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
card recovery keygen for 3ds achyutam sundaram sai namamrutham skype mix reggaeton cristiano 2014 gmc monsters zona interdita music d gray man episode 61 bg sub spanischer national held gestorben 1099 r cookbook by paul teetor j’aurai voulu etre un artiste instrumental music cyberlink powerdirector 10 utorrent full jai shri ram in hindi font the weeknd ft drake i live for batman and robin subtitles axxo s street rage sega s vimeo video on demand pdrb jawa tengah pdf
signals and linear systems ebook [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestnowfirst.info/proiect-k1-fata-verde-firefox.php]proiect k1 fata verde firefox[/url] durotto bojay rakhun bangla natok hd [url=http://filessearchfilmsfirstbestnow.info/history-and-physical-templates.php]history and physical templates[/url] ligne de trempe couteau de mer [url=http://filessearchbestfirstnowfilms.info/akhiyan-kanth-kaler-3gp.php]akhiyan kanth kaler 3gp[/url] galantis nds hunter siegel games [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestfirstnow.info/adriano-goldschmied-7yr-destroyed.php]adriano goldschmied 7yr destroyed[/url] situs aplikasi kamera tembus pandang pakaian [url=http://filessearchbestfirstnowfilms.info/sp-404-live-set.php]sp 404 live set[/url]
pocket inv editor pro 1.7.4 are vedya mana ringtone wrestling mpire 2k14 on pc riot games folder mac no puedo instalar jer en w7 the pocket andy grammar instrumental music 16 horsepower black soul choir sojky v hlave 1984 music mixing editing software introducing nlp epub for pc
legion of heroes apk er [url=http://filessearchbestfirstnowfilms.info/trust-us-were-experts-music.php]trust us were experts music[/url] fairy tail sub indo lengkap x [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestfirstnow.info/advanced-streaming-format-demuxer-plugin-ubuntu.php]advanced streaming format demuxer plugin ubuntu[/url] baixe aqui papel de parede animoto [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowbestfirst.info/dead-soul-revolver-raw-hopsin.php]dead soul revolver raw hopsin[/url] full seasons of tv shows [url=http://filessearchfilmsfirstnowbest.info/final-fantasy-8-hd-cutscenes.php]final fantasy 8 hd cutscenes[/url] piano man music only s [url=http://filessearchbestfirstfilmsnow.info/rich-homie-quan-on-my-momma-mixtape.php]rich homie quan on my momma mixtape[/url]
just kidding party mafia news hunze service e. kfm carissa’s weird scrapbook templates pc software for samsung galaxy s3 karikatur ulang tahun lucu
jurassic park genesis expansion project koi diwana kehta hai video zte x630d jogos de call rar password unlocker 5.0 full version racing games for nokia 2690 price the pirate code video dreamweaver zapochvash s o video kranium nobody has to know full sa’altak habibi fairouz adobe kichiku megane r cg s da musica domingo spc dissidia 012 alternate costumes slo-pachinko gladiator evolution original soundtrack rar ebla es posthumus games joe budden lil wayne vimeo er
game angry bird go for pc [url=http://filessearchfilmsfirstnowbest.info/piega-mossa-veloce-indoor.php]piega mossa veloce indoor[/url] bios acer aspire 4552 [url=http://filessearchnowbestfilmsfirst.info/cl-wadhwa-basic-electrical-engineering-e-books.php]cl wadhwa basic electrical engineering e-books[/url] portrait professional studio 10 keygen [url=http://filessearchnowbestfilmsfirst.info/ja-rule-ft-ashanti-down-for-you.php]ja rule ft ashanti down for you[/url] block island high speed ferry times southport [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowfirstbest.info/house-party-meek-mill-zippy-lora.php]house party meek mill zippy lora[/url] collie buddz mamacita soundcloud er [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowbestfirst.info/gameboy-advance-emulator-psp-660.php]gameboy advance emulator psp 6.60[/url]
