Meet Renee Benn | Founder & Owner of Pick N Peel Stones

We had the good fortune of connecting with Renee Benn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Renee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I spent over 20 years running the offices of half a dozen small business owners and never thought to myself “That could be me.”.

Honestly, I never imagined this is where I would be when I was developing my Fidget stone. I was so focused on showing people how it worked and why it is needed that I was completely unprepared for success. When my product went viral and I saw there was a real need for a sensory fidget, all the muscle memory of how to get things done just took over.

I don’t know if anything could have prepared me for this exact scenario, but when it took off , i was surprised at how much I had learned “accidently” just by watching the business owners I worked for over the years. Truly, it was and is still a great source of inspiration and support.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My story starts with stress and anxiety over a particular job I had. I wasn’t sleeping at night and my daughter suggested I watch the 10 minute Satisfying Videos on YOUTUBE. I was instantly hooked on the calming effect the videos had on me. So much so , that I binge watched ALL of the satisfying videos and was not able to find anything new. So I started looking online for a product I could buy to replicate that satisfying feeling at home. I couldn’t find anything, and I really looked.
So I started thinking about what I would want a product to look like, how it should work and what I needed to make it. At this point , my family thought I was nuts, but I was like a dog with a bone- I had to make something! Once I found the lava rocks, the search for what would fill the holes began. I tried everything: caulk, silicone, latex, puffy paint. latex paint, modeling clay, Play-doh and on and on. Finally I found something that was almost perfect, but I needed to tweek it. I called a good friend that is a chemist and he talked me through some changes we could make.
Once the filler was perfect, I filled my first stone and waited for it to dry. I could barely wait to pick it! It was so perfect. Such an amazingly satisfying product to pick!

When we knew we had a hit on our hands and could start looking for an order fullfillment center, I was so impressed with 2 local non-profit organizations that I partnered with both of them to make and distribute the products. These non-profits teach independence through their work programs and are an absolute joy to work with. I’m so proud to be partnered with Wesley Family Services and Beaver County Rehabiliation Center.

One of our main struggles is making sure people buy our product and not a knockk-off. We are made in the USA and our filler is a special recipe made only for us in a factory in Akron , Oh. We are patent-pending!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize the support and efforts of my husband Tom and daughter Lonna. There from the beginning and with me through all the craziness. I am nothing without them.

I also want to thank my parents for helping manufacture , package , fill bottles, and offer advice ( Dad ) and free food ( mom ).

My good friend Rachel who convinced me fidget stones could be popular , talked me into listing them online and being an amazing cheerleader when I doubt myself.

I have the best support system anyone could hope for, there are simply too many to list but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Cheri & Rotzie for a) not dying and b) drinks and dinner for sanity.

Website: www.picknpeelstones.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picknpeelstones/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-benn-4b53ba139/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picknpeelstones

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PickNPeelStones https://www.tiktok.com/@picknpeelstones