Meet Troy Parrott

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

Hi Troy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
From a young age, I knew I wanted to start my own business. I didn’t always know what kind of business it would be, but I felt a strong drive to create something that was truly mine. This passion was deeply rooted in my family background. Although my family is small, almost everyone I knew owned their own business in some form. They may not have been wildly successful, but they had the freedom of working for themselves, and that left a lasting impression on me.

Growing up, one of my favorite shows was Shark Tank. I think many young entrepreneurs gravitate toward it because it represents possibility, people from all walks of life pitching their ideas to millions in just a few minutes. It inspired me to believe that with creativity and effort, anything was achievable.

My entrepreneurial journey officially began when I was 11 years old. I came up with the idea for a butter-spreading kitchen product—a device that worked like a deodorant stick, making it easy to spread butter on pancakes, toast, and more. I even built a prototype! While the idea didn’t go far, it sparked a passion for entrepreneurship that set me on the path I’m on today.

I’ve never had a traditional job where I earned a paycheck every month. Instead, in high school, I found creative ways to make money. Essentially, I did “Task Rabbit” jobs before the platform became widely popular. I advertised on apps like Nextdoor, put up flyers, and took on whatever work came my way. It was my first experience creating a system to generate income, and I was hooked.

That experience cemented my love for entrepreneurship and ultimately led me to create my first real business: SquidHaus.

What should our readers know about your business?
The biggest thing that sets SquidHaus apart from any other clothing brand, is that we are the only brand that promotes real body positivity. Our entire brand is built around transformation, we believe that everyone starts somewhere and you can always improve mentally, physically, and spiritually. We saw that a lot of brands were pushing an unhealthy lifestyle in order to increase profits and lost touch of what caused them to create an athletic apparel brand in the first place. One of the main ways we promote this is through something we call the “SquidHaus Promise” this states that if you buy one of our products in size 2XL and your goal is to lose weight and 6 months later you achieve your goal and only fit an XL, we will send you a brand new pair for free. All we ask is that our customers send us a before and after picture and tell us a little bit about their journey. We also have a page on our website where you can fill out a whole form and state that you are doing the “SquidHaus Promise”. At the end of the day our brand is only as good as the community we create and the impact we can make with our customers. We believe that everyone has the ability to achieve their goals if they really set their mind to it, and in any journey there are gonna be ups and downs, but what differentiates those who succeed vs. those who don’t is working harder when things get tough. We want to deliver an awesome product and create a business that can leave a lasting impact on all of our customers.

I got to where I am today business wise, by just starting. Nobody really knows what they are doing in the beginning, and the only way you can learn is by doing. I really think the biggest thing holding people back from the life they want to live is the fear of failure. At the end of the day anything is possible, bad or good, but if you don’t even try you will never know your outcome. I definitely wouldn’t say it is easy, in the early stages of business there are always going to be issues and mistakes. Trust me we have had lots of ups and downs throughout our journey, but being able to love what I am doing and build SquidHaus with my cousin, has made everything easier. I definitely think having a good partner is important and having mine be one of my best friends and family has made all the difference. Every problem we face together and all the stresses of business feel a little less with the two of us.

I have learned a number of lessons throughout my journey and am continuing to learn every day. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to surround yourself with the right people. Finding people with the same drive and ambition as you makes a huge difference. Not only does it rub off on you, but also the right people can open different doors for your future. Another super important lesson I learned is to not be afraid to delegate to someone who is better than you at a specific task. There are always going to be people who are more talented than you are and getting them on your team can be make or break for your business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my Favorite Spots in LA:

Breakfast: Bru’s Wiffle, Great White, Homestate, Malibu Farm

Lunch: Tartine, Bread Head, One Poke

Dinner: Esperanza, Cento Pasta Bar, Dudley Market

Drinks: Belle’s Beach House, Market Venice

Experiences: Malibu Pier, Brentwood Country Mart, Manhattan Beach, Will Rodgers Hike, PicklePop

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many people who deserve credit in my story, but I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends. Their love and support made it so much easier to reach where I am today. My parents were always supportive of my entrepreneurial dreams. While there were times they encouraged me to consider internships or a traditional job, as entrepreneurs themselves, they ultimately understood my passion for building something of my own.

Growing up, I was inspired by my single mom, who thrived in a predominantly male-dominated industry. Watching her hard work and perseverance instilled in me a strong work ethic and the belief that the more effort I put in, the more I could achieve in anything I pursued.

My grandmother also played a pivotal role in my journey, helping put me through school at Loyola Marymount University. It was there that I studied entrepreneurship and gained a solid foundation in business. I had the privilege of learning from incredible professors like Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko’s. There’s something unique about learning from people who have actually walked the path you aspire to take, because a lot of their teaching makes you think outside of the box.

Loyola Marymount was also where I met my best friends, who became my first customers and my biggest supporters. Their support in my business and my products gave me the confidence to always keep pushing, because I know if I let myself down I am also letting down my family and friends.

Website: https://squidhaus.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-defrees-parrott-jr-4048411b2/