We recently connected with Destiny Capps and have shared our conversation below.

Destiny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I started my business at the peak of COVID when families were home and looking for engaging activities for their kids. It all began when I made sensory kits as party favors for my daughter’s birthday, and after receiving encouragement from family, I decided to turn it into a business. My first launch was a single Halloween kit, which was a big success within my friends and family. By Christmas, I had sold over 500 items, and that’s when I knew it was time to take things seriously.

To stand out in a growing industry, I focused on making my kits truly unique. I started collaborating with other small businesses specializing in 3D printing, resin, and felting to create custom pieces for my kits. These partnerships helped shape my brand, allowing me to offer something different from anything else on the market. Over the years, staying innovative has been a challenge, but these creative collaborations have been key to my business growth and success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I first started during COVID, my customer base was broad—anyone looking for activities to keep their kids engaged at home. As my business grew and evolved, I found myself connecting with a specific community: sensory play moms. These families are deeply invested in providing sensory-rich experiences for their children, valuing handmade, eco-friendly, and high-quality products. While I still cater to families who enjoy sensory kits occasionally, my business has naturally aligned with those who make sensory play a part of their daily lives.

One of my biggest goals is to introduce more families to the benefits of sensory play. It’s a great way to encourage creativity, fine motor skill development, and even problem-solving—something people don’t always associate with sensory activities. Watching children experiment with Playdough or fillers, figuring out how to build or create, is a fantastic example of hands-on learning. Plus, it provides a much-needed break from screens, which many parents are looking for. My customer base understands and appreciates these benefits, and I love being able to offer products that make playtime both fun and meaningful.

One of the things that truly sets my business apart is my collaboration with other brands. Sensory play is all about diverse experiences, so I love incorporating unique elements like eco-friendly cookie cutters, resin pieces, and multipurpose items that work with Playdough, dry fillers, or even water. These different sensory experiences help children explore and discover what they’re naturally drawn to, which also helps parents choose play materials that best suit their child’s interests.

Collaborating with other small businesses—especially new ones—has also been an incredibly rewarding part of my journey. Not only does it allow me to offer exclusive, high-quality pieces in my kits, but it also helps other businesses gain visibility in the sensory play community. Seeing those partnerships grow alongside my own business has been such a positive experience.

Another unique aspect of my business is my built-in ‘think tank’—my three kids! They play a big role in the design process, giving me honest (sometimes brutally honest) feedback from a child’s perspective. Their input helps me create kits that are not only fun but also truly engaging for little ones, making playtime as magical as possible.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Not long after starting my business, I ran into my first big challenge—the containers I was using for my Playdough kits were completely sold out everywhere. It was likely due to the supply chain issues during COVID, but at the time, I panicked. I remember feeling overwhelmed, even crying about it, but then quickly shifting into problem-solving mode. That’s when I discovered boxed kits—sturdy cardboard boxes with paper shred that allowed me to package my kits in a new way.

That unexpected pivot ended up transforming my business. The switch to boxed kits gave me more space to be creative with my designs, and I also began using jars instead of plastic wrap for my Playdough. While I don’t use the boxed kits as often now, whenever I do, it takes me back to that moment when I thought all was lost—but instead, I adapted, and my business grew stronger because of it.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is such a unique space—it can be both an incredible tool for growth and a challenging landscape for small businesses. Unlike influencers and celebrities who get major visibility, small businesses often have to work much harder to be seen. When I first started on Instagram, my growth came from family and friends. A turning point was when a local influencer, who was also a friend, shared my kits. I’ll never forget that moment because overnight, my following jumped from 200 to 1,000, and around 60 of her customers placed orders immediately. That was when I realized I had something people truly wanted.

In the beginning, social media was all about share-for-share and like-for-like, but I quickly learned that wasn’t converting to real customers. My growth has been slow and steady—I didn’t hit 10,000 followers until 2023, and now I’m approaching 14,000. What makes that number meaningful is that my followers are real customers, not bots or paid-for numbers. Many found me through shares, recommendations, and my incredible rep group, who help spread the word about my launches. My customers are my best advertisement—when they share photos of their kids playing with my kits out of pure excitement, that’s what creates authentic growth.

For anyone starting out in social media, my advice is to be patient—growth takes time. Engaging reels and showing your face can help build a connection with your audience. But beyond social media, an email list is crucial because if Instagram disappeared tomorrow, you’d need a way to reach your customers. Also, don’t get caught up in follower counts—having 10,000 followers doesn’t mean 10,000 orders. True success comes from building strong relationships with your customers so they not only keep coming back but also share your business with others. That’s how you create long-term, sustainable growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.capptivatingplay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capptivatingplay/
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/capptivatingplay/