenge. 

“Our biggest challenge currently is the rising cost of online advertising spend. Most of our guests can be found on popular social media platforms, but with online privacy changes and rising costs, they are becoming more difficult to target,” he said. “We work to overcome this by doing continuous organic postings, reaching out to local influencers in our area for partnerships and focusing on interacting with potential customers organically by commenting and liking their posts.”

Moving Forward

Andaya and his partners plan for continued success and expansion for TFTI, which was a natural offshoot of another company Andaya launched nearly 12 years ago, Lucky Shots. The company rents out portable photo booths that can print out custom, branded photos and has been used for events for big clients such as the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, CITY CENTRE and the Houston Rodeo.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

Strands of Faith, Ameka Coleman, small business, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus
BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success
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For small business owners, it’s all about keeping the faith – not only in God, but in yourself and your ability to succeed. That’s what drives Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith and one of the 3rd place winners of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest. Strands of Faith is one of five 3rd place winners, and Coleman received $20,000 to help maintain and grow Strands of Faith. 

Starting her own business in 2018 took a tremendous amount of faith, courage, and hard work for Coleman, who gave up a lucrative career as a clinical researcher for pharmaceutical contract research giant PPD to become a small business owner. The Christian mother of four took the plunge into entrepreneurship when she realized that her passion was hair care.

Coleman was able to fill a need by creating a line of cruelty-free, non-toxic hair care products that

Ameka Coleman, Strands of Faith, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, Contestof Faith

Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith, used her personal credit card, a small amount of savings and her faith to launch the business.

contain no parabens or silicone-based materials, yet keep hair moisturized and healthy.

“I launched the business in 2018,” said Coleman. “Prior to this, I never thought that I would one day own a business. I was in a career, Clinical Research, that I loved. It was truly a scenario of passion meeting purpose. Starting in 2006, I developed a passion for loving and embracing my natural hair and I was equally passionate about making progress in the field of clinical trials. Eventually, my science background and real-life experience merged into one to make a beautiful faith walk with purpose!”

A Wing and a Prayer

Like most small business owners first starting out, Coleman had few resources. She used a small amount of savings and personal credit cards to fund the launch of Strands of Faith, and her biggest assets during that time were support from her family and her passion for making clean hair care products. Even though she took a huge gamble by starting her own business, she found the resilience to push through the COVID-19 pandemic through hard work.

“Building Strands of Faith has been a journey of faith, hope, and resilience,” said Coleman. “If you would have told me 6 years ago that I would one day start a business, I wouldn’t have believed it simply because I didn’t have the mental fortitude, faith, and self-confidence to bet on myself. However, little did I know, my journey leading up to it was the perfect segway to creating my brand. While I was on a journey to finding myself, it resulted in me falling in love with the hair that God blessed me with. I then found great joy in encouraging and motivating other women to do the same.” 

Expansion Plans

Strands of Faith has found success through some rough times, and has grown to 10 employees and dozens of product lines, as well as a successful blog on hair care. Coleman said that she plans to use the $20,000 in prize money to help expand her team and strengthen its marketing efforts to serve customers both in the US and internationally. 

“This business became bigger than me,” she said. “I was led to create products that could help further the

Strands of Faith’s Holy Grail collection of natural hair care products has helped launch it to success.

mission by providing clean products for textured hair that would make women feel confident about their hair regimen. This entire journey has been one of faith. Starting out, I didn’t have many resources, but I didn’t let that stop me. I put my best foot forward, juggled all of the roles, and trusted God to lead the way. I was working my full-time job while also being a mom to 2 kids and a wife. It was rough but the vision made me stay committed.

“Now, as a mom of 4, I strive daily to be the best example to my kids, and it gives me great joy for them to see me keep pushing along this entrepreneurial journey. Building this business has impacted my life and others in so many ways but the most impactful way has been the reminder to simply keep the faith! This grant by Kapitus is such a tremendous blessing in allowing me to expand my team and marketing efforts so that we can continue to serve women all around the world.”

Maintaining Balance

Coleman may be unusual among small business owners in that she’s achieved something that many small business owners have not: balance between her personal and business lives. Her secret is putting her family and faith first. That balance, she said, is a key part of the success of Strands of Faith.

“I did the groundwork in the beginning and worked super hard to lay a foundation, so I now have a team who has helped tremendously with taking off some of the workload. Now, these days, though the business still needs much of my time to run, my priorities have shifted, and it is all about family first! Business now comes second to my family. I intentionally did the groundwork in the beginning when my kids were younger. Now that they are older, I am super intentional about being present for them!”

Advice to New Entrepreneurs

Coleman said that the beginning days of Strands of Faith were the most difficult as they are for most small business owners, but she advised new entrepreneurs that the learning experience of launching a business is well worth it. 

“I would say that the most challenging parts, in the beginning, were wearing many titles,” she said. “I now appreciate the process of first getting the experience in each role because over time it built me up to be an efficient business owner. I have learned that entrepreneurship is not just a journey by itself but, instead, it is also a personal healing journey! There will be many times where the journey may feel lonely, but this is when it becomes super important to lean on your self-confidence and focus on the past wins to get you through and, of course, God’s given strength.”

Congratulations to All the Winners

Kapitus’ inaugural BRB contest awarded $250,000 to 7 small businesses that are the epitome of strength and resilience – two crucial ingredients needed to launch and operate a small business. The first-place prize was $100,000, the second was $50,000 and five third-place winners each received $20,000. All of the winners also will receive a complimentary, 8-hour consulting/advisory session to help their business. Kapitus also looks forward to this being an annual contest starting every spring.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

Play Pits, Building Resilient Businesses, Chantel PowellKapitus
BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!
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Congratulations to Play Pits, an African American-owned producer of specialty deodorants made from all-natural ingredients, for being named the winner of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) contest. The Atlanta-based family business will receive $100,000 and 8 hours of complimentary educational consulting/advising sessions on its business. 

Embodiment of Resilience

Chantel Powell, Play Pits, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, contest

Chantel Powell’s small business has endured the COVID-19 pandemic and a warehouse fire, making it one of the most resilient businesses out there.

For Chantel Powell, creator and CEO of Play Pits, resilience isn’t just a trait, it’s a necessity. The four-year-old company suffered through the pandemic shortly after it was created – a period in which nearly 40% of all black-owned businesses were forced to shut down. As if that weren’t enough, in September 2022, its Atlanta-based headquarters and warehouse (where all of its inventory was stored) were completely burnt to the ground in a fire – a catastrophic event that left Powell and her family reeling.

In the aftermath, however, instead of giving up, Powell and her family members are determined to rebuild the business and will use their $100,000 prize to help do so, making  Play Pits the very embodiment of everything for which BRB stands..

“It’s by the grace of God that we won the Building Resilient Businesses Contest because in the last few weeks, Play Pits has proven that we are the personification of a resilient business,” said Powell.

A Family Commitment

Play Pits. Chantel Powell, Kameron, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest

Chantel Powell was inspired to launch Play Pits by her son, Kameron.

After spending nearly six years as an executive assistant at Viacom International Media Networks and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in fashion design and merchandising, Powell had picked up the skills she needed to pursue her passion for launching her own small business. All she needed was an innovative idea and a product to sell.

That idea came in 2017 when she picked up her six-year-old son, Kameron, from basketball camp. Like most active kids coming home after attending a sweaty sports camp, Kameron’s body odor hit Powell hard. 

“My exact words to him were, ‘You smell like a grown man!’” said Powell. She was determined to make him wear deodorant but didn’t want to use the typical ones that were filled with toxic chemicals. When she searched for deodorants that used natural ingredients, she found them to be boring products that she knew she would have to fight her son to get him to use them. 

Powell spent days in her kitchen using organic ingredients to make an all-natural deodorant that she felt comfortable with her son wearing. To her surprise, Kameron loved the deodorant and suggested that she make it for all his friends at camp.

“After my initial refusal, I quickly reconsidered once it hit me that Kameron had a genius business idea!” she said.

