Susan Campbell never imagined that casually flipping through a design magazine would lead to the launch of a brand-new business. After spending years as a stay-at-home mom and working as an optician, she found unexpected inspiration during a quiet moment of leisure, captivated by images of a sidewalk lined with boxwoods wrapped in burlap. “Wouldn’t it be cool,” she thought, “if they were wrapped in fabric that actually reflected our style?” That question planted the seed for what would soon become her passion project.
What Susan envisioned was a stylish planter cover—an easy way to elevate seasonal plants. “I would go to the plant nurseries and try to find a similar look but it just didn’t exist. It drove me to figure that out. I was solving my own problem,” recalls Susan.
What she eventually developed was a solution for disguising unsightly landscaping pots, and a simple way to add elegance and charm to any home. She named the planter covers So.CachePots—pronounced “so-cash-po,” a playful twist on “south” and “cachepot,” which is something used to hide a pot. The product is patent-pending. She launched it under her new company, South23rd, taking inspiration from the address of the first home she and her husband purchased more than three decades ago.
The journey to create So.CachePots wasn’t easy. But what Susan lacked in business acumen, she made up for in determination. “Manufacturing was not in my wheelhouse,” she admits. “I truly believe God gifted me this idea,” she says. “He has opened so many doors.” From that moment on, Susan wasted no time turning her porch-inspired epiphany into a reality. Each meeting and conversation brought her closer to making her product come to life. If someone couldn’t help her, they referred her to someone who could. Through trial and error, she eventually connected with Jimmy Combs of Tsuga in Boone and the third-generation Trotters Sewing Company in Asheboro to bring her prototypes and production needs to life.
Today, all products are made in North Carolina and shipped directly from Susan’s basement. Online orders through her website and artisan shows serve as her brand’s primary sales channels. Susan now participates in nearly 20 shows a year, including the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, Southern Charm at the Farm in Mocksville, and Bizarre Bazaar in Richmond, Virginia. These seasonal events—especially in the fall—remain her biggest sales drivers. With packaging handled in-house, she’s managed to scale while staying hands-on in every detail.
Always on the lookout for trending patterns and styles, Susan thoughtfully curates each fabric with a blend of trendiness and timeless appeal. “It has to feel fresh, but also like something you’ll love year after year,” she says. Advance Digital, near the South Carolina border, prints her designs onto the material, and she’s currently collaborating with an artist in Asheboro to create new patterns.
For Susan, launching South23rd has been a journey of faith, patience, and grit. Her advice to fellow entrepreneurs is simple: “Trust your gut, trust yourself. If this is your passion … then don’t give in.” She continues to balance business growth with family life and often finds inspiration while browsing local boutiques like Simply Meg’s (1616-H Battleground Ave. in Greensboro) and Pineapple Porch (8414 US-158 in Stokesdale).
“My husband is awesome; he helps me load in and load out. My mom will help me put stickers on bags or she’ll help me pack products. But the rest of it is me”—for now. Looking ahead, Susan has her sights set on the Atlanta Market in January to introduce So.CachePots to boutique retailers. With new packaging in the works and hopes of hitting store shelves by spring, her stylish solution is ready to take root beyond the porch—and into homes across the country.
Learn more about Susan and So.CachePots on her website: https://south23rd.com
“I truly believe God gifted me this idea. He has opened so many doors."