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 PAPER WRITING HELP?
Cover letter front desk hotel no experience .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Richard wagner judaism in music and other essays
Assistance with writing a case study
Sample resume general manager administration
Short narrative essay example college
Style of essay writing
Research on eliminating paperwork
Sample resume occupational therapy personal statement
answers for essay questions uivzq[/url] management essays wlejs[/url] essay prompts october 2008 ncumn[/url] apps technical resume india dupni[/url] 52f63c7Life science essay assistance
Resume treasurer duties
Vice president engineer resume
Real estate broker resume objective
Free personal narrative essay examples
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
letter front desk hotel no experience [/b][url=http://studybay-com.blogoscience.com]studybay[/url]
]
presentation editing for hire for mba yucyr[/url] labourer resume[/url] limitations resume cgqnr[/url] web design objective szrbo[/url] to get english as second language article review pphsj 2021[/url]Cover letter for marketing executives
What is a good topic for an observation essay
Dracula essays bram stoker
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
letter front desk hotel no experience [/b] to right a job resume[/url] essay qouyr 2021[/url] essay prompt for university of cincinnati hyceq[/url] essay writers website for phd luzzp[/url]dissertation h
]
http://google.bi/url?q=https://essaypro.co
https://dollcrime5.doodlekit.com/blog/entry/14829799/5-simple-statements-about-research-paper-explained
https://www.codecademy.com/profiles/system3394734610
Educational philosophy term papers
Sap resume template
Hindi essays ebooks free download
[url=http://bpx.by/]обследование технического состояния зданий[/url]
[url=http://obsledovanie.www.by/]провести обследование здания[/url]
https://game7vienngocrong.net/forum/profile.php?id=545293
http://bittersweet.raindrop.jp/etc/goto.php?url=https://essaytyper.cm
Speech ghostwriters for hire usa
States history research paper topics
Learning resource teacher cover letter
http://forum.enemy.su/topic/454305-essay-format-cd-cm/
https://www.weleda.at/produkt/r/rasiercreme?r206_r1_r3:u_u_i_d=bb0e8aaa-d619-41eb-9a10-450345cfe2a2
https://bironi.ru/forum/messages/forum1/topic9/message384730/?result=reply#message384730
Cover letter front desk hotel no experience
cover letter for resume business development kcxrd 2021[/url] my scholarship essay on civil war ueqpw[/url] general writing task 2 template fesju 2021[/url] admission paper ghostwriting site au lhnzw[/url] letter front desk hotel no experience [/b] letter proper jjkuk[/url] small business plan[/url] administrative manager resume qcyxs 2021[/url] squall essay jrsct[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://www.kkt-shop.ru/blog/nachalo-prodazh-evotor-7-3#comment_5405
http://wowshop.com.tw/art/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=7558&pid=731117&page=1003&extra=#pid731117
http://sportensmiah.com/forums/topic/school-thesis-writing/
Pay to write remedial math cv
letter front desk hotel no experience [/b] mba scholarship essay assistance[/url] to write in email body when sending a resume lyvcx[/url] writing journalism dissertation proposal tjckz[/url] essays on apartheid xmatw 2021[/url] research paper editor websites for school – Sample resume manufacturing process engineer jfhhn 2021[/url] admission paper writers services au bysnl[/url]Bid specialist resume
Custom homework ghostwriters website
http://malawiict.com/groups/bitstarz-bonus-terms-bitstarz-bonus-code-australia/ Bitstarz bonus terms, bitstarz bonus code australia. To find out why they are scams, you can read our reviews by clicking on the hyperlinks. http://tournaments.tasyoshop.com/forums/topic/bitstarz-10-bitstarz-trustpilot/ Bitstarz 10, bitstarz trustpilot. Stadig flere nettsider og nettcasinoer apner for bruken av Bitcoin som betalingsmetode pa sine sider. https://avia.mba/community/profile/bitstarz41234408/ Bitstarz casino legit, bitstarz casino promo codes. Before you can withdraw the funds, you must wager them 50 times within a one-month period, with bets no larger than 0. https://gamingstate.eu/community/profile/bitstarz23177099/ Bitstarz support, www bitstarz. Sign Up, it V1. http://merrimacprojects.com/community/profile/bitstarz43292130/ Bitstarz.com bitcoin casino, bitstarz free chip 2020. E-currency exchange services are the one stop hub to exchange your Ukash and paysafecard to bitcoin exchange and perfect money. https://terracottakingdoms.com/community/profile/bitstarz9028891/ Https bitstarz com, bitstarz casino com. Instead of hassles, waits, and frustration, xCoins. https://pigskinref.com/community/profile/bitstarz12171230/ Bitstarz promo code free 2020, bitstarz promo code free spins. In addition to quantity, we rate the quality of games. https://motosportrider.com/community/profile/bitstarz23891270/ Https www bitstarz com, no deposit bonus codes for bitstarz. It is clear that mBitCasino has succeeded in meeting those goals. https://blog.penoblo.com/community/profile/bitstarz17672827/ Bitstarz japan, bitstarz news. How to Gamble with an Online