Hard Work and Self-Sufficiency

Like many seeking to achieve the American Dream, Powell put in a lot of hard work and $3,500 of her own money to start Play Pits. With no outside investments, she spent nine long months perfecting the secret formula to create the first all-natural deodorant free of aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances and other harsh chemicals found in most deodorant products, and one specifically designed for active kids. 

She officially launched Play Pits in March of 2018, and success came quickly for the new business. Powell saw 497% growth after just 20 months in business, with over 12,200 units sold. Play Pits soon had both out-of-state and international customers, and distributed through both Amazon and Target, as well as directly.

Powell also worked hard by engaging in one of the toughest types of marketing campaigns a business can engage in: word-of-mouth. Powell works extremely hard to market the company through social media and customer recommendations. She also doesn’t keep herself on the company payroll. “Every dime made is completely due to us bootstrapping our business, getting out there and hustling. It has been the best method for us to advance and grow Play Pits,” she said.  

“Quietly, Play Pits has become the nation’s largest 100% black-owned deodorant company,” said Powell. “This grant money is going to be invested in scaling our company by allowing us to purchase larger amounts of raw goods and materials at reduced costs, increase our marketing efforts into youth and professional sports, and to add knowledgeable professionals to help us meet customer demand by expanding our product line and increasing revenue.”  

More Than Just Survival

As Play Pits recovers and rebuilds from the devastating fire, its mission to educate parents about the

Play Pits, Chantel Powell, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest, $100,000, Kapitus

Paly Pits has endured the pandemic and a devastating fire to come back better than ever.

dangerous ingredients found in commercial deodorants and to provide a healthier, all-natural solution for their children, remains the same. The business is still seeking to grow both domestically and internationally, and to never forget where it came from. Since launching, Kameron has been named the company’s Chief Inspiration Officer and is still active in sports, while Powell continues to work hard to market and sell the company’s products. 

“As we start recovery from this tragic event, this grant money is needed now more than ever as it will play a key role in helping us to rebuild, replenish lost inventory/materials, equipment etc., while still allowing us to continue our initial expansion plans,” she said.  

Kapitus secured line of credit small business lending
Pros and Cons of a Secured Business Line of Credit
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If your business needs to have fast access to cash, having a business line of credit (BLOC) in place can be invaluable. Before you apply for one, however, one of the first questions you need to ask is whether a secured or unsecured business line of credit is for you. Both options come with pros and cons, so it’s crucial that you carefully consider which is best for you.

What is a Line of Credit?

Secured and unsecured lines of credit are types of financing that give your business the flexibility to borrow funds at will with pre-agreed upon payback terms and credit limit. Whether you need cash to meet a business emergency or to meet payroll during the offseason, you can use the borrowed money to finance any aspect of your business that you see fit. 

Secured and unsecured lines of credits, however, have different risk profiles for the borrower, so they  usually come with different limits and interest rates. 

What’s the Difference? 

A secured BLOC is a form of financing that requires collateral to ensure that you pay back the borrowed amount, while an unsecured line of credit does not require collateral. 

An unsecured line of credit typically requires a high FICO score, a certain number of years in business (usually at least two years) and a strong cash flow. This type of line of credit normally ranges between $10,000 and $100,000, depending on the needs of the borrower, and comes with a variable interest rate often pegged to the prime rate plus several percentage points.

A secured line of credit, while typically reserved for business owners with lower credit scores, requires borrowers to put up valuable assets as collateral. That collateral can include real estate, equipment, present and future invoices and inventory. If you operate a pass-through business, you may even have to put up personal assets such as your house or personal savings. That said, however, a secured line of credit does have distinct advantages:

#1 Secured Lines of Credit Usually Offer Lower Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates five times so far this year with more probably coming, so cost of capital is a major concern for borrowers. Since a secured line of credit is collateralized with tangible assets, the lender takes on much less risk when providing this type of loan, so therefore, depending on your FICO score and the amount of collateral you put up, there’s a good chance that the interest rate on a secured BLOC could be lower than an unsecured one. 

