Exploring Life & Business with Britt Rowe of Awkward Games

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt Rowe.

Hi Britt, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hella Awkward was created with my brother & his partner in the middle of NYC quarantine. It was a solitary time in our world in which human connection was severely lacking. We were inspired to help people deepen connections and encourage development in their relationships wrapped in a fun game setting.

The pandemic showed us that we all crave connection. Our career-focused life was unbalanced, we needed more opportunities to invest in the people we love. With Brandon’s expertise in business development, Brittane’s passion for storytelling and social media, and Jane’s eye for product design, we knew we could create something special. We help those who need the extra push to re-ignite exciting and intimate conversations with loved ones and strangers alike. By playing Hella Awkward, you will strengthen your connections and deepen your relationships while having fun! We make it easy to dive into your vulnerable side and finally have real talk.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Global supply chain has been a major struggle for us. We unexpectedly sold out during the holidays last year and because of the shutdowns in China where we manufacture, we weren’t able to receive new products. We looked for US-based solutions and found the cost to be astronomical in comparison. The process of finally completing production, competing for space on a cargo ship, and getting through extremely congested customs took almost 6 months. We kept pushing and took that time to build our social presence and develop new products. Thankfully we are now fully stocked and have a much better idea of how to plan for inventory within these covid parameters.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a Black/AAPI/Family/Women/Immigrant owned business on a mission to create meaningful connections across cultures through conversation. Our flagship tabletop game Hella Awkward is sold nationwide and has been featured in Buzzfeed, Dieline, Essence & Health Magazine. We are so proud because we designed the game and its content ourselves.

Hella Awkward is the card game that sparks unforgettable experiences of connection, laughter & fun, one awkward conversation at a time! We created this game to inspire meaningful conversations for people like us.

For us, playing games is nothing new. As kids, we created a game out of anything – who could make the best ramen noodles or who knew the most words to “juicy”. Our competitive and creative nature fueled family game night, so making this game together only made sense. Growing up, conversations about our emotional well-being or mental health weren’t had. As we became adults, it became imperative that diving into those difficult conversations would only lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other. Telling our stories and sharing our experiences helps connect us. Making us more compassionate and loving people.

With four categories and 140 thought-provoking questions, we hope you’ll get awkward with us!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Our close friends and family continue to be our biggest hype crew! From playtesting our beta version to helping us ship our first orders, they have been cheering us on and offering tangible support since day one. We leaned into our community because we are passionate about the business we are building and knew we couldn’t do it alone. So many friends have offered their skill sets to assist us because they too believe in our mission. From photography and web design support to sharing connections and networking opportunities. We are beyond grateful to have such an amazing community of people surrounding us with love.

Pricing:

• Hella Awkward – 24.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hellawkward.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellawkwardcards/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellawkwardcards
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpO0l2fw181w-VKWcwPlGqQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hellawkwardcards