Palmetto Pits
background
Inspired by a cooking competition, I saw a contestant using a unique metal drum cooker — something I’d never seen before. Frustrated with spending hundreds on inefficient grills, I decided to craft my own improved version. The result was the best cooker I ever owned: versatile as a grill, smoker, and steamer, highly efficient, and eye-catching with its unique design. Word spread quickly, and soon friends, then their friends, wanted one too. Before long, I was manufacturing and selling three types of cookers across the Southeast.
My Role
I built the entire business from the ground up, leading its strategic development and growth. Beyond designing and manufacturing the cookers, I managed branding, marketing, and sales efforts. I created marketing collateral, built brand awareness through digital, traditional, and event marketing, and drove overall business development.
Services
Design and Fabrication
Custom Pits
Designed unique, branded cookers as promotional items to boost brand awareness and delight customers with delicious food. Notable clients included Landshark Beer & Volkswagen .
The Fan Collection
Our pits are tailgate and game-day essentials. The Fan Collection features our classic cookers striped in your favorite team’s colors, complete with a plate holder for your gear. With authorized permission, we can also paint official logos directly on the pit for teams, clubs, and organizations.
Traditional Pits
Traditional Pits came in either satin black or gunmetal grey, with either matching or contrasting pipes.
Marketing Collateral
Logo Design
I designed a distinctive wordmark logo incorporating a palmetto tree within the capital “P.” Additionally, I developed a simplified pictorial mark featuring just the “P” from the primary logo, making it easy to paint on each pit for consistent branding.
Social Media
Created and managed Palmetto Pits' Facebook account to increase brand visibility and awareness.
Grew an engaged online community, boosting interaction with both customers and prospects.
Shared posts featuring vibrant images of diverse foods cooked on the pits, sales and promotions, new product builds, and upcoming event details.
Event Marketing
Promoted Palmetto Pits at BBQ competitions, cooking and food-themed events, festivals, and various community gatherings.
Boosted brand visibility & awareness.
Conducted live product demonstrations.
Facilitated sales to both individuals & businesses.
Answered questions & providing detailed product information.
Evaluated customer feedback to continuously improve product features and marketing strategies.
See More Of My Work
