Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Hunt Rodgers.
Hi Ann, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It’s The Standard Collections began with love, intention, and a simple handmade gift.
In 2019, I started making body butters as birthday and Christmas gifts for family members and close friends. What began as a personal gesture quickly became something more meaningful. People loved the texture, the scents, and the care that went into each jar. After seeing how much others enjoyed the products, my sister encouraged me to consider turning my handmade body butters into a business.
That encouragement planted a seed.
As I began exploring what it would take to build a brand, COVID hit and slowed everything down. Like many small dreams during that season, the process had to pause, shift, and grow more slowly than expected. Still, the vision never left me. My purpose became even clearer: I wanted to create products that helped people experience intentionality through self-care.
In 2021, I officially came up with the name It’s The Standard Collections and filed to make the business an LLC. Although unforeseen circumstances caused business to remain slow for a period of time, the heart of the brand continued to grow. I stayed focused on creating handmade body-care products that felt nourishing, thoughtful, and rooted in wellness.
As an educator, I have always valued helping others feel seen, supported, and confident. That same passion became the foundation of my body butter business. Over the years, I began offering individual consultations to better understand each customer’s skincare needs, scent preferences, and personal goals for body butters, lotions, and holistic oils. I wanted every customer to feel like their product was made with them in mind.
What started as a personal interest in holistic wellness, natural skincare, and quality ingredients has grown into a small-batch brand focused on care, comfort, and confidence. Each product is created with attention to texture, scent, presentation, and the overall customer experience. From rich body butters to soothing lotions and signature oils, the goal has always been to offer skincare that feels personal, luxurious, and trustworthy.
Today, It’s The Standard Collections represents more than body care. It reflects a standard of self-love, wellness, confidence, and intentional living. What began as handmade gifts for loved ones has become a purpose-driven brand built on care, faith, patience, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel good in their skin.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been smooth. As I mentioned earlier COVID hit and supplies became harder to access, life became unpredictable, and it was difficult to build momentum while also trying to manage personal and professional responsibilities.
Another challenge had been leaving how to grow a business while navigating neurodivergence (ADHD) while being an introvert. ADHD has sometimes made it difficult to stay focused on all the moving parts of business ownership, such as planning, organizing, marketing, creating labels, taking inventory, pricing products, and staying consistent with social media. There were moments when I had many ideas at once, but turning those ideas into completed steps took patience, structure, and self-compassion.
Now, being an introvert created challenges as well, especially when it came to promoting my products, networking, showing up publicly, and putting my brand in front of others. I have always cared deeply about the quality and purpose behind what I create, but sharing it with the world required me to step outside of my comfort zone. I learned that promoting my business was not about being pushy or overly visible; it is about sharing something meaningful that can help people feel cared for, confident, and intentional about self-care.
Over time, these struggles have taught me how to move at a pace that honors both my vision and personal growth. My road has not been perfect, but it has been purposeful. Every delay, setback, challenge, and quiet season helps to shape the care, patience, and authenticity concerning the brand of my business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally, I am an educator, mentor, and advocate committed to helping students learn, grow, and recognize their potential. My work focuses on teaching, curriculum development, student support, policy, advocacy, equity, macro practice, and community engagement.
I’m known for being intentional, student-centered, and thoughtful in how I teach and support others. I’m purposeful in creating learning spaces that are clear, fair, compassionate, and grounded in accountability.
One of the things I’m most proud of is assisting students with building confidence, strengthening their voice, and seeing that they are capable of great work.
What sets me apart is my ability to lead with being both neurodivergent (ADHD) and introverted. I have learned to use structure, planning, tools, reminders, and intentional routines to stay focused and organized. Being neurodivergent gives me creativity, strong problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the need for accessible learning environments. Additionally, being introverted has shaped me into a reflective, observant, and intentional professional. I do not always seek the spotlight; however, I value connection, preparation, and purposeful leadership.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like about Grand Prairie, TX is its diversity, central location, its family-oriented, and full of potential. What I like least is there are literal roads that need sidewalks for pedestrians. With that being said, it may not be perfect, but it is a city with character, movement, and room to keep growing in a positive direction.
Pricing:
- Body Butters 4 oz: $12 8 oz: $22 12 oz: $32 16 oz: $42
- Lotions 4 oz: $10 8 oz: $18 12 oz: $26 16 oz: $34
- Holistic Oil Roll-Ons 2 ml: $6 5 ml: $12 10 ml: $18
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.llc.2021?igsh=NmoydHM5d3pjMWRp&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XE8sKPmf/?mibextid=wwXlfr
