We recently connected with Tracy Hammond and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In December 2020, my then 6mo son received a teething toy from a friend. This teething toy was made of silicone beads and customized with his name. It really was the sweetest gift. When we arrived back home, I started to research these teethers online and realized that there were no local vendors for this product. As a stay at home mom, I was always looking for ways to earn an income and thus started my own little business selling these customized teethers and pacifier clips. I had also done a great deal of research on these products and read many reviews on their potential safety and if they were a potential choking hazard. Being a mom myself, I wanted to ensure that they would be safe and I started following a company in the UK that made these products and ensured that mine we made with every babies safety in mind. I was also able to offer local moms a more affordable option than buying from the larger companies.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in South Africa and now call Texas home. I have been a stay at home mom since my first child was born in 2017. It all started in 2020 with a tiny teething toy my son was given. It was the start of Pitter Patter Kids – USA. I was able to get my products into a number of local children’s boutiques and even had a branch out in South Africa that was run by my mother, for a short while. I continued to make teethers and pacifier clips until I decided to expand my business offering in 2023. As Covid had closed many of our local businesses, I needed to create my own boutique like offering online, so I purchased equipment that would allow for me to expand. I started printing baby onesies and birth signs and added them to my product line. I was soon making all kinds of printed items, t-shirts, hats, baby blankets and more! My business outgrew just baby related items and underwent a name change to Pitter Patter Creations. I wanted to be more than just a shop selling generic items, so I started designing and making custom items to order for both individuals and businesses, this included everything from logo branding to personalized swag, from social media content to small business bulk orders. Its been such a joy to grow with this business and create a name!

Pitter Patter Creations has since spun off into Pitter Patter Jewelry, which offers keepsake breastmilk jewelry and Pitter Patter Publications, where I have published a few books available on Amazon.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

When I started this business, I had never done anything like this before. Every product I make, has been trial and error and self-taught skills in order to finalize that first, perfect product. I have spent many hours researching, creating, printing and of course, messing up, as my business has grown over the past 5 years. I have stopped making certain products and continue to try and grow my offering. One of the biggest learning curves I’ve found whilst running a business like this is that your offering has to be unique. Amazon, Hobby Lobby, in fact, all the big names already offer the generic printed tumblers and t-shirts and as a small business, there’s just no way to compete with their pricing, so you have to find what makes you different, what sets you apart.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Starting from nothing during a global pandemic, at my dining room table, with just a few beads, an Instagram page and determination, this journey has not ben easy. For months I would receive no orders. I would spend my weekends at craft shows, only to sell one product and not even make my booth fee. There were times when I was contemplating shutting it all down and selling the equipment I have, but somehow, this little business of mine has grown year on year. Now, I make bulk orders for other local small businesses, I help them promote their businesses to others and I capture sweet memories in timeless keepsakes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: pitterpattercreations_usa
• Facebook: Pitter Patter Creations