Suzanne Fontaine Turns Seaside Struggles into Smart Outdoor Living with Playamigo

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

When Suzanne Fontaine moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, she dreamed of easygoing beach days—sun, surf, a good book, and nothing but time. But the dream quickly met a sandy reality: lugging a heavy lounge chair, overloaded beach bag, and picnic supplies through the coastal heat was anything but relaxing. Her solution? Playamigo—a sleek, lightweight, all-in-one lounger that’s redefining the way we do outdoor leisure.

“I just wanted one thing that could carry all my stuff, and still give me something comfortable to lean on when I got there,” Fontaine said. “I couldn’t find it, so I started sketching. That’s when Playamigo was born.”

A seasoned nonprofit executive with two decades of leadership experience—including roles at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Susan G. Komen Missouri—Fontaine never expected to pivot into product design and entrepreneurship. But after relocating during the pandemic and discovering a gap in the market, she channeled her creativity into a functional, fashion-forward innovation.

Playamigo combines the storage of a backpack with the support of a reclining lounger. Weighing under five pounds, it features an alloy steel frame to provide structure, an integrated ground mat for stability, and an open interior compartment roomy enough to stash a towel, book, picnic, and more. “I once packed an entire beach birthday party in mine—cake, champagne, the works,” Fontaine laughed.

Designed with versatility in mind, Playamigo is as at home in the park as it is on the sand. Its wedge-shaped profile makes it perfect for outdoor concerts, festivals, and picnics, and it can be carried as a backpack, crossbody, or shoulder bag. Three colorways—Agua, Mandarina, and Marina—offer style options for every personality.

But building a physical product from scratch is no small feat. With no formal background in manufacturing or industrial design, Fontaine learned every step herself. “I found an industrial designer on Upwork and worked with him for almost a year,” she said. “We went through samples, adjusted measurements, sourced materials, and worked closely with a factory in China to bring it to life.”

Now fully operational and available for nationwide shipping at theplayamigo.com, Playamigo is gaining traction with customers seeking functional, design-forward gear for the great outdoors. Fontaine is currently focused on building awareness, expanding into retail, and showcasing the product at public events—including a full summer sponsorship of the Music Under the Stars concert series in Missouri.

“Educating people is key,” she said. “When someone tries it, they get it. But until then, I have to show them how Playamigo changes the whole outdoor experience. It’s not just a chair—it’s freedom to relax without the hassle.”

With every stitch and steel frame, Playamigo is not only a solution to a problem but a testament to resilience, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit. As Fontaine puts it, “We built this from an idea on a beach towel—and now it’s out there making people’s lives easier.”

Playamigo retails for $99 and is available now at theplayamigo.com with free shipping in the U.S. For updates and outdoor inspiration, follow @theplayamigo on Instagram and Facebook.

Listen to the full interview with Suzanne Fontaine on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience