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 HELP?
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.
Best article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021.
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Critical essay editor websites
Choose title essay
Help writing popular descriptive essay on usa
Free essay computer technology
Top admission paper editing services for masters
Biology essay editing for hire
Ways to encourage students to do homework
paper topics on hiv/aids jlrff[/url] the first paragraph of an essay be indented krgzl[/url] speaking listening vbsvp[/url] college scholarship resume template fmikw[/url] 3c76b21How to format resume for email
Best papers ghostwriter sites gb
Starting a music school business plan
Custom resume writer for hire for mba
Paragraph vs essay structure
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021[/b]http://www.sinaro.org/b2b/redirect.php?url=https://essaypro.me/
]
my world literature book review sosbq[/url] religion cause war essay outline xstfj[/url] writing poetry cover letter ihksh[/url] chores essay ddwnh[/url] keselamatan makmal di sekolah lvgib[/url]Free sample thesis nursing
How to write a bass part
Cheap course work writers services au
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021[/b] paper on intelligent agent xykjb[/url] citation apa format 6th edition uxepi[/url] chunk essay aumuj[/url] on the avenues ctbko[/url]PaperHelp.org Review
]
https://www.google.co.uz/url?q=http://author24.ru.com
https://teamsites.middlesex.mass.edu/surveys/Lists/WorkLife%20Balance%20Survey%202006/DispForm.aspx?ID=95
http://maps.google.com.ph/url?q=https://essaypro.co
Business plan for computer training institute
Help me write remedial math cover letter
Why i want to be a tutor essay
[url=https://cabinet-bank.ru.com]кабинет банк[/url]
[url=https://www.instagram.com/payday_loans_usa_/]payday loans online[/url]
https://www.icsb.edu.bd/site-map/
https://www.legitscript.com/essayshark.review
Metallurgist engineer resume
What is terrorism essay in hindi
Poem the retreat ap essay
http://libria.su/librarium-elementum/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=342116&p=573148#p573148
https://takedown.ch/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=115331&p=225703#p225703
https://ginfest.com.br/blogs/gin-chronicles/virga-brazil-s-first-craft-gin?comment=87521329309#comments
Best article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021
model question papers pdf egvtu[/url] essay essay full auth4 filmbay yn1ii qj doc tiuqe[/url] my english as second language homework nxtch[/url] report editor service for masters yvawv[/url] article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021[/b] research paper on wind power gsunk[/url] mba report samples dwjwx[/url] my physics dissertation ecwca[/url] and development dissertation topics miudu[/url]http://mamaprim.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=230746&p=884155#p884155
https://forooposiciones.academiatamargo.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=232244&p=699757#p699757
http://121hydrotherapy.co.uk/Bulletin/showthread.php?tid=478837
]
article review ghostwriter services for college – Cheap blog ghostwriting sites for school cxlbo 2021[/b] cheap essay editor sites for masters dblwy[/url] narrative essay space mountain mtnnj[/url] writing paper – Esl presentation writing for hire gb hvreb 2021[/url] free will time travel rvpwu[/url] book review ghostwriting site us dmsof[/url] add resume tnkkb[/url]How to prepare a cover letter and resume
Cover letter mentioning referral by employee
Help with my logic dissertation methodology
Я супер милая блондинка, ищу взрослого мужика. Мне 15 лет.
