CharCharms Water Bottle Accessories

Charlotte Trecartin came up with the idea for CharCharms while studying business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At 21, she juggled her studies with multiple roles – working as a nanny, competing as a bodybuilder, and teaching cycling classes at Lifetime Fitness. Like many busy students and athletes, Trecartin carried a water bottle everywhere. During fall 2020, while taking virtual classes during the pandemic, she thought of a simple solution to a common problem: why not create a way to hang hair ties from water bottles instead of wearing them on her wrist?

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This practical idea pushed Trecartin to spend several months creating prototypes, looking into materials and adhesives, and starting the patent process. Though school temporarily took priority, she dove back into the project after spring semester ended.

To get her business off the ground, Trecartin spent summer 2021 selling coupon books door-to-door. This job did double duty – providing startup money and teaching her valuable lessons about sales and handling rejection. She also found a mentor in Andrew Fogaty of 36Squared, a Chicago business incubator, who helped get CharCharms featured in the Chicago SunTimes.

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CharCharms sold its first products in September 2021, with Trecartin running everything from her father’s basement. The brand found its first audience through TikTok, where it quickly gained over 50,000 followers. The early days were hands-on and homegrown – local high school students and neighbors helped pour adhesive hooks into molds and put together bead charms.

By 2023, CharCharms started showing up in stores, first in a local mall and then in Urban Outfitters. More stores followed – American Eagle, Palmetto Moon, and various boutiques across the country. The product line grew beyond just hooks and charms, expanding to six main items for the booming water bottle market.

When Dick’s Sporting Goods placed their first order, CharCharms shipped its first full pallet straight from the basement. This led to the company’s move to a 400-square-foot warehouse in early 2024.

Later in 2024, Target placed a huge order – 150 pallets worth of products. CharCharms borrowed warehouse space to handle the volume and brought in 40 people to help with assembly and packaging. The products hit Target stores nationwide and their website in September 2024.

Today, CharCharms works out of a 9,000-square-foot space in Wheeling, Illinois. They sell:

  • Silicone straw toppers that fit 10mm tumbler straws and can go in the dishwasher
  • BPA-free reusable straws with cleaning brushes
  • Stick-on charm hooks for water bottles
  • Clip-on charms for bags and backpacks
  • Bottle boots that protect bottles with 2.8-3 inch bases
  • Bottle pouches with space for phones, wallets, and other essentials

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In early 2025, Forbes named Trecartin to their 30 Under 30 list. The company has grown to include warehouse managers, finance partners, and outside help for supply chain and accounting.

What started as a simple fix for storing hair ties has turned into a national brand in less than four years, with products now sold in major stores across the country.

charcharms.com

Shark Tank Air Date: 01/31/2025 – Season 16 – Episode 10

 

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