#2 Your FICO Score can be Lower

Almost all lenders consider a high credit score to be one of the most important qualifications for financing, so if your FICO score is below 650, trying to secure a loan may be a frustrating experience. Since a secured BLOC is backed by assets, your chance of getting approved with a lower credit score is far higher than if you were applying for an unsecured line of credit.

#3 You Could Secure a Higher Line of Credit

A secured line of credit could come with a higher limit than an unsecured one.

While not in all cases, an unsecured BLOC usually tops out at $100,000 to limit the risk of the lender. Even for small business owners with great credit who are able to get approval for an unsecured BLOC, they often have to put up collateral if they want a limit exceeding $100,000. Depending on the value of the collateral being put up, a small business owner is more likely to obtain a higher limit with a secured BLOC than an unsecured one. 

#4 Secured BLOCs May Have Longer Repayment Terms

Securing your line of credit brings a host of benefits, and one of them is that your repayment term will usually be longer than with an unsecured BLOC. Putting up real estate as collateral can be especially beneficial, as the lender may increase the repayment term and the limit since the value of real estate usually increases over time. In some cases, the repayment term on an unsecured BLOC can be up to 10 years, whereas with an unsecured BLOC, it is usually far less. 

Cons of a Secured BLOC

While a secured BLOC does have its advantages, there are also potential drawbacks to consider before applying for one:

#1 You Risk Your Most Valuable Assets

To get approval for a secured BLOC, you need to put up valuable collateral. These can include your home or a highly valued piece of property. If your business relies on expensive pieces of equipment such as tractor-trailers or medical devices, or the future payment of invoices, those assets could be put up as collateral but would be at risk if you fail to pay off your debt. Therefore – just as you would with a personal loan – it is crucial that you make sure you can meet the repayment terms before you take out a secured BLOC.

#2 More Paperwork is Involved

You’ll probably need to consult with an attorney when applying for a

A secured line of credit will involve a lot of paperwork, as well as advice from a business attorney.

secured BLOC. That’s because you will need an expert to hash out the terms of repayment, especially if calamity hits and you are unable to pay back the amount you borrowed. An attorney can negotiate terms of what assets you will have to surrender in case you default on payments. 

#3 Interest Rates Vary

While the interest rate on a secured BLOC is generally lower than an unsecured one, the rate will still be variable, meaning that it will fluctuate as interest rates fluctuate. This underscores the importance of making sure you understand the exact terms of the secured BLOC before you take one on. 

A BLOC is not a Credit Card!

There is a common misconception that a line of credit is like a business credit card, but don’t be mistaken – the two are not the same. Yes, they both provide a line of credit and only charge interest on the amount you borrow. However, a line of credit ideally should be used for bigger, foreseeable expenses than a credit card since the interest rate is typically lower, and in some cases, you won’t get the cash from a line of credit for 24 hours. Plus, lines of credit have term limits and different repayment terms than a credit card. 

A business line of credit is a great tool if you need to get new office furniture or appliances, if you need cash for a business emergency, or if there is unexpectedly high demand for one of your products and you suddenly need to purchase more inventory. On the other hand, a business credit card is handy for sudden cash needs, such as picking up the tab for a business meal, or if your flight gets canceled during a business trip and you suddenly need to pay for a hotel room. Business credit cards also offer perks such as travel miles, but generally charge a higher interest rate than a BLOC. 

Carefully Weigh Your Options

A secured BLOC can give you great benefits if you need access to cash to grow your business or for an emergency. However, you need to carefully consider the terms of this type of financing, and like you would with your personal finances, you shouldn’t spend more than you need to.

Employee Retention Tax Credit Kapitus Small Business Lending accounting
Are You Still Eligible for Employee Tax Credits?
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Thousands of small businesses are checking to see if they are still eligible for the popular Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). While the sun set for the ERTC in September 2021, there is still a chance to retroactively claim that tax credit in 2022, albeit through a somewhat lengthy tax filing process. If your small business didn’t take advantage of this tax credit at the height of the pandemic, you could still be eligible for free money.

