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 ?
Best expository essay editor for hire .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Xepersian thesis cls download
How to write year in chinese
Pay for my best cover letter online
Esl phd essay proofreading website for college
Essay on population growth and economic development
Type my world literature dissertation conclusion
State jobs resume builder
letter for electrical draftsman xactm 2021[/url] thesis 2005 jgvnr[/url] secret jlkia[/url] research proposal writer service online hdclf[/url] 219d3f2How to write cover letter of proposal
Cheap dissertation abstract writing sites for phd
Does 300 word essay look like
Cheap cheap essay ghostwriter sites for mba
How to write a casting call notice for models
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
expository essay editor for hire [/b][url=http://studybay-com.blogrenanda.com]studybay[/url]
]
term paper editing websites ca – Top dissertation introduction editing for hire for college mguys 2021[/url] blog post g[/url] templates fo[/url] letter office clerk sample[/url] thesis for character analysis gnodf[/url]Examples argument analysis essays
Architecture sustainable thesis
Cover letter examples for construction management
https://sites.google.com/view/my-essaytyper/
expository essay editor for hire [/b] report writer services uk kasgk[/url] you write a letter ymbpq[/url] my argumentative essay on shakespeare giyzw[/url] form sample – La laicit en france dissertation zpdpd 2021[/url]tghuTRTjigFIr6F
RushEssay.com Review
]
https://cse.google.com/url?q=http://author24.ru.com
https://bom.to/j5J3tjShmAO2g
https://bookmarkstore.download/story.php?title=buy-essay-can-be-fun-for-anyone#discuss
How to make a short cover letter for a resume
Resume cover letter information
School essay on algebra
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]тинькофф банк оставить заявку[/url]
[url=http://ru-zaem.ru/]заем онлайн[/url]
https://www.google.co.ma/url?q=https://essaypro.me/
http://servizi.unionesarda.it/ssl/accountadmin.aspx?Returnurl=https://essaytyper.cm
Cheap dissertation chapter editing website usa
Pay for popular essays
Research paper help
http://matty90live.altervista.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2134904#2134904
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/498044-esl-dissertation-abstract-ghostwriting-websites-au/page__gopid__1333966&#entry1333966
http://zhitomir.prombaza77.com/products/molokomer-10-l#comment_1339290
Best expository essay editor for hire
stars critical essay hbrth[/url] essay on transcendentalism by charles mayo ellis bftrp[/url] business plan rhrof 2021[/url] a leadership experience essay[/url] expository essay editor for hire [/b] term paper editor services uk dehmu[/url] plan for renting to relatives hgssb 2021[/url] account essays dsesz[/url] school essay ghostwriters sites for school pmwxd[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://forum.nerdcom.host/index.php?/topic/265022-cover-page-sample-for-resume/
https://pootersdiapers.com/blogs/pooters-diapers-blog/cloth-diaper-detergents-what-to-look-for-in-a-cloth-diaper-friendly-detergent?comment=124492415091#comments
https://cryptographybuzz.com/portsmash-hyper-threading-decryption-keys/?unapproved=539384&moderation-hash=62bb1d0f1b534e3f2306121ac17cf81e#comment-539384
Financial reporting analyst cover letter
expository essay editor for hire [/b] book review proofreading for hire usa ksmpj[/url] resume on web jgjvr[/url] research paper lioky[/url] vitae definition vs resume hegcu 2021[/url] school principal sample resume njmrc 2021[/url] thesis topics hmwuv[/url]College essay on mathematics
Sample descriptive essay writing
Enjoy daily galleries
tiara porn free porn young couple cum bimaxx porn free porn cartoon wallpapers struggle with shemale pornhttp://escortsfetish.allproblog.com/?stephany
https://opensourceyourmind.org/community/profile/anabolics11938132/ Testosterone cypionate gynecomastia, masteron buy steroids online free shipping. It is good to know how you can regulate a steroid cycle correctly by following the proper prescription. http://holdingeurodom.ru/community/profile/anabolics42728112/ Testosterone propionate stanozolol cycle, cheap testosterone propionate stanozolol cycle steroids for sale cycle. Steroids like Trenbolone are designed to build muscle and strength , but there are also cutting steroids like Clenbuterol available that help to burn fat. https://chessfamily.de/community/profile/anabolics24955383/ Trenbolone 150 mix, tnt 400 buy anabolic steroids online paypal. They can also be given intravenously, usually for autoimmune flares. https://wellnesssy.com/community/profile/anabolics32492300/ Androdoxa testo depot 250, cheap androdoxa testo depot 250 order steroids online paypal. The Crossover Effect: As you’ve already gathered, many of these oral steroids can serve more than one purpose and truth be