Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Luckett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
January Moon was inspired after the birth of my son, Shepard. It is named after the month of birth. He was born in the middle of the night in January during one of the coldest nights of the year in 2014. The name also speaks to all the sleepless nights I remember that are filled with night feedings and exhausted effort of trying to get him back to sleep. In the midst of all the desperation, I also remember the peaceful moments of rocking Shep and looking out the window and reconnecting with the beauty of the moon.
The business was inspired by Shep, who has been diagonised with Sensory Processing Awareness and ADHD. He put such intense demand on my normal jewelry when he was teething, that I was made aware how crucial it is to have extremely durable and safe teething accessories. The products I’ve designed were created to provide real life solutions to the challenges I faced daily as a mother. I used my aesthetic as an artist, understanding and experience as a mom, craftsmanship and skills as a jewelry designer to create products that address crucial stages in early development, including teething, learning to self-feed and self-soothe. The truth is, I probably wouldn’t have started this company if my first born had been any other child!
Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
January Moon is a full line of contemporary, premium, safety tested teething jewelry, sensory tools and feeding accessories.
After giving birth to my first born, I noticed a void in the market for kid-friendly, non-toxic accessories with grown-up, art-driven aesthetics and set out to create it. Applying the knowledge gained in the workroom of a Nashville jeweler Judith Bright, I sourced premium quality materials, designed silicone beads in custom shapes and colors, and put the components through rigorous safety testing to ensure a perfect balance of style, strength and substance. I am a problem solver by nature and the products focus on improving family’s lives, providing real solutions to the challenges I faced daily as a mother, woman, and fashion-lover. I thrived not only in imagining and innovating upon the simple, intentional designs but in executing them flawlessly, using the components in unexpected, deeply purposeful ways.
Over the last 5 years, our goal at January Moon is to make products that are as inclusive as they are inspired and we’re proud to address the diverse needs of all kinds of families. Plus, we’ve pushed the limits of what people can expect out of teething jewelry and accessories. We believe silicone teething accessories can go further than looking like a toy around your neck. Our products are intentionally attractive by using an optimal mix of colors, shapes, and composition. While our designs attract eyes of those with discerning style … safety, quality, and durability is our top priority.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
We have worked to establish our brand as the most artistic and modern brand in the teething industry. Customers come to us because they are searching for intentional design and high quality components within teething products, something that is not often prioritized by other brands. We also make sure to align our decisions and opportunities to support this goal. For instance, when choosing tradeshows we chose Shoppe Object instead of a mass market tradeshow. Shoppe Object offers a curated roster of visionary brands and makers presented in an elevated setting. We were jured into a museum show at the Museum of Art and Design in 2022 based on our work of creating jewelry that is unique and innovative, pushing the boundaries of what is expected of teething jewelry and accessories. We attract vendors that also prioritize design, art and modern aesthetics like the Whitney Museum Gift Shop and Anthropologie. Our reputation as an artistic and modern teething accessory company has come through partnerships and opportunities that value art, design and quality.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
When I got started I had absolutely no idea how to manufacture components, not to mention the highest quality components that could pass rigorous safety testing for baby products. A majority of our components are sourced through Alibaba. We have had our share of successful partnership and also some total flops, but through the process we’ve found what we’re looking for in a vendor. Clear and quick communication. A direct relationship with a representative. A factory that is willing to send samples and make necessary changes in a timely manner. A factory that is willing to wait while I have the products safety tested before proceeding with mass production. Some of the questions we ask up front are: What is the MOQ (minimum order quantity)? Where are the price breaks? How long will the process take, from samples, to sample redesigns, to mass production and shipping. What are the different shipping methods that they use, time frames and costs. Once we have all of our individual components manufactured, we assemble the finished pieces in house.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.januarymoon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejanuarymoon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejanuarymoon
Image Credits
image credits for lifestyle: Mike Luckett image credits for styled: Jenny Luckett