Is Your Business Still Eligible?

According to the IRS, if you operated a small business in 2020 and 2021 you must demonstrate that your business suffered a significant loss of business or was forced to temporarily close due to COVID-19 and COVID-related government shutdowns, yet you still retained your employees (at least on a part-time basis), to still be eligible for the ERTC. 

You should have a conversation with your accountant to see if you still qualify for the ERTC, but generally, to satisfy IRS requirements:

  1. You need to still have your gross receipts from 2020 and 2021. Your receipts from 2020 and 2021 should show that your gross income was at least 50% below what it was in 2019, or
  2. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, businesses (including nonprofits, hospitals, educational institutions and 501c organizations) that were affected by closures and government-mandated quarantines and experienced a 20% drop in gross receipts in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019 are still eligible.
  3. Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, businesses can be eligible for the ERTC if their receipts reveal a 50% loss in gross income in 2020 in the quarter immediately following the quarter in 2019 – not just to the corresponding quarter in 2019.
  4. The CAA also extended the dates for eligibility for the ERTC. The legislation stated that small businesses can still use wages paid through Q3 and Q4 of 2021 to claim a refundable tax credit of up to 70% of the qualifying wages, with a maximum of $7,000 per employee per quarter. 
  5. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 originally did not allow for small businesses that received a Paycheck Protection Program loan to claim ERTCs, but the CAA changed that. Employees that received a PPP loan can still retroactively claim the ERTX for past quarters by filing Form 941-X from the IRS.

How do I go About Applying for the ERTC?

Eligible Small business owners should speak to their accountants first, and then can still claim the ERTC when filing quarterly taxes using Form 941 Employer’s Quarterly Tax Return for applicable periods. If an employer does not have sufficient funds to cover the credit (because Social Security and Medicare taxes must be paid in order to be eligible), they can receive an advance payment from the government by submitting Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19 to the IRS.

Don’t Throw Away Free Money!

Economic times continue to be uncertain for small businesses, even in the waning days of the COVID-19 crisis, so you can’t afford to give up chances for free money. Talk to your accountant to see if your business may still be eligible for the ERTC. You could get up to 7,000 well-deserved dollars per employee for doing your part to keep people employed during the height of the pandemic.

Kapitus small business lending price increases
How to Handle Inevitable Price Increases
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Having to raise the price of products and services has become a huge headache for small businesses as inflation continues to skyrocket – the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 9.1% in June – and workers continue to demand higher compensation. This has put a squeeze on small business owners, who are now facing the major challenge of figuring out how to continue to raise prices and stay profitable while not driving away customers in the process.

So how do you continue to raise your prices without off-putting your new and existing customers? It’s a dreaded task for sure, but it may not be as bad as you think. 

Small Businesses Have The Advantage

Have you gotten notices from large retailers, supermarkets or restaurant chains that they are raising their prices? Probably not. Large companies simply raise their prices and assume customers will pay them because they have no choice. Moody’s analyst Linda Montag said in an interview that large retailers will use stealth tactics to increase prices, such as selling smaller packages of products for the same price as previously larger packages, changing the design of their packaging and offering discounts on products and then implementing a price increase when those discounts have expired. 

“Consumer companies across the board have gotten very savvy about how to implement price increases without just slapping on five to 10% price increases,” Montag said in an interview with CNBC.

Larger companies also have teams of consumer researchers monitoring how high prices can be increased before customers refuse to pay so they can determine what their price thresholds are. The point is, if you’re a small business owner, your large competitors are doing the work for you in terms of sales research and price increase strategies – this is something you can definitely use to gain an edge over your larger competitors.

Speak to Customers Personally

As a small business, you have a smaller market share than your larger counterparts, so you can more easily inform your customers of price increases through email, text messaging or a note on your website personally detailing why you need to raise prices. Your customers may not be happy with the price increases, but most of them understand the current economic circumstances the country is facing, and they will appreciate the fact that you’re being honest and upfront with them. 

