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

Hi BJ, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The process started with the idea of helping people. My family and I are huge Halloween fanatics, and we wanted to spread that joy to people who couldn’t experience it the same way we could. Through that, we created Y’alloween in 2021 and in the last two years have partnered with many other organizations like AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) and HAWC (Houston Area Women’s Center) to give hundreds of costumes to kids in need in the Houston Area.

What should our readers know about your business?
The thing that sets us apart is our unique time of year. Christmas and Thanksgiving have many different charity organizations that work for people in need during that time, but Y’alloween is one of the few Halloween-centric charities. We were able to get where we are today thanks to our amazing partners, HAWC and AVDA. They partnered with us right away, and made it easy for us, despite our inexperience in the field. We want the world to know the joy of Halloween, and through our partnerships we want to spread the love of Halloween to the new generation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of the most exciting places to check out at the Museum District downtown. I’d personally take them to see the Natural History Museum, which has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. I just love the dinosaurs, animals, and mummies that they have on display there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person I’d like to shout out is my Dad, Brandon Rottinghaus. I want to shout him out because he helped me start up Y’alloween by helping fill out paperwork, write emails, and get media opportunities. Thanks to him, Y’alloween was able to get off the ground and start helping people from the very first year.

Website: https://yalloween.org/

Instagram: @yalloweentx

Twitter: @yalloweentx

Facebook: @yalloweentx

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