Quickbooks: Charlotte Tegen is making skateparks more inclusive

In honor of Pride Month, QuickBooks is spotlighting the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who play a vital role in creating an inclusive and vibrant small business community. I was stoked to be interviewed by them on running Housewife.

Tell us about your business. 

Housewife Skateboards sells skateboard decks, complete skateboards, apparel, socks, and accessories. It is also a platform for breaking the intimidating barrier of entry to skateboarding using the infographics I’ve created and by sponsoring local community events.

Why did you decide to start your own business? How did you get started?

I studied graphic design in college and I have been skateboarding since I was seven years old.

Growing up, there weren’t any skateboard brands owned by women, let alone LGBQT+ companies. At first, Housewife was a passion project to combine my favorite interests: drawing and skateboarding. While I was in college, my favorite TV show was Mad Men, and I spent a lot of my free time skating to a favorite antique store and flipping through 1950’s magazines just to look at the advertisements.

In a world where there are thousands of small skateboard brands and streetwear companies, I knew Housewife wouldn’t be a get-rich-quick scheme. I started it because I wanted to create high-quality skateboards and apparel with graphics that witty and badass people of all genders could identify with.