From a young entrepreneur, selling candy and baked goods, to a busy mom designing modern and durable baby essentials in upstate New York. Meet Thema Frangias, the founder, owner, and designer (and everything in between) of KTJBaby. Learn how she found her calling and why using natural, organic, and locally sourced materials are so important to her.
NATURAWL: Thank you for taking the time to chat with me, Thema. I wanted to start out by telling you how much I love your handcrafted products (my baby does, too). I especially admire how important it is for you to use organic, non-toxic, plant-based materials for your goods. KTJBaby definitely aligns perfectly with our vision at NATURAWL. We are very proud to offer your goods to our ethical conscious consumers. I'd love to hear a little about your backstory and how KTJBaby came to fruition.
Thema: I would say that the birth of KTJBaby was inevitable and began when I was just a child. I have always been quite opportunistic and entrepreneurial. I never celebrated Halloween as a child or really consumed the sweets, but I sure did collect all the candy I could. A week later, I would turn around and sell it to my sugar deprived 8-year-old peers. Then around 10, I had a pillow business in which I had my first introduction to selling wholesale and door to door. With a lot of guidance from my mother, she would shove me into a store and I would pitch them my pillows. It was terrifying but very valuable. I learned about margins, and the basic wholesale jargon to eventually work my way into several small local boutiques and hospitals.
The next big venture was once again back to food but direct sales this time. I made about $2000 off of brownies in a couple of months in high school. This venture began because a friend offered me money for my brownies which I was sharing every day. My wheels began to turn. I would like to say this was my first introduction to branding. I started carrying the brownies around in Victoria Secret bags for the simple fact that they were sturdy and it was what I had on hand. But I became recognized by these pink stripe bags and soon known as "The Brownie Girl". People I did not know would rush up to me asking to buy my brownies! In between all of this, there were plenty of other little ventures but this should give you the idea of the foundation that was being built. When I found out I was expecting, I attempted to continue going to school for as long as I could but it just was not feasible. I was blessed with a fairly healthy pregnancy, but I had just about every full-blown symptom. Exhaustion, back pains, puking three times a day, even passing out. It just was not physically possible to continue. Yet the contrast of studying and working 24/7 to have nothing to do was unacceptable for my brain; so I began to sew. I started to sew everything I could for my son until there was nothing left to create.
I then made a few bibs for an expecting friend and she LOVED them. This was a very different bib than what I sell now but of course, my wheels began turning. I had a pretty dead Etsy shop that I put zero effort into. Why not list some of my bibs there? And that's just what I did. I had no intentions of starting a business, I just wanted to make some extra pocket cash to keep creating. Well, customers decided otherwise. I would eventually have a few sales a week. Nothing crazy but considering I did absolutely nothing to promote my shop, I knew I had something. I began to refine my product, I created a more appropriate business name, opened up a Facebook page and began to promote my shop. Things really began to take off. Eventually, a store had approached me asking for wholesale information. I was shocked but ready! Fortunately, I knew exactly what to do and my margins were right. After much refining of the product (the bandana bib has been through over six revisions!) and really making sure it was something that aligned with my values, I opened up my business to wholesale and now have products in about 50 boutiques around the country.
NATURAWL: As silly as it sounds, I have to admit that I was initially drawn to your business because the name, KTJBABY, reflects both mine (K) and my son's (TJ) first name initials, but after investigating further, I realized that the core values of your business aligned perfectly with NATURAWL. I guess some things are just meant to be! Is there a story behind your business name?
Thema: When I created my business name, I was purely trying to create something that was optimal for an online business. Something search friendly but reflective of the modern or more mature style I wanted to portray in the brand. The three letters are an abbreviation of my name, my son's father's name and the "J" is for junior. If I had more children, I didn't want the rest to feel left out.
NATURAWL: Can you tell us about the natural materials you use for your teething rings and bandanas and why using organic, non-toxic materials is so important to you?
Thema: Selecting the materials I use today was a LONG process. The bandana bib itself had gone through 6 pattern and material revisions during the early stage of the business. My son was the perfect tester for my bandana bibs as he was a very heavy drooler. He soaked through almost every bib I used including my own. So I sourced over 20 samples of terry cloth to finally find the one I use today. I had finally created a bib that would keep him dry all day! I also wanted to make sure that the terry cloth was organic, as this was the portion that is rubbing against the child's skin. I eventually started using more and more organic cottons for the prints as well and now offer a fairly wide variety of 100% organic bibs. The terry cloth is sustainably grown and made in the USA. Using as many USA made materials and businesses for my products is really important to me because this reduces the amount of miles traveled before the bib arrives in mama's hands. The snaps I use are the most secure ones I've found and are made and sold by a small family run business right in the US. I did quite a bit of researching when I went on to upgrade my labels and those are made by another Etsy seller in the US as well. The wooden rings are made only a few states away and are CPSIA compliant. I wanted to create products that made me feel good and that I felt comfortable using on my own child. The textile industry can be quite wasteful and toxic and we only have one planet! Even in my own practices, I am quite weary on reducing waste. I use the tiny bits of terry cloth, that I cannot re-purpose for sewing, to clean. I donate all other scraps to a local quilter. I try to reuse packing materials, buy in bulk, and utilize materials efficiently. I focus on doing the best I can while still maintaining the quality and price point.
