The Spot Interview with: Bitty Braille

Who is Bitty Braille and what makes your business so unique? Where are you located?
Bitty Braille is a unique collection of infant and toddler tees that feature simple, "kid-friendly" words in Braille along with a hand-embroidered translation. Personalized tees are also available and definitely the most popular. The Braille is made using either sparkly, faceted rhinestuds for girls' tees or simple, metal studs for boys' tees. Special, holiday tees are coming soon ~ just in time for Christmas :)

Bitty Braille is unique and very special as they bring awareness of the blind community to children. I also donate 10% to the American Foundation for the Blind (afb.org). I have a wonderful home studio in central NY where I sit and listen to music, look out my window and work on Bitty Braille products.


How did you come up with your business name?
Well, I needed the word Braille and Bitty seems to fit just right. Some day when I expand to include adult sizes, I may have a call that line "Bitty Braille ~ Big"!

When and why did you decide to start your own business?
Bitty Braille is the result of a home-school study of Helen Keller last year. My daughter and I were fascinated with Braille and came up with a few product ideas...initial pendants were the first idea, then first name pendants and eventually baby tees. We recently expanded to include baby blankets, hair clips and birthstone initial charms.


How did you get started?
I've always been crafty and have ventured into making many different goodies. Bitty Braille is my latest and I know it is something that I can continue making forever :)

What motivates you to keep your business going?
My customers and the emails I get from people who love the concept. I've also met (well, online anyway) some amazing little people who inspire and motivate me. Little girls like Ivey and Ella who were born without eyes and are thriving and growing and being just the sweetest little girls.



Do you have a particular product that's unique, a best seller or that you are promoting on your site?
My personalized tees are, by far, the best seller. Unique and very creative names seem to pop up everywhere these days and it's hard to find personalized products for them. I've made tees for little ones with names like "Lilyanna" and "Madden". I also have some Limited Edition Holiday tees coming in November, and I think they'll get a great response. They are adorable! Long-sleeve red tees with your choice of a holiday word spelled out in dark green. So sweet!

How do you juggle family and work at home?
Well, it can be tough, especially because I home-school my 2 youngest. I love having them home with me and they often will sit in my studio playing a game while I work. I also do a lot of work after they go to bed.


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
Take it slow and really budget your time & money. But also don't forget that sometimes just making that leap and making it happen...somehow...is what makes it really exciting.


Visit Bitty Braille at: http://bittybraille.com


Stores that carry Bitty Braille products:
Hella Good carries my Bitty Braille tees along with some other items of mine. I have some other online shops that I'm working with to set up dropshipping.