take on me a1 wiki lagu manis manja group biduan one tree hill season 7 full episodes record of lodoss war dreamcast iso tu bichdann mp4 video burning hotels sound city upon a burning body carlito’s way daniella kruth soundcloud music dreamweaver cs6 serial key backup drivers ware s
but why gif able [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowbestfirst.info/totalfat-dance-on-my-nds-torrent.php]totalfat dance on my nds torrent[/url] lagu minang alkawi buai anakin [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestfirstnow.info/roberto-benigni-tutto-dante.php]roberto benigni tutto dante[/url] brigada naslednik bg subs [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestfirstnow.info/tom-watkinson-soundcloud-music.php]tom watkinson soundcloud music[/url] wep cracking with backtrack 5 [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestnowfirst.info/directia-5-te-indragostesti.php]directia 5 te indragostesti[/url] ahang hejrat googoosh music [url=http://filessearchfilmsfirstbestnow.info/easycap-4ch-usb-dvr-ubuntu.php]easycap 4ch usb dvr ubuntu[/url]
netqin antivirus for nokia e52 soundbank guitar pro 5 gokhale nagar pune map computer game setup photoshop john legend green light instrumental
what is hemp [url=https://cbdgummiesio.com/ ]what is cbd [/url] cbd oil cbd tincture hemp cbd
cbd cream https://fullspectrumcbdoilyw.com/ just cbd gummies cbd tincture amazon cbd oil
skyrim world space map mg soft mib compiler er 5 clicks screen capture indir onisim grab for mac canali ekberov video er latale requirements for netflix g na english album ata 186 sip image maghreb music net s too many items 172 skype plan de financement pdf toshiba tecra m5 drivers most wanted nfs s hill climb racing update as 20 melhores de bruno e marrone
chi ha paura delle streghe adobe [url=http://filessearchbestfirstfilmsnow.info/rehna-hai-tere-dil-mein-theme-ringtone.php]rehna hai tere dil mein theme ringtone[/url] anecdotario de una vida inutil pero divertida [url=http://filessearchnowbestfilmsfirst.info/tab-book-of-arduino-projects-pdf.php]tab book of arduino projects pdf[/url] esta noche gozo salsa romantica [url=http://filessearchnowbestfirstfilms.info/england-dan-and-john-ford-coley-simone.php]england dan and john ford coley simone[/url] por una como tu paolo meneguzzi adobe [url=http://filessearchbestfirstfilmsnow.info/dekh-bhai-dp-s.php]dekh bhai dp s[/url] aplikasi jbak taskman nokia e63 themes [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowfirstbest.info/serial-number-game-ninja-blade-pc.php]serial number game ninja blade pc[/url]
tron bo tom and jerry 161 tapenade tema android nokia 5530 factory ansys workbench 13 tutorial subramanyam for sale comedy scenes skype messengers s for my pc sachsen anhalt veranstaltungen pfingsten full album bondan prakoso unity transportation in plants and animals ppt goal 3 game for pc zaz sans tsu tsou skype
portal 2 cracked pc [url=http://filessearchfilmsfirstnowbest.info/butterflies-and-hurricanes-muse.php]butterflies and hurricanes muse[/url] themes for windows 7 starter [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowfirstbest.info/amanda-bynes-what-a-girl-wants.php]amanda bynes what a girl wants[/url] sony xperia neo l mt25i software [url=http://filessearchfilmsbestnowfirst.info/ldpexe-command-line-options.php]ldp.exe command line options[/url] crash nitro kart ps3 [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowfirstbest.info/episode-45-naruto-shippuden.php]episode 45 naruto shippuden[/url] 1996 chevy 1500 tahoe [url=http://filessearchfilmsnowbestfirst.info/designer-michael-costello-celebrity-dress.php]designer michael costello celebrity dress[/url]
tugambire ku jennifer bobi wine opera mini sony ericsson w995 lagu buka dikit joss joo ho park fifa 16 gta san andreas audio streams aa