Some of the ways you can soften the blow when you tell your customers of price hikes:

  • Keep explaining why. Nobody likes to pay more for goods and services, but most people understand the difficult challenges that businesses are facing right now. Inflation continues to surge, supply chain disruptions remain, and workers are demanding better pay. When you inform your customers of price increases, keep explaining to them the precise reasons why you need to do this. Most customers – especially lifetime customers – will understand, as they are most likely seeing price increases everywhere. 
  • Send personal messages. If you have the ability to do so, send individual emails or text messages to your existing customers letting them know that you have no choice but to raise products due to the rising costs of commodities, supply chain disruptions, high salaries, etc. Your customer will feel like you are speaking to them directly. There are several online services that can enable you to send these emails or text messages.
  • Undercut bigger competitors. The fact that large retailers, restaurant chains and supermarkets are increasing their prices could give you the opportunity to raise the prices of your most popular products, but not raise them as high as your larger competitors. This strategy could boost your sales dramatically if customers believe they can get products more cheaply from you. 
  • Inform your customers of price increases in advance. Letting your customers know a week or two ahead of your price increases gives them a chance to adjust their budgets and enables them to keep buying from you. Plus, they will appreciate the heads up.
  • Make sure to get customer feedback. Make sure you give your customers an opportunity to give feedback on and react to your price increases. Make room on your website for feedback or allow your customers to email you directly, even if they’re just venting about inflation and price hikes.
  • Find the Threshold. You need to raise prices to meet payroll and keep the lights on, but
    Freshbooks Kapitus Small Business Lending Financing

    Software such as Freshbooks can assist your business in finding the right price that your customers are willing to pay for your products.

    customers will only be willing to pay so much before they walk away. There are tools such as Fresh Books Markup Calculator or Mini Web Tool’s Markup Calculator that can assist you with that.

Get Creative in Product Offerings

If you must raise prices, try offering discounts to make customers feel like they’re getting value. One way to do this is to offer a bundle of products and give them the message that while prices have increased, they’re still saving money by purchasing those products as a group. Restaurants, for example, may go to a pre-fixe menu that will still be profitable and yet cost less than if a customer ordered items from the menu separately. Another simple example is a clothing store might offer a shirt-and-tie bundle when a customer purchases a new suit.

If applicable to your business, you can also offer flexible payment options on prices that are marked up. For example, if you own an electronics store, offer a long-term payment plan for a new laptop. If you’re an accounting or law firm, you may want to offer clients a monthly payment plan. 

Don’t Worry, It’s Happening Everywhere

While customers won’t be happy with higher costs, one factor that should put you at ease is that it’s not just you that’s hiking prices – both big and small businesses are doing it as well. Your best bet, and the simplest way forward,  is to keep track of the prices your competitors are charging, and stay in touch with your customers.

Construction small business lending kapitus
Construction: Make Sure Your Company is Prequalified!
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The arduous task of complying with risk management guidelines has come to the forefront for construction firms, especially subcontractors. In particular, the advent of prequalification software, which more contractors and agencies are using to keep a database of prequalified construction firms. This software makes it easier for contractors and government agencies to launch invitation-only bids for new construction projects, thereby emphasizing the need for small construction firms to make sure they are in those databases. 

This news is especially important for smaller construction companies, as the new housing construction market remains hot and the federal government is poised to issue a bevy of new contracts for specialized construction projects due to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

If you’re a small construction company, here are some tips on how to make sure you are included in construction firm and government databases of contractors as a pre-qualified company and stay in the running for new projects.

Up Your Marketing Game

An upcoming surge in federal contracts and the continued strong demand for new housing will benefit the construction industry for the foreseeable future. Basic marketing techniques still apply: you need an optimized website; great content, a strong social media presence in which you target the exact audience you wish to do business with and monitor your web traffic and responses, among other things. 

You also most likely need to do more outreach to specific contractors, especially in your vicinity, and government agencies seeking to bid out contracts to make sure your company is on their radar. Setting up email pitches and sequences for potential clients, for example, could go a long way in making sure people know about your company. Do some digging to find out who the decision-makers are at various government agencies that may outsource construction projects (it could be your local municipality, a state government branch or a federal agency) and contact them to make sure you are on their radar screens.