Bitcoin Casino. https://forgetthepills.com/community/profile/bitstarz18259618/ Bitstarz bonus terms and conditions, bitstarz bonus code free spins. The only downside is that BuranCasino is primarily a fiat gambling site, so creating an account will require you to disclose a bit more personal information than you would on a pure crypto gambling site. https://webbcountylulac.com/groups/bitstarz-no-deposit-bonus-code-bitstarz-no-deposit-sign-up-bonus/ Bitstarz no deposit bonus code, bitstarz no deposit sign up bonus. The stars-and-stripes background and president-themed loyalty program are a bit cheesy, but also differentiate this site from its competitors and give Bitcoincasino its own unique character. https://portal.autoskola.hr/groups/bitstarz-affiliates-bitstarz-com-bonus-code/ Bitstarz affiliates, bitstarz.com bonus code. Bitcoins are like cash, non-reversible. https://funda.cite.org.zw/groups/bitstarz-free-chip-bitstarz-free-no-deposit-code/ Bitstarz free chip, bitstarz free no deposit code. Redeem the Ignition Casino bonus code IGBITCOIN200 in the bonus code box as shown: It is very easy to set up a Bitcoin account. http://curious101.org/forums/topic/code-bonus-sans-depot-bitstarz-bitstarz-bonus-bez-depozytu/ Code bonus sans depot bitstarz, bitstarz bonus bez depozytu. Good variety of games Fast Payouts Mobile compatible. http://www.truthovertradition.org/community/profile/bitstarz25238231/ Bitstarz free codes, bitstarz free coupon. Soll es ein Slotspiel sein oder mochte man sich ganz klassisch ans Roulette setzen. http://istoriaipedagogika.ru/index.php/component/k2/item/6 https://www.mondial-infos.fr/decouvrir-la-magnificence-des-calanques-de-marseille/ koaqegmsnwrlz
http://ringstorpssommarstad.se/community/profile/bitz25392549/ Bono sin depósito codes bitstarz, bono sin depósito bitstarz. If you hold BNB, Binance uses that for your fee by default. https://dev.iskconmangaluru.com/community/profile/bitz29614170/ Bitstarz gratisspinn code, bitstarz gratisspinn. The main types of Gambling games around today: Bitcoin Casinos: No matter what type of casino you love, it will exist in the crypto gambling space too. https://ebonyinventions.com/community/profile/bitz44400975/ Bitstarz zatočení zdarma no deposit, bitstarz zatočení zdarma 30. This is far and away the best reason to utilize cryptocurrencies when betting sports online. https://exchangeeducationprogram.org/community/profile/bitz8157204/ Does bitstarz accept us players, bitstarz kein einzahlungsbonus for existing players. The bet amount will calculate the payout of the game. https://community.carservice.in.th/groups/bitstarz-tiradas-gratis-promo-code-bitstarz-tiradas-gratis-no-deposit/ Bitstarz tiradas gratis promo code, bitstarz tiradas gratis no deposit. Free bitcoins : If you are lucky, or if you hunt hard enough, you may find an online Bitcoin casino that offers you free Bitcoins. https://entwickler.xpcom-smartcity.de/community/profile/bitz3346664/ Bitstarz.com зеркало, bitstarz codes. You can roll the dice and win the jackpot amount which is equivalent to 3. https://terracottakingdoms.com/community/profile/bitz37628929/ Bitstarz ingen innskuddsbonus 20 gratisspinn, bitstarz ingen insättningsbonus code. The first sign of good customer service is the availability of several support channels, such as phone numbers, social networks, email addresses, and an instant chat window on the website with a support team representative ready to answer your questions in real time. http://www.gemcube.net/community/profile/bitz2099776/ Bitstarz 30 ücretsiz döndürme, bitstarz 30 tours gratuits. It can be said that Betchan has no special differences from other casinos, but the provided cryptocurrencies make it special. https://booksandmore.blog/community/profile/bitz15362798/ Bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus 20 tours gratuits, bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus code australia. Very high odds Many bonuses and promotions Variety of bet markets is huge Many deposit and withdrawal options. http://escapistcrossfit.de/community/profile/bitz25230252/ Bitstarz bonus senza deposito 20 tours gratuits, bitstarz bonus code no deposit. Still, there is nobody that can regulate bitcoin and btc sportsbooks as well. https://csba-edu.com/groups/create/step/group-details/ Bitstarz casino 25 ilmaiskierroksia, bitstarz casino žádný vkladový bonus codes 2021. Running on 888 Casino Software, Uptown Pokies has a long outstanding reputation in the Land Down Under. https://vajiraoias.com/community/profile/bitz14726544/ Bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus code 2021, bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus 20 freispiele. Regular casinos may require a lot more documents. https://staging.unstuq.com/community/profile/bitz45588887/ Promo code for bitstarz, promo code for bitstarz casino. FortuneJack supports a number of popular cryptocurrencies. https://learn.leania.co/support/profile/bitz21738222/ Bitstarz 22, bitstarz promo code zatočení zdarma. As the supply is fixed at 21 million bitcoins gradually unloaded onto the blockchain, the supply is fixed; as more people use bitcoin the demand is increased, thus driving the price upward. https://staging.unstuq.com/community/profile/bitz10209566/ Bitstarz casino para yatırma bonusu yok 2021, bitstarz casino ingen innskuddsbonus 2021. Why Do Gamblers Love Bitcoin Sports Betting?. http://partnerssouth.com/index.php/component/k2/item/3 http://apcc.spb.ru/index.php/component/k2/item/8 koaqegmsnwrlz
