The PolkaDot Frog Boutique

I would like to introduce you to the next Ms. Biz.  Tina is the founder of The PolkaDot Frog Boutique.

Q: Tell me a little about your business (or businesses).  For example, what you sell, services offered, etc)

Tina: My business is customizing unique gifts.  I make handmade children’s clothing, like A line dress, shirts and pants outfits, personalized appliquéd t-shirts. We have baby bibs, burp cloths, blankets, rattles, personalized sippy cups, sports cups, koozies, travel mugs, hand painted clipboards and chalkboards, little girls spa items,custom gift baskets for any occasion, altered books, home decor, hair bows and hair bow holders. We can custom make most of our items. We offer personalization on most of our items. It can be an embroidered name or monogram on an item or it can be a hand painted name or monogram as well. You can pick materials, ribbons, thread colors, fonts and designs. Everything to make it your own personal item. Different from all others.We offer a special hand written note to be sent to the person receiving a gift and the gifts are always gift wrapped - for no charge. I want to offer boutique style with out the high boutique prices so everyone can enjoy a special gift. We give every purchase that gift feel…even if it is for the person buying it. Everything is a gift.

Q:  What are your best selling products?

Tina: My best selling products are the personalized hand painted clipboards but a very close second are the new bow holders that I personalize with a letter on the ribbon.

Q: How did you come up with the name?

Tina: I wanted a frog logo because of the F.R.O.G. which in my life stands for Forever Rely On God. I tossed around names that would fit a frog logo, like - The Lily Pad and such but nothing jumped out at me. I am a sewer an I do embroidery so when I came across a frog design of a frog that had polka dots AND it was cute, I said that’s it. It has to be The PolkaDot Frog.

Q: When and why did you start the business?

Tina: I started it because I was tired of going into high end boutiques to buy the cutest clothes for my daughter and having to spend $80.00 on a dress that was very simple to make. I wanted to be able to let her go and play on the playground, make an art project or go for lunch and not worry about the “What if’s”. So I decided that I needed to start using the talent that God gave me instead of letting it go to waste.

Q: What was the hardest part for you?

Tina: The hardest part for me was and sometimes still is - jumping out there and just doing it. Creating something new. What if no one likes it, what if I put this design on that bib and someone wanted something different…Oh No! What if…What if I sat there and did nothing…noting would sell. Sometimes it is still hard. What if I choose to do spiders for fall and everyone wants pumpkins, now I have spider shirts everywhere. What if nobody likes it? That type of thing is the hardest for me.

Q: What motivates you to keep going?

Tina: My motivation is when I do jump out there and make things and people flock to them and snatch them up.Just today I was taking in some bow holders and before they were even out, she was grabbing one. The other is my family. They may second guess what I am doing or why but when it is all said and done they are my biggest promoters. Especially the kids. Sometimes that can be embarrassing. But always in the best of ways.

Q: Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business or ones who have just begun?

Tina: Do what you like to do but Love what you do. It should be a passion. Take a chance on that product or design that you are unsure of. You may not be in love with it but someone will be. Don’t stop! It is a slow process. Some do jump right in and make it big but the majority of people don’t. Do not be fooled by those that say it is nothing. It is your life and you have to dedicate yourself to it. It is your job. You may not get fired but when you have no customers…you’re fired. If you stay focused on the big picture you will win. I told my son today that nothing in life worth having comes easy. The harder you work for it, the more rewarding it is in the end. KEEP GOING!

Q: Tell me about you - hobbies, favorite things, etc.

Tina: My hobbies are: being a craft junkie. If they have made it, I have the tools and supplies for it…well no I don’t… I have not made my own glass beads…yet. Every summer I give the girls a summer project. We made lotions and lip balms last summer. This summer it was soaps. The 8 year old got her first sewing machine so that is fun to show her new things and seeing her try to come up with things and “patterns” on her own. I love to sew and create different things. I would be rich if I could patent every thought that crossed my mind. I love to watch the sun come up on the beach, the world waking up. I like to watch the sunset over water. I love puppies and babies. I love my job. I teach preschool. I love children. But I have to say that my most passionate thing to do is spend “nothing” time with my family, that is more valuable than anything. Nothing meaning we don’t have to do anything, we can sit and do nothing. Those are the memories that will take us through life.

Q: Do you have a discount you would like to offer the readers?

Tina: They can get 15% off using the code MSBIZ.

Thank you, Tina, for being this week’s Ms. Biz!  Please stop by and visit Tina at The PolkaDot Frog Boutique.