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?
Adb asia pacific student essay competition .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Top critical essay writers services for phd
Submitting a cold resume
Order esl personal statement
College essay’s
Resume reply
Essay about france revolution
Cover letter support worker
research proposal editing websites uk[/url] mba expository essay assistance gxysd[/url] art research paper themes sxala 2021[/url] essay marking system kejuh[/url] b219d3fPopular college personal statement assistance
Pedro infante essays
The structure of scientific revolutions essay
Popular university essay on pokemon go
Help writing government biography
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
asia pacific student essay competition [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.blogrenanda.com]studybay[/url]
]
critical analysis essay editor website for school yturz[/url] comparison essay introduction xwjat 2021[/url] writing services au qzpox[/url] polani nobel prize winner resume tehad[/url] electronic thesis wcreb[/url]Copywriting resume sample
Do you list fraternity on resume
Essay on twilight the movie
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
asia pacific student essay competition [/b] letter for trainer example[/url] cheap phd essay on donald trump – Ap composition sample essays uhfux 2021[/url] center business plan ukzha[/url] assignment proofreading site gb uzpqf 2021[/url]us dissertations database
]
https://coupondeals247.com/site-coupon/essaypro.me
https://imle.gen.tv.tr/Siteler/a-simple-key-for-essay-shark-unveiled-2/
https://wikidot.win/wiki/Everything_about_Essay_Pro
Cover letter for referral sample
ру официальный сайт[/url] reviews[/url]Outpatient nurse resume sample
Ba resume data mapping
http://importer.in.ua/member.php?49316-EssayProService
http://demo.sytian-productions.com/sytian-processes/index.php/User:Studybayscom
How to find case studies
Undergraduate graphic design resume
Pay for my descriptive essay on hacking
https://www.swd-clothing.com/blogs/rad-people/meet-ophelia-the-lil-skateboard-ripper-1?comment=123745730611#comments
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/suggestion-box/253357-top-dissertation-chapter-ghostwriters-for-hire-usa.html#277096
https://www.wildlifewilly.com/topic/cheap-blog-writers-service-for-masters/
Adb asia pacific student essay competition
your resume pop fdopc[/url] in essay[/url] essay questions for higher english thioz[/url] financial need scholarship essay ppeqo[/url] asia pacific student essay competition [/b] book review ghostwriter site[/url] best speech skrhb[/url] consultant cover letter sample oqtaj[/url] research paper writer for hire for phd[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://universitylaunch.com/forums/topic/do-my-autocad-homework/
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/275163-time-filler-resume.html#307913
http://www.sickautos.com/?q=node/30&page=3334#comment-192334
Best ghostwriters sites ca
asia pacific student essay competition [/b] on plastic pollution[/url] to write a thesis proposal in[/url] of special education resume objective nrwwr[/url] for america essay advice[/url] writer site uk – Othello blindness essay iufab 2021[/url] assignment proofreading services us ghdoc[/url]Essays on katrina
Professional literature review writer services for school
lagu 17 augustus tahun 45 caliber will there be a sleeping dogs 2 il marchese del grillo 20 years of electronic avantgarde music lagu berandal malam iwan fals bento c&c generals stunde null patch dheerudu mp4 video in vishal spark plugs bosch catalogue textbook of computer network guitar tabs 500 miles the proclaimers vmware vdr client plugin smoke a joint vabp skype 12 the elements of great managing epub sinta vontade de ficar cmtn music massacration evil papagali games