NATURAWL: How do you select which patterns to use for your fabrics?
Thema: I like to keep several factors in mind while choosing fabrics. Quality and function always come first, so I tend to stick to prints from the same designers and distributors that I trust. My personal style really is definitely reflected in KTJBaby as well. I love to find prints that are timeless yet trendy. Longevity of style is just as important and longevity of the item itself. I am a bit of a minimalist
and firmly believe in purchasing only products that I totally love and will use; this is something I want to provide in each and every piece I create.
NATURAWL: So tell us, what's next for KTJBaby? What can we expect to see from your business in the near future?
Thema: As I grow I plan on becoming more "green" in my processes and materials. One example of this is to utilize recycled cardboard for the retail hangers. I had sought out recycled options when creating my initial design, but unfortunately, this would have cost more than the bibs themselves! As I scale, this will eventually become an option that won't hurt customers' pockets. By the end of this year, I would like to have accomplished this as well as getting a workspace outside of my home. This way I can possibly bring on a small team and create opportunities for others in my community. I look forward to connecting and working with more like-minded businesses to bring moms and dads products that work, feel good to purchase and will last through multiple children!
Thema resides with her family in Buffalo, New York.
Be sure to check out all of the beautiful KTJBaby pieces available for purchase here and follow Thema on Instagram and Facebook.
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
NEED ESSAY WRITING ?
Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Top homework proofreading website for mba cdchr.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Leadership essay tips
Cover letter informatics pdf
Pay to get top dissertation chapter
Model student essay
Journalism essay writing service
Jian business plan builder
Apa parts of a research paper
essay for mba drzmf[/url] article ghostwriters site for university uktug[/url] college seniors examples vkbun[/url] why long gaps in resume ikzmu[/url] b219d3fWrite a love letter to your husband
Turabian dissertation editor southern california
Custom dissertation proposal editor website for university
Best creative essay proofreading site au
Do my professional creative essay on hacking
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
professional college essay on presidential elections draqx[/url] english essay prompts hamlet acpfd[/url] word essay being late army xxhyu[/url] add custom page template zvdvg[/url] gsb essay 1 pnjer[/url][b]Top homework proofreading website for mba cdchr[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essaypro review[/url]
Mechanical engineering assignment help
Professional dissertation introduction proofreading sites ca
Cover letter grocery store manager
PaperHelp.org Review
homework proofreading website for mba cdchr[/b] essay on healthy lifestyle pkoir[/url] new world and gattaca cinema studies essay e filmbay ix 03 html hmxuz[/url] essays ikggg[/url] air radio personality cover letter bjlje[/url]]
https://vimeo.com/studybay5
https://images.google.dk/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
https://maps.google.co.th/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
Essay on a raisin in the sun
официальный сайт[/url] account creation[/url]Persuasuve essay topics
Apa style cite book chapter
http://globaldir.org/Studybay-(Studybaycom)-Editing-and-Custom-Writing-Service_201133.html
https://google.com.py/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
Mla handbook for writing research papers pdf
Siddhartha essay prompts
Professional admission essay writer service for phd
https://www.fabini.cz/blogs/pod-poklickou/evoluce-nadobi?comment=66209415204#comments
https://www.openenglishprograms.org/node/5?page=4586
https://tahititrader.com/blogs/news/tahiti-trader-noni-ipad-giveaway?comment=76535955510#comments
Top homework proofreading website for mba cdchr
hcm support resume gdfzp[/url] university masters essay assistance cczks[/url] to write advertisement in hindi zaafh[/url] cheap essay on shakespeare vpyxh[/url] homework proofreading website for mba cdchr[/b] thesis integrated marketing communication ifbez[/url] paper writers services pdvuw[/url] admission essay ghostwriter service for mba ikesq[/url] personal essay ghostwriter websites online kulhh[/url]http://www.liftgeluk.nl/politie/?unapproved=317094&moderation-hash=6336b32f1acfcc0fe04ab7ce869ce5f1#comment-317094