Sexy pictures each day
free amateur porn galleries and forum free red head teen bakka porn how to hire a porn star free porn ugly girls ued abused porn stars sexhttp://pornpaybyminute.instakink.com/?melanie
https://smanetta.odla.it/community/profile/casinoen41516520/ Big dollar casino spins bonus 2018, big dollar no deposit bonus codes 2018. This game offers a fast-paced experience that you and your friends and family will love, online or offline. https://forums.multirev.net/community/profile/casinoen19752915/ Gambling is essential to our economy, gambling is good for your health. Just make sure you know your basic strategy!. https://funda.cite.org.zw/groups/chaussure-a-roulette-fille-decathlon-chaussure-a-roulette-taille-39/ Chaussure a roulette fille decathlon, chaussure a roulette taille 39. Thomas Fang, head of China global markets at UBS, estimated earlier this year that China’s brokerage industry will generate revenue of $100 billion by 2025, with foreign capital grabbing 25% of the pie. https://www.kojofour.com/community/profile/casinoen48317477/ Sault ste marie casino usa, sault ste marie ontario casino entertainment. Servicio de atención al cliente. https://sheismyapplepie.com/community/profile/casinoen20203772/ Online slots real money illinois, online slots real time gaming. In both methods of play, you may draw as many cards as you want until you are close to 21 or until you “bust” or “break. https://elitebbc.com/community/profile/casinoen28294826/ Uninstall full tilt poker mac, uninstall full tilt poker mac. A longer bar would bend at a much lower weight, and a shorter bar will bend a higher weight. http://apl60.fr/community/profile/casinoen32409605/ Old school wheel of fortune game online, old school wheel of fortune game online. He had proposed in August to allow the clients a right to read the report at the Geneva prosecutor’s office, without receiving physical copies. http://dragonforgepress.com/community/profile/casinoen22966411/ Mgm grand casino online betting, mgm grand high limit slots. By the 1970s, attention had shifted to television and rock and roll bands, and the ballroom was forced to close. https://t-mcgun.de/community/profile/casinoen18879111/ Black ops 3 how to get rejack kills, black ops 3 rejack useless. Inicio » Artículos/Noticias » ¿Cuándo se convierte en vicio?. http://www.gemcube.net/community/profile/casinoen1074883/ Casino sites that accept boku, casino sites with deposit bonus. There are hundreds of jurisdictions in the world with Internet access and hundreds of different games and gambling opportunities available on the Internet. https://effzehtest.de/community/profile/casinoen44976149/ Blackjack payout chart for dealers, blackjack payout 3 to 2. He hooked up with light merchant Thomas Adams who used it to create chewing gum, instead. https://enlightias.com/groups/free-slots-double-diamond-2000-free-slots-downloads-offline/ Free slots double diamond 2000, free slots downloads offline. Play Free Slots on Vegas World. https://ziingo.com/groups/texas-holdem-up-poker-miniclip-texas-holdem-poker-2-download-full-version/ Texas holdem up poker miniclip, texas holdem poker 2 download full version. Elige al artista que más te guste para determinar quién es el mejor de todos. https://compas.consulting/community/profile/casinoen4555764/ Roulette pour chariot leroy merlin, roulette pour lave vaisselle whirlpool. The sheer number of casinos that operate California coupled with the varying age regulations across different counties and casino properties as well as regular modifications to those policies make it impossible for us to maintain an accurate listing of every single 18+ brick and mortar casino in the Golden State. https://stellapolarisinitiative.com/the-starboard/profile/casinoen13165847/ Crystal forest slot machine bonus win, crystal forest free slot machine. Share on Social Media. https://www.mondial-infos.fr/comment-lutter-contre-les-maladies-de-voyages/ http://artevisual.com.co/index.php/component/k2/item/3 koaqegmsnwrlz
Прыжки с парашютом искони стали популярным развлечением для именинников и гостей.И не забудьте про красочный салют в конце развлекательной программы, что затмит звезды.Экономит массу денег и сил, открывает чрезмерный место для идей.В хорошую погоду вы сможете повеселиться и получить красивые фото на память.Я знаю, знаю.
где отпраздновать день рождения ребенка в волгограде
[url=https://arendavolgograd.ru/]где отметить детское день рождения недорого[/url]
https://arendavolgograd.ru/ – аренда зала для проведения дня рождения
Это будет цениться от 1500 рублей в час.Когда у вас перевелись настроения уходить из дома разве радоваться, то дозволено простой ничего не делать и расслабиться.Разошлите приглашения гостям изза 2-3 недели накануне вечеринки.Более бережливый вариация — присоединиться с командой друзей к аналогичным играм, которые точный проходят в клубах и барах.Но они есть у каждого человека.