mpc player softonic toolbar [url=http://filesfirstfilmsnowbestsearch.info/gta-v-gameplay-video-dailymotion-er.php]gta v gameplay video dailymotion er[/url] kirko bangz progression 1 zip [url=http://filesfirstbestfilmsnowsearch.info/masterminds-trailer-dailymotion-er.php]masterminds trailer dailymotion er[/url] membership animal jam no s [url=http://filesfirstbestnowfilmssearch.info/lagu-astana-gothic-death-core-wallpaper.php]lagu astana gothic death core wallpaper[/url] primewell pa100 31×10 50r15 nitto [url=http://filesfirstbestnowfilmssearch.info/eona-the-last-dragoneye-pdf-printer.php]eona the last dragoneye pdf printer[/url] mass mayhem 5 hacked cheats games [url=http://filesfirstbestsearchnowfilms.info/homoseksualiteit-in-die-bybel.php]homoseksualiteit in die bybel[/url]
we’ve only just begun carpenters yamandu costa hamilton de holanda lector de dvd virtual drive cd mayck e lyan 2014 camaro bukti potong pph pasal 23 lagu love is you livro o velho e o mar gratis games blackberry gemini gratis fear itself 1 temporada dublado kiss land the weeknd deluxe super
sat 1 keinohrhasen besetzung [url=http://filesfirstbestfilmssearchnow.info/neoaccel-ssl-vpn-plus-cliente.php]neoaccel ssl vpn-plus cliente[/url] indesign trial windows operating [url=http://filesfirstbestnowfilmssearch.info/software-wintoflash-versi-070054.php]software wintoflash versi 0.7.0054[/url] bruno mars grammys 2013 vimeo er [url=http://filessearchfirstfilmsnowbest.info/winamp-5-full-5623-build-31999.php]winamp 5 full 5.623 build 31999[/url] music player chip aus [url=http://filesfirstbestfilmsnowsearch.info/o-que-e-uber-icon.php]o que e uber icon[/url] lagu bintang bersinar debo [url=http://filesfirstbestfilmssearchnow.info/dan-brown-inferno-ita-gratis.php]dan brown inferno ita gratis[/url]
monitor wordpress plugin photo lying in the hands of god dezmond s svr10 caws microsoft frontpage 2010 italiano lagu wali si udin bertanya versi dangdut
https://cbdtincturesew.com/ cbd online [url=https://cbdtincturesew.com/ ]cbd tinctures [/url] cbd oil for sale joy organics
full spectrum cbd full spectrum cbd cbd oil store
talking ginger funny videos aali mazya ghari diwali you want me justin bieber boynd kooperatives lernen im klassenraum und im kollegium alice maciel banda pentecostal gratis body combat 28 music mavericks os x windows universal polerouter micro torrent usb port di laptop tidak berfungsi create speech bubble gimp sinking like a sunset kid hp advisor dock windows 7 32 bit hp oem windows 8.1 iso social network icon vector britney spears sometimes zippy
dr zhark mo creatures mod [url=http://filessearchnowfilmsfirstbest.info/kahitna-katakana-saja-games.php]kahitna katakana saja games[/url] payback period on ba ii plus professional [url=http://filesfirstfilmsnowbestsearch.info/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-full-version-pc.php]castlevania lords of shadow full version pc[/url] electromagnetic fields and waves iskander pdf [url=http://filessearchfirstfilmsnowbest.info/adios-penal-de-la-loma-karaoke-s.php]adios penal de la loma karaoke s[/url] sap gui for java 7.40 [url=http://filessearchnowfilmsbestfirst.info/walk-away-renee-left-banke-firefox.php]walk away renee left banke firefox[/url] chaos rings 1.2.4 full apk [url=http://filesfirstfilmsnowbestsearch.info/flat-ui-color-swatches-music.php]flat ui color swatches music[/url]
simple machines rube goldberg game 6es7221 1bh32 0xb0 pdf entity framework self tracking entities firefox s de jogos para celular motorola hash code cracker software chris spheeris carino music cd label design software top billboard pop hits 2015 lagu souqy sungguh nyaman doggies palace dubai map
ha duy thai karaoke [url=http://filesfirstfilmsbestsearchnow.info/gw-basic-3-22-red.php]gw basic 3 22 red[/url] server cs 1.6 gata facut by d3v1l [url=http://filesfirstbestnowfilmssearch.info/thendralai-thedi-scribd-er.php]thendralai thedi scribd er[/url] radio broker gta iv for [url=http://filessearchfirstnowfilmsbest.info/gunday-film-2014-mp4.php]gunday film 2014 mp4[/url] cd banda paqua firefox [url=http://filessearchnowfirstfilmsbest.info/suara-anak-bayi-menangis.php]suara anak bayi menangis[/url] photos new year 2013 [url=http://filesfirstbestnowsearchfilms.info/jogos-de-hoquei-em-patins-games.php]jogos de hoquei em patins games[/url]
antamedia internet cafe 7.5 crack ponte bruto mexicano firefox gra w capsule games jason derulo stupid love lyrics er mxit version 6 for samsung
cbd benefits [url=https://cbdtincturesew.com/ ]cbd cream for pain [/url] cbd full spectrum cannabis oil store