~Pourri Brings The Funk to Austin’s 2024 SXSW
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In partnership with Rolling Stone, ~Pourri set out to create magically immersive experiences for those in attendance, and achieved just that. From exciting panels to star-studded late night performances, ~Pourri left their guests fueled by the funk, and feeling fresher than ever.
With the help of Rolling Stone, ~Pourri flawlessly created some of the greatest had-to-be-there moments at this year’s SXSW, with their two-day Funk Factory event. Both purveyors of culture, Rolling Stone and ~Pourri collaborated to turn Speakeasy, a classic Austin venue, into a four-floor playground of delightful aromas, interactive zones, VIP areas, killer concerts and more. Guests spent the weekend traveling up and down stairs to catch a whiff of all the unique performances occurring simultaneously, throughout the venue.
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Known for their iconic products, ~Pourri transforms life’s stinkiest moments by turning them into something magically fresh, without the funky ingredients or stigmas. In fact, for years, ~Pourri has made it clear that they are not just an odor-eliminating product, but a company that specializes in the curation of fun and positivity. “I’m really passionate about brands and companies actually tuning in more to just having fun, creating fun, and putting positive energy out to the world.” said Suzy Batiz, CEO and Founder of ~Pourri, at her first Amplify Creativity & Innovation in the Workplace Panel.
On Thursday, March 13th, Batiz hosted the aforementioned panel at Speakeasy’s Terrace59 rooftop bar. Guests were dazzled with sweeping city views, floral arrangements and jumpsuit-clad ~Pourri activation employees for a transformative re-alignment of personal leadership and innovation. Alongside Batiz were Shannon Lee (CEO and Owner of the Bruce Lee Family Companies), Amber Allen (CEO and Founder of Double A Labs) and Rachel Sipperley CEO and Founder of Rent My Wardrobe). Together, these four powerhouse women gave tips and tricks on how to tap into creative flow and amplify personal light, joy and inspiration to create meaningful and impactful business.
Conquering fear was also a large part of the conversation, leaving panel guests inspired and ready to take on their next great challenge. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone that hasn’t faced fear along the way,” Batiz admits. “So you might as well make peace with it and realize that it’s just a fleeting thought.” For nearly forty years, SXSW has remained a longstanding destination for creative conversation and meaningful discussion, so the panel acted as the perfect kick-off for the Friday and Saturday celebrations.
On Friday night, the party started with ~Pourri’s Future of Funk Industry Mixer. The gathering was brought to life alongside Music Forward Foundation, a national non-profit in the Live Nation family, dedicated to uplifting underrepresented artists. The mixer crafted a platform for emerging artists, such as Jimi Brass, Jada Amina, DJ Afrosheen, and Zach Person to play their music to an intimate crowd setting of music connoisseurs and curious festival goers.
Keite Young, otherwise known as PREACHER, worked closely with his wife, Suzy Batiz of ~Pourri, to carefully choose the line-up for this mixer. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, Young explains the importance of fostering space for these talented artists, who were all chosen for their authenticity and embodiment of brave conversation within their art. “As soon as you create the opportunity (for the artists), people will be there to listen,” Young says. “Build it, and they will come.”
PREACHER was one of the many acts to play on the big stage, for ~Pourri’s FUNK FACTORY showcase. On Friday and Saturday night, guests flooded Speakeasy’s ballroom floor to feel the funk from an eclectic slate of high-energy artists, such as DJ Questlove, Soulinthehorn with Natasha Diggs & L3ni, DJ Johnny Jane (aka Janelle Monáe), Bootsy Collins, Matinée Social Club, BLK ODYSSY, MonoNeon, Black Joe Lewis, Danielle Ponder and many more. These artists were all chosen by ~Pourri, for their contemporary takes on funk music. Rooted in the rich traditions of blues, soul, and R&B, these artists are evident leaders in boundary breaking and examples of raw, authentic artistry.
“I have lived here (in Texas) for 27 years, and I love supporting culture and art, in our own community.” tells Rolling Stone. “We brought together artists from Texas and larger artists from all over to collaborate and watching them together to create this experience has been magical.”
Throughout the festivities, guests utilized ~Pourri’s free interactive “Tap” technology, a gamified experience where users could receive daily drops and win prizes. Over 35,000 limited-edition NFC-enabled Poo~Pourri pocket sprayers were dispersed amongst SXSW visitors, who used this technology as a virtual all access pass to ~Pourri x Rolling Stone events. Through their ~Pourri platform, guests unlocked VIP bathrooms, got updates on all the happenings and unlocked unexpected surprises along the way! The technology acted not only as a key to all of the incredible moments taking place under the SXSW umbrella, but it also brought a personalized and fun connection between brand and consumer.
“We are developing a new company called, and what’s exciting about that is we have this NFC-enabled technology that we’ve partnered with one of the top game designers in the world to bring our portal to life, and ultimately engage with our consumers.” Batiz says, regarding the future integration of tech with ~Pourri.
For ~Pourri, this is only the beginning. The company plans to use this NFC technology at their many future events, using SXSW as a launchpad to build more unforgettable “Holy Sh*t” moments. ~Pourri created a personalized and impactful experience that certainly did not stink, and they will continue to bring people together!Learn more about ~Pourri’s events and products on their website, and be sure to follow along on social media @poopourri to be the first to know about exclusive
~Pourri’s Funk Factory at SXSW 2024
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