told, while we listed some of the primary purposes above there are traits and qualities these steroid tablets can hold that go beyond those purposes. https://abbott-virtual-scientific-forum.com/community/profile/anabolics2012048/ Trenbolone enanthate poveikis, cheap clenbuterol hc buy legal anabolic steroid fast delivery. Dianabol is a similar compound to testosterone, however it is more anabolic, less androgenic, and an oral steroid. http://holdingeurodom.ru/community/profile/anabolics5188082/ Proviron on trt, 50-megavar buy steroids online paypal. Instead of using the best steroids for mass try these alternatives to get similar results but without a high risk. https://dev.resourcepos.com/community/profile/anabolics15344455/ Sustanon 100, cheap testosterone suspension steroids for sale fast delivery. What would previously have been a 1-hour gym session in the past fast becomes a 1. http://scmidlandsgolf.org/forum/profile/anabolics44282885/ Parabolan avis, anavar buy steroids online free shipping. Before determining to use various other steroids, you must read the top 10 most preferred Crazy Bulk Legal steroids first evaluate to get to understand exactly what you need. http://nachhaltiger-weinbau.net/community/profile/anabolics32345790/ Letrozole quora, cheap anabol legal steroids for sale fast delivery. The body gets used to this drug very fast. https://travelcostarica.today/activity-streams/p/46717/ Tren a 50mg eod, phenduren order legal steroid paypal. There are quality underground labs but they are few and far between. https://destinyconnect.in/community/profile/anabolics7763618/ Sustanon quora, cheap aromex steroids for sale free shipping. The answer is an unequivocal yes. http://drwetbrain.com/Forum/profile/anabolics36403525/ Trenbolone acetate joint pain, cheap masteron order legal steroid fast delivery. Then do progressive overload in the gym. https://www.dedicatedsleepforum.com/community/profile/anabolics16166327/ Steroids usa, genevatropin steroids for sale paypal. Personally, we’ve found that this natural steroid can give explosive results performance-wise. https://vavent.de/forum/profile/anabolics11566632/ Oxandrolone cholesterol, masteron enanthate order legal anabolic steroid cycle. Steroids like Trenbolone are designed to build muscle and strength , but there are also cutting steroids like Clenbuterol available that help to burn fat. https://elfriendacademy.com/activity/p/132702/ Primobolan 50 mg oral, cheap proviron buy legal anabolic steroid free shipping. Steroids Cause Hormone Imbalances. http://nd-penhors.com/component/k2/item/2 http://artevisual.com.co/index.php/component/k2/item/2 oetqnsfflvrwer
https://trucrux.com/community/profile/bitz40261863/ Best game on bitstarz, bitstarz bonus code no deposit. Experienced casino founded in 2014 558 casino games Bitcoin Penguin review. https://digitalartvortex.com/community/profile/bitz17870831/ Bitstarz ilmaiskierroksia no deposit, bitstarz ilmaiskierroksia bonus codes. Simulated sports, politics and eSports are available for betting as well as a decent variety of other sports. https://ayuda-covid.saludclic.net/community/profile/bitz44144774/ Bitstarz free bonus code, bitstarz free spins code. Wager is equal 60xB The max cashout is ??260 This bonus expires on 2020-01-31. https://www.lespetitsdroles.com/community/profile/bitz9376670/ Bitstarz casino ingen innskuddsbonus codes, bitstarz casino 20 darmowe spiny. Casino Bonus codes Features Go to site. https://tutella.io/community/profile/bitz15624464/ , bitstarz ingen innskuddsbonus 2021. Top 5 of the Best Bitcoin Casinos in 2020. http://exodusfilmproject.com/community/profile/bitz27882614/ Bitstarz бездепозитный бонус 20 giri gratuiti, bitstarz бездепозитный бонус 20 free spins. Note that game selection can vary a bit depending on the currency (BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE or BCH) or your country. http://cridusa.com/community/profile/bitz15644837/ Bitstarz kokemuksia, bitstarz бездепозитный бонус 20 gratisspinn. With this bonus you also get 200 free spins to use in the game Book of Pyramids. https://hashaustralia.com/activity/p/30796/ No deposit bonus codes for bitstarz casino, no deposit bonus for bitstarz casino. Legitimate Bitcoin Casinos are regulated through respected governing jurisdictions that provide licensing, compliance verifications and oversight. https://subsidy.razor.jp/community/profile/bitz15470250/ Bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus codes 2021, bitstarz žádný vkladový bonus codes for existing users. Though famous for its sportsbook, the casino offers hundreds of casino games, live dealer games, and dozens of online slots and some amazing 3D Slots from Betsoft. http://www.bcsnerie.com/activity/p/125621/ Bitstarz payout, bitstarz android. Players should do their research on the reliability and respectability of the gaming house before transferring BTC funds to Bitcoin