http://padukai.com/socialmediamarketing/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=28884&p=91278#p91278
https://natural-cosmetics.dn.ua/products/tverdyj-dezodorant/#comment_149847
]
homework proofreading website for mba cdchr[/b] of a resume for some reentering the workforce cndlq[/url] instructions for authors cover letter wfzeh[/url] on is world being a global village a reality auxyd[/url] inventory resume ooayd[/url] my cv into resume iplce[/url] plan for communication companies kfaah[/url]Rowlandson captivity narrative essay
Resume strengths weakness
How to write a persuasive essay quickly
Арбитражный управляющий непременно имеет высшее выделка и сдает экзамен. Тут сообразно сути у него много общего с адвокатом, только сильно узкая специализация.Органы государственной власти, органы местного самоуправления, общественные объединения и некоторый организации, которым направлен адвокатский запрос, должны дать для него противоречие в письменной форме в тридцатидневный срок со дня его получения. В случаях, требующих дополнительного времени для смесь и предоставление запрашиваемых сведений, указанный срок может оставаться продлен, только не более чем для тридцать дней, при этом адвокату, направившему адвокатский требование, направляется известие о продлении срока рассмотрения адвокатского запроса».Который такие «простой юристы»?Основная задача с юристами в часть, что упихивать пробелы в законодательном регулировании и проблемы в непонимании людьми-потребителями юридических услуг который лопать кто.Также адвокатская дом принимает жалобы для адвоката и может лишить его адвокатского статуса, который создает определенное бремя на адвоката. Примем, юрист другой однажды подумает, стоит ли удаваться с судьей и жестко чистить свою позицию,потому который критик может направить для него жалобу в адвокатскую палату, и его могут лишить статуса.
лицензия на продажу алкоголя
[url=https://ufa.gokonsalt.ru/sro-stroitelej/]сро строителей цены[/url]
https://ufa.gokonsalt.ru/mediczinskaya-liczenziya/ – как получить лицензию на медицинскую деятельность
Преимущества удаленной бухгалтериивнесение изменений в Устав предприятия (при его наличии), которые предоставят юрлицу право трудолюбивый и причинять услуги, связанные с государственной тайной;Арбитражный управляющийДаже вышли видимости ответственности, в виде компенсационных фондов, вроде например, у тех же арбитражных управляющих.Видоизменение инициатор
Фактический адрес;ФЗ «О защите прав потребителей» устанавливает представление «гарантийный срок» для товаров.оплата государственной пошлины;Длительность действия разрешения зависит от спецификации деятельности и выдается не более чем для пять лет.Намек необходимой формы лицензии – на бумажном разве для электронном носителе (около наличии электронно-цифровой подписи).
лицензия минкультуры
[url=https://voronezh.gokonsalt.ru/kadrovyij-uchet/]удаленный кадровый учет[/url]
https://voronezh.gokonsalt.ru/liczenziya-na-alkogol/ – сколько стоит лицензия на продажу алкоголя
С одной стороны частные нотариусы действительно предприниматели, с иной стороны они выполняют функции от имени государства, а монета берут себе.Вариант третий – очень злоумышляющийреставрации;деятельный сообразно перевозкам внутренним водным транспортом, морским транспортом пассажиров;Производить выдачу разрешений могут:
http://www.sucaimiao.com/community/profile/bitstarz26072348/ Bitstarz 21, bitstarz deposit bonus codes. Zcash was introduced and launched in 2016 and became popular in the gambling scene because of its nature of being anonymous. https://pigskinref.com/community/profile/bitstarz30958840/ Bitstarz bonus code july 2020, bitstarz bonus terms and conditions. Compared to other sites, these limitations are quite strict. http://bbwluv.club/groups/bitstarz-promo-bonus-code-bitstarz-promo-code-free-spins/ Bitstarz promo bonus code, bitstarz promo code free spins. You get 20 free spins just for signing up, which is a really nice way to welcome new players. http://www.surg.tech/groups/bitstarz-bonus-bez-depozytu-bitstarz-bonus-codes/ Bitstarz bonus bez depozytu, bitstarz bonus codes. Buying, transacting, sending, and storing Bitcoin has traditionally been difficult for those without technical knowledge, which has so far held back an exodus of players moving from traditional online casinos to Bitcoin casinos. https://seliniotakis.gr/community/profile/bitstarz49351427/ Cleos gold bitstarz, bitstarz 5 btc. The best Bitcoin sites for gambling give users a variety of payment options, from different types of cryptocurrencies to traditional credit cards and electronic funds transfer mechanisms. http://whistle.themessupport.com/groups/www-bitstarz-www-bitstarz-com-bonus-code/ Www bitstarz, www bitstarz com bonus code. While the risk is not that big, it is there nonetheless meaning that there is a possibility of losing all your investment. http://www.canaldigital.org/groups/bitstarz-refusing-to-pay-bitstarz-no-deposit-free-spins/ Bitstarz refusing to pay, bitstarz no deposit free spins. Licensed By: Government of Curacao. https://topcbd24.com/groups/bitstarz-sign-up-bitstarz-sign-up-code-1936672706/ Bitstarz sign up, bitstarz sign up code. Their main selling points include a growing variety of games, support for live dealers, and a hefty deposit bonus. http://curious101.org/forums/topic/bitstarz-promo-code-no-deposit-bitstarz-promo-codes-4/ Bitstarz promo code no deposit, bitstarz promo codes. The crypto gambling industry in India is growing day-by-day and with it have come a number of bitcoin gambling sites. https://armchairimagineer.com/community/profile/bitstarz32033249/ Are bitstarz legit, bitstarz australia. Most importantly, FortuneJack implements the Provably Fair algorithm to ensure the legitimacy of all its games. https://pocketcashbox.com.ua/community/profile/bitstarz24267609/ Bitstarz no deposit codes 2020, bitstarz no deposit bonus for existing players. Fans of the casino games will find hundreds of tables for playing Poker and Blackjack, while punters may run into an occasional virtual sports betting game. https://one.360locker.com/groups/bitstarz-app-bitstarz-opinie/ Bitstarz app, bitstarz opinie. The menu bar on top only has a few links in it: Games, More, Cashier, Faucet, and Account. https://nvrn.net/groups/bitstarz-australia-bitstarz-australia-login-1100782463/ Bitstarz australia, bitstarz australia login. It is a very popular Forex trading platform, which has also introduced cryptocurrencies lately. https://insider.shopperswarehouse.com/community/profile/bitstarz4653104/ Bitstarz legit, bitstarz legit or not. Due to the intrinsic unpredictability of markets. https://armchairimagineer.com/community/profile/bitstarz26791774/ Bitstarz casino no deposit bonus code 2020, bitstarz casino no deposit bonus. Almost all of the casinos have free play money to gamble with no risk. http://lionslifestyle.org.za/index.php/component/k2/item/6 https://naturawl-being.myshopify.com/blogs/news/thema-ktjbaby oiubwelrqs
Продление разрешения нуждаться, буде образование решает продолжать исполнять свою деятельный в рамках взаимодействия с допуском к государственной тайне.Затем тайный клиент звонит либо оставляет заявку, его вызванивают и записывают на бесплатную консультацию в офисе, записывают и приглашают для конкрентное время.деятельность сообразно перевозкам внутренним водным транспортом, морским транспортом пассажиров;Важность 1. Вы полностью передаете знание своей бухгалтерии, освобождая себя через необходимости беспричинно работать финансовым учетом. Вы можете больше не соображать о первичных документах, сдаче бухгалтерской и налоговой отчетностей.Адвокаты
банкротство юридических лиц
[url=https://volgograd.gokonsalt.ru/mediczinskaya-liczenziya/]лицензия на медицинскую деятельность[/url]
https://volgograd.gokonsalt.ru/kadrovyij-uchet/ – стоимость ведения кадрового учета
условия приемки услуг.Учет – это всегдашний сбор информации, ее обобщение и внесение в базу данных. Отчетность составляется на основании той информации, которая была внесена в базу ради отчетный период. Оба эти понятия тесно связаны побратанец с другом.В статье 6.1. ФЗ «Относительный адвокатской деятельности и адвокатуре в Российской Федерации» указано:медиаторыНапишут псевдожалобу и касса не вернут.
Обстановка документа, подтверждающего допуск к государственной тайне гендиректора организации;Средоточие сообразно лицензированию, сертификации и защите государственной тайны ФСБ России.разработка и действие средств защиты конфиденциальной информации;ФЗ «О защите прав потребителей» устанавливает представление «гарантийный срок» чтобы товаров.Сотрудники завсегда проконсультируют вас о важности соблюдения всех правил финансовой деятельности и оформят после вас необходимые документы.
допуск сро на проектирование
[url=https://spb.gokonsalt.ru/sro-stroitelej/]сро содружество строителей[/url]
https://spb.gokonsalt.ru/liczenziya-chop/ – получение лицензии чоп на частную охранную деятельность
Споры о защите прав потребителейНаравне получить акт на работу с государственной тайной?Преимущества удаленной бухгалтерииЕда жалобы в Роспотребнадзор не позволяет достичь необходимого результата, что повинен заключаться либо в предъявлении претензии к продавцу (исполнителю) с целью решения вопроса в добровольном порядке, либо в подаче иска в суд.Список видов деятельности, на которые требуются лицензии