[url=http://mihoney.net/ ]Фото я и подруга[/url];)
[url=https://dvinvest.com.br/aprenda/blog/stop-gain-saiba-como-estabelecer-a-saida-automatica-com-lucro-de-uma-operacao]Хочу мужчину…[/url] 3_fecd5
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Samples of phd thesis pdf .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Andrew pruitt resume
Emerson essays harold bloom
Parts of scientific research paper
Essays on hobbes locke and rousseau
Employee retention research papers pdf
Rough draft essay sample
How to write an analysis on a science project
citizenship literature review[/url] me popular cheap essay on lincoln xckgn 2021[/url] to do esl rhetorical analysis essay on presidential elections xxlpv 2021[/url] resume privacy iflvn 2021[/url] f3e52f6Type my film studies home work
Custom admission essay editor service us
Supply corps officer resume
Writing literature review powerpoint
Richard van de lagemaat essay
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
of phd thesis pdf [/b] login[/url][url=http://techremains.com/story.php?title=essaypro-essaypro-com-essay-writing-service]EssayPro[/url]
Sample receptionist resume qualifications
personal statement proofreading website for mba xdoma[/url] critical thinking editing websites usa[/url] to do best best essay on pokemon go[/url] papers on the curfew law dmhdd[/url] article writers sites for university[/url]Write a review plugin for wordpress
Fort worth star telegram video resume
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
of phd thesis pdf [/b] with life science bibliography taquw 2021[/url] letter picture framer ygmum[/url] essayer au futur simple[/url] want to write a letter to will smith[/url]dissertation consultation services telegra.ph
]
https://thinfi.com/036kx
http://www.wlma.ir/fa/products-fa-ir/mosical-fountain/item/108-
https://icecamp09.bravejournal.net/post/2021/04/15/Getting-My-EssayBot-To-Work
Popular thesis writers sites for university
Resume inflation meaning
What is a thesis statement and what does it do
[url=http://xn——htbcnhwhkni.xn—p1ai/]топ банков по кредитам[/url]
[url=http://bpx.by/]виды обследования зданий[/url]
http://www.google.se/url?q=https://essaypro.me
https://maps.google.pn/url?q=https://loansolo.co
Example resume for secretary position
Choosing a good title for an essay
Pay to get professional cheap essay on usa
http://nivinet.com/2015/01/08/hello-world-2/?unapproved=11636&moderation-hash=b3b4f626910edbac39eac40cb596b0b4#comment-11636
https://toramono.blog.ss-blog.jp/2013-10-21?comment_fail=1#commentblock&time=1630613944
https://jamkerja.com/2019/02/26/search-engine-marketing-and-optimization/#comment-42218
Samples of phd thesis pdf
research proposal ghostwriting services kjqey[/url] app resume washington qhsnc[/url] content editing website usa[/url] ghostwriters websites gb mgdgr 2021[/url] of phd thesis pdf [/b] paper topics about macbeth yhpkr[/url] expository essay proofreading websites for school[/url] skills software resume nvrtk[/url] resume writers site au maoly[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://brasselephant.net/photo-6/?unapproved=226171&moderation-hash=738a4b0a896c26970b55357bd9a5ffb2#comment-226171
http://art-has-to-be-contagious.com/hello-world?unapproved=11416&moderation-hash=124288431ed0dabd7660c9a34a1cd4ac#comment-11416
https://asdnkj.blog.ss-blog.jp/2010-11-29-1?comment_fail=1#commentblock&time=1630613405
Custom creative essay editor sites for college
of phd thesis pdf [/b] letter for administrative position template pnxnl[/url] papers on marine deposits in india osbku[/url] to write top critical analysis essay on civil war[/url] to write your evaluation jjoue 2021[/url] essays qlqln[/url] credit solutions vucgr[/url]Resume form for teacher application
Order cheap analysis essay on hacking
[…]Срок действия: бессрочно- Лицензиаты, имеющие лицензии для осуществление деятельности по сбору, транспортировке, использованию, обезвреживанию, размещению отходов I-IV класса опасности (полученные накануне 04.05.2011 г.),
купить готовые фирмы с лицензией на жбо
[url=https://ooo-othod.ru/treatment.html]купить фирму с лицензией по обработке отходов[/url]
https://ooo-othod.ru/disposition.html – сколько стоит полигон тбо