IAmBuilders.com has a great web page on how to market your construction firm, and the video below from small business coach and influencer Mike Claudio also gives great tips. You should follow as many of those steps as you can to make sure your company is visible to the public. 

Make Sure You’re Prequalified

The task of prequalifying is complicated, especially now that it’s time for what construction industry experts call the “Great Expiry” – the period between April and June when most pre-qualifications expire and must be done again. The steps that need to be taken to prequalify are involved, but necessary. Clients and contractors want to cut down on the risk of project delays, shoddy work and going over budget. 

As the owner of a construction company, you must show potential customers and contractors that:

  • Your company is licensed for the particular job. Getting licensed for a particular project isn’t difficult in most states. Double-check with the customer or the contractor whether the project requires licensure. 
  • Make sure you have the proper experience. Obviously, different construction projects may require different skills. Constructing a new modern office complex or home for a private customer will require different expertise than, say, building or repairing a road or a bridge for a state or local government. Make sure you have experience to bid on a particular project, and if your company does not, make sure you hire workers who do have that experience. Having experience will give some reassurance to the customer or contractor that there won’t be any unforeseen delays or shoddy workmanship.
  • Make sure you are following proper safety protocols. This sounds simple but can mean the difference between winning and losing a bid. Make sure you are compliant with the federal Office of Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) safety guidelines for construction projects. This means taking steps to prevent fires and explosions, accidental falls and other injuries. 
  • Demonstrate that your company is financially stable. Has your company ever filed for bankruptcy protection? Do you have the assets to pay your workers adequate compensation to ensure that they won’t walk off the job due to low pay? Ensuring this will indicate to your customers that your company has the resources and inventory to complete the job without going over budget.
  • Demonstrate strong payment history. For any construction project to go smoothly and without delays and extra costs, it’s important to know that subcontractors and suppliers will get paid on time and in full. Legal claims for unpaid construction work, called a mechanics lien, can significantly delay a project. Also, don’t forget that the Little Miller Act requires that prime contractors post a payment bond backed by a surety company that guarantees the finances necessary to complete a construction project. Make sure that this bond is lined up when you apply for a project bid, be it with a private customer or government contractor. 
  • Get your financing lined up. Using financing to ensure that your construction company can complete a project is not necessary for prequalification, but it can ensure that your company is ready to take on a project. Equipment financing is a form of lending that can ensure you have the most modern construction equipment to complete a task. You can also use purchase order financing to make sure that your suppliers get paid on time without restricting your cash flow, and a line of credit can make sure your workers get paid on time. You may also wish to use invoice factoring in case your contractor or customer is slow to pay those invoices. 
  • Respond to Customer Feedback! As we are now living in the “Feedback Economy,” most consumers (including your future clients) will check Google Reviews, Angie’s List, Yelp and other apps in which customers provide feedback on their experiences with businesses. If your construction business has been reviewed, make sure you respond to those reviews. Negative reviews are especially important to respond to – when you respond to them, thank the customer for their feedback and state clearly that you’re making the necessary changes to improve your business based on their feedback.

Get to Know Prequalification Software

Being qualified for a construction job and letting the world know that you’re qualified are two different things. With the increased popularity of prequalification software, you need to get to know what these programs are looking for to be included in bids. Some of the most popular prequalification software packages out there being used by construction firms include:

These software packages emphasize slightly different aspects of the prequalification system. For example, FAST Builder focuses a lot on scheduling and pricing, while ConsensusDocs focuses more on contract details and design. Chances are a contractor or client is using one of them to build a database of qualified construction companies for various projects, so it’s important to learn the best ways to respond to each one so that you can put your best foot forward at bidding time. 

Don’t Miss Out!

The construction industry is set to be in even higher demand over the next few years as more government contracts will be coming out for bid. Make sure your company is visible, qualified and ready to go when projects are put out for bid.

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