The Audacity to Begin: How Charlotte Trecartin Built an Eight-Figure Brand from a Hair Tie
Off Script
In this episode of Be Anomalous, Charlotte Trecartin — founder and CEO of CharCharms- joins me to break down what it really looks like to build something from nothing, trust your instincts, and move fast without losing yourself in the process.
Charlotte started CharCharms at just 20 years old during the height of the pandemic with nothing more than a kit from Hobby Lobby, a pile of beads, and a simple thought: “Why can’t I hang this hair tie on my water bottle?”
Most people have those ideas and move on. Charlotte didn’t.
She followed the spark. She tested. She pivoted. She handmade every single product for two years.
Today, CharCharms is an eight-figure brand sold in Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Urban Outfitters, and more — all without outside funding, without a roadmap, and without waiting for permission.
In this conversation, we talk about the discipline behind momentum, what it means to be first to market in a category that didn’t exist yet, the emotional cost of building publicly on TikTok, and the kind of character it takes to grow this fast while staying grounded.
If you’ve ever had an idea you couldn’t shake — and wondered whether you’re “qualified” to chase it — this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen to the episode:
[Spotify] | [Apple]
What You’ll Learn
How a college sophomore turned a hair-tie inconvenience into an eight-figure brand
The power of acting before you have the blueprint — and why being first to market mattered
What bootstrapping actually looks like behind the scenes
How Charlotte navigated TikTok growth, being “cringe,” and showing up anyway
The realities of retail partnerships: Target, Dick’s, Urban Outfitters
How to trust yourself when you’re leading a team, facing doubt, and moving fast
The mindset behind resilience, audacity, and self-generated momentum
Favorite Quote
“Every day you wake up with 16 poker chips. How you spend them is how you build your life.”
Charlotte’s reflection:
We all get the same 16 waking hours — the same 16 bets. Where you place them matters. Whether it’s two hours with someone you love, an hour learning something new, or three hours creating — your habits shape your future. Your time is your currency. Spend it on the life you actually want.
Favorite Book
Mindset by Carol Dweck
In This Episode, We Cover
(00:00) Why Charlotte started CharCharms during the pandemic
(02:00) Her upbringing, discipline, and early signs of entrepreneurial drive
(04:00) The tiny idea that wouldn’t leave her alone
(06:00) Realizing water-bottle accessories weren’t a thing yet
(08:00) Being first to market — and owning the category
(10:00) Handmaking every single product for two years
(12:00) TikTok: cringe, consistency, and building publicly
(17:00) Bootstrapping vs. raising money — and why she chose autonomy
(20:00) Learning finances on the fly + PO financing for major retail orders
(24:00) Packaging, retail expansion, and the realities of scaling
(28:00) Persistence, her chess-coach story, and figuring things out
(30:00) Friendships, relationships, and the emotional cost of building
(36:00) Hiring her team and becoming the leader the company needs
(43:00) Shark Tank: the pitch, the rejection, and the unexpected upside
(50:00) Building CharCharms into the accessory company
(53:00) Her long-term vision: becoming the CEO of a billion-dollar brand
Referenced in This Episode
CharCharms — hydration + bottle accessories
Wall Candy — Charlotte’s second brand
Target, Dick’s, Urban Outfitters — early retail partners
Shark Tank Season 15 — Charlotte’s episode
Charlotte’s Substack — weekly quote + founder reflections
New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday.
Be bold. Be real. Be anomalous.