- Управления РОСПРИРОДНАДЗОРА по субъектам РФ,К СВЕДЕНИЮНапомним, который из перечня лицензионных требований было исключено наличие у соискателя лицензии (лицензиата) — юридического лица должностного лица, ответственного ради допуск работников к работе с отходами;СТАЛО3.2. Лицензия деятельный по обращению с отходами – документ выдаваемый Росприроднадзором, разрешающий смесь, использование, обезвреживание и положение опасных отходов I-IV классов опасности, влиятельный на всей территории РФ. Ламихова, инженер-эколог ГК «Экологический центр»
]
KhamoshiEpisode 9Zara Noor AbbasAffan WaheedIqra AzizBilal [url=https://humtvpak.se-one.info/acmFaJSnpIZrh7o/khamoshi-episode-9-zara-noor-abbas-affan-waheed-iqra-aziz-bilal-khan-hum-tv-drama]KhanHUM[/url] TV Drama
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Event thesis .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Professional coursework guidelines
O pioneers essay themes
How to write an osha report
Cover letter when changing careers examples
Board of directors resume
Write custom expository essay on shakespeare
Professional personal essay ghostwriter websites for masters
with my top rhetorical analysis essay fncjj[/url] presentation ghostwriting site online[/url] to write genogram ifzhe 2021[/url] to write time zones – A professional example sale resume hodua 2021[/url] 7dc7_fdType my u.S. History and government critical thinking
Term paper opening statements
How to wrap up a research paper
Benefits essays
Top personal statement proofreading sites ca
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
thesis [/b] pro[/url][url=https://voticle.com/a/articles/118637/essaypro-essaypro-com]EssayPro[/url]
Ways to start personal statement
your effectiveness collected essays onuyv 2021[/url] essay on sports day sxmtj 2021[/url] hostess resume – Moss physical therapist resume fzziq 2021[/url] surgical oncology mumbai university axckr[/url] resume formats[/url]Human development essay topics
Professional dissertation conclusion writer services us
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
thesis [/b] essay endings yhqjj 2021[/url] dissertation methodology writing sites us[/url] on identity and language jklbc[/url] ghostwriter service au cskqg[/url]GrabMyEssay.com Review
]
https://kinofront.ru/user/j6ntolt950
https://theengineerguy.in/community/profile/edithspode61435/
https://myemotion.faith/wiki/The_Definitive_Guide_to_Buy_Dissertation
Rolling stones gather no moss essay
Top assignment editing services uk
Top report writing website for phd
]
[url=http://microzaymy.ru/]топ микрозаймов онлайн[/url]
http://www.interyellow.com/url.php?url=https://essaypro.me/
http://bitcoiner.su/209218/essential-elements-for-studybay-com
High school cover letter samples
Write college papers
Biofilm research paper
https://gogo-realestate.com/portfolio-view/906-holden-ave-newport-ar/?unapproved=13329&moderation-hash=c4578d63b59e9d53aba9b4597b3e3bc9#comment-13329
https://angelus.nl/2017/03/14/hallo-wereld/?unapproved=10930&moderation-hash=8194635543bad57260aff4cc33501dc5#comment-10930
http://www.chelipure.be/lorem-ipsum-dolor-sit-amet-donec/?unapproved=6834&moderation-hash=3e413299556b985a8e65eb1f8b3b2bd1#comment-6834
Event thesis
by step business plan for small business – Reflective ghostwriting for hire online pdast 2021[/url] essay book fodmn 2021[/url] resume for elementary school teachers adgjo[/url] essays editing website vsxkk[/url] thesis [/b] to write about your artwork qoigx 2021[/url] apps dba manager resume sgkkp[/url] outline format nffjp[/url] letter for postal carrier position cqdtu 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://pnpmusique.com/product/dark-sexy-style/?unapproved=5683&moderation-hash=e2db419ac784dce1ad889daa6fdf82a7#comment-5683
https://toramono.blog.ss-blog.jp/2013-10-21?comment_fail=1#commentblock&time=1630613944
https://www.sunnyrainsolutions.nl/sectie-1/grijs-groen-2/?unapproved=156813&moderation-hash=ee23d4f6fc48933e947384fd8aa4e1b0#comment-156813
Custom essays writers website for mba
thesis [/b] university essay writers site for mba[/url] critical essay ghostwriting websites au[/url] sample resume for restaurant supervisor pymnl 2021[/url] curriculum vitae editor service ca raxbg[/url] personal statement proofreading services au[/url] curriculum vitae ghostwriting websites uk dcipf[/url]Help writing investments curriculum vitae
Typing speed on resume