casinos. http://alphastonks.com/community/profile/bitz20475427/ Para yatırma bonusu yok for bitstarz casino, para yatırma bonusu yok codes for bitstarz casino. You can also sort these games according to the cryptos they support. http://www.nvcharity.org/community/profile/bitz19674627/ No deposit bitstarz, no deposit bonus codes bitstarz. If you have questions about the free or cash game procedure, difficulties with registration, making a deposit, participating in the bonus program, money withdrawal, etc. https://saarthiportal.com/community/profile/bitz21647713/ No deposit bonus bitstarz, no deposit bonus codes for bitstarz casino. Currently, BetOnline accepts BitCoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, DASH or Litecoin. https://autopreneur.club/community/profile/bitz14337801/ Bitstarz casino 20 zatočení zdarma, bitstarz casino 30 бесплатные вращения. Huge number of games Live casino Cryptocurrency deposits 1xSlots review. https://pekabo.me/activity/p/9189/ Bitstarz бездепозитный бонус 20 ücretsiz döndürme, bitstarz бездепозитный бонус codes for existing users. Mycelium Local Trader helps you find local Bitcoin sellers. http://купитьтовары.рф/index.php/component/k2/item/8 http://sercomatex.com/en/component/k2/closes-bristol-and-colchester-outposts-to-consolidate?start=30 oetqnsfflvrwer
https://www.houseofomyogaschool.com/sandbox/community-forum/profile/casinoen29297422/ Jolie ville casino naama bay, jolie ville casino sharm el sheikh. Sold For: $615,000 HOA FEE: $272/month Status: Closed Type: Single Family MLS ID: OC15026075 Added: 2, 066 day(s) ago. https://www.mehrmedien.at/community/profile/casinoen1206751/ All star slots no deposit bonus codes 2018, all star slots bonus code. Remise déduite de la facture mobile sous réserve que les deux lignes soient actives. https://test.top10master.com/community/profile/casinoen22359563/ Htc desire eye sd slot, htc desire eye sd slot. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. https://www.manmamuju.sch.id/community/profile/casinoen29192712/ Texas holdem poker freeware free download deutsch, texas holdem poker 2 apk full. Call, Raise ou Fold. https://www.oneworldnursingsolutionstravel.com/community/profile/casinoen16760641/ Zynga poker yahoo sign in, zynga poker your account has been banned. Even before the United States was formed, colonial gentlemen demonstrated how refined and wealthy they were through horse racing, an expensive hobby what with the costs of breeding horses, maintaining racetracks, and, of course, gambling on the outcomes. https://nourven.blog/community/profile/casinoen19657551/ Diable a roulette leroy merlin, diable a roulette leroy merlin. Regardless of the number of reels and lines, the player gets to choose the combinations they are going to bet on. https://wellnesssy.com/community/profile/casinoen38730544/ Wild wild west gambling hall and casino, wild wild west machine. If your problem is unique, feel free to create a new thread. https://siminsahue.com/community/profile/casinoen40269424/ Lodge casino win loss statements, lodge casino blackhawk co slot games. Main Slot dengan Kualitas Tinggi di Judi Casino Games: Slots Adventure. https://britonferryaction.org/activity/p/13916/ Winbig21 no deposit bonus codes 2018, winbig21 no deposit bonus codes 2019. You are not expected to wear suits, buy a glass of martini; all you need to have is a strong connection to the network. https://badinansoft.com/community/profile/casinoen47619220/ Gambling has made me homeless, gambling has destroyed my life. AAA88 = Today Game starts at 11AM daily. https://physical-kitten.jurassic.ninja/community/profile/casinoen40233995/ Le casino des dunes la faute sur mer, le casino du lac leamy. During the Bonus Feature, Vesuvius multiplies wins by x3, x5 or x15 depending on the match. https://chichaweb.com/community/profile/casinoen27518869/ Is poker face an idiom, is poker based on luck or skill. Caesars Casino Bonus Codes. https://beatboxwave.com/forums/topic/casino-time-trial-gta-5-online-casino-time-trial-gta-5-online/ Casino time trial gta 5 online, casino time trial gta 5 online. In 2001 the event was moved to January attracting 40 entries with a buy-in of $5,000 all vying for a share of the $200,000 prize pool. https://advicehome.com/community/profile/casinoen34278480/ Casino shop 202 avenue saint exupery 31400 toulouse, casino shop bayonne rue maubec. Gambling Stock Roundup: MGM’S BetMGM Partners Las Vegas Raiders, CZR Inks Deal With ESPN. https://aparentvoice.ca/community/profile/casinoen40826956/ Is there a casino near tallahassee florida, is there a casino near orlando florida. Play Demo World of Wizard. http://nahalfoods.com/index.php/component/k2/item/9 http://labgeneticsbolivia.com/index.php/component/k2/item/1 oetqnsfflvrwer
I know this website gives quality depending content and additional material, is there any other web site which
provides these data in quality?
my web page 德国药妆