Owner/CEO's Name & Business's Name
Michal Chesal - Baby K'tan, LLC & Pet Teek, LLC
Year Established
2007
Current Year Revenue (Optional - please include year)
700K
Next Year's Projected Revenue (Optional - include year)
1.2 M
Why is your business unique and what's your pitch?
We created a unique on the body baby carrier that is the Prius of carriers, a hybrid solution that we're offering parents. Our product is unique because of its design, versatility and length of use with a child (0-42 lbs). Our entrance into the Juvenile Products market was during the worst downturn in our economy seen in years, and into a saturated market at that. But yet, no baby carrier or baby sling had our design, length of use, durability and versatility all in one. This launched us with a great start.
What led you to start the business?
Ten years ago we found that most baby carriers didn’t give our son, who was born with Down syndrome, support for his low muscle tone. His physical therapist would tell us what was appropriate for his hypotonia and what was not. We began to experiment, and as a result the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier design came about. With the use of connecting two slings, he got the swaddling needed and was able to sit up while still having his legs and body in a developmentally appropriate posture. The Baby K’tan gave us the ability to have him face forward, observe the world & receive the stimulation he benefited from so much. It created the ideal environment for development and growth. Plus it was great looking and attracted a lot of attention. It could be worn like a sling, wrap or carrier. People were amazed.
All the attention of wearing him in our hand made double cotton sling led us to bring our Baby K’tan Carrier public: it is now a Patent Pending 100% natural cotton hybrid carrier marketed all over the U.S. and abroad. Not only was it perfect for our son, we now see it is ideal for all Moms, Dads, Twins, Preemies, Breastfeeding and obviously especially Babies with Special Needs (which is near and dear to our heart). Our carrier offers infants a tight swaddled, deep pressure input, providing security and assurance to infants with sensory integration dysfunction and other developmental disorders.
We founded our company on the premise that a portion of proceeds from every sale will go back to help fund education, medical research, advocacy programs and promotion of awareness & inclusion for individuals and families living with Down syndrome.
Lessons Learned
- Well, I am doing something I love, watching it grow, and talking to satisfied customers, so I'm in heaven! However, finding a balance between family and work as business keeps growing is a struggle. Less free time is tough as I have 3 kids that keep growing as well & need my time just as much! I find I sacrifice a lot. It's difficult to find enough hours in the day to get everything done properly. I wish I would have learned early on to let go of some responsibilities and delegate better to others. As our business explodes we do bring in more help and I have a hard time not doing it all, but I'm learning!