We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Linh Judin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Linh below.

Linh, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

What I find interesting is that we live in a consumer-centric world, and there’s always something better or improved. For example, the toy industry is highly dynamic; Toy companies are constantly innovating and introducing new products to keep up with changing consumer preferences.

While I understand the importance of innovation, I’m a firm believer of reducing waste and being cognizant of the tremendous amount of waste we generate. Based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States generated about 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018. This figure includes everyday items such as packaging, food scraps, yard waste, and other materials discarded by households, businesses, and institutions. On a per capita basis, it amounted to approximately 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of waste per person per day.

It was during this realization that I wanted to make a difference. Looking at a pile of toys that my first child no longer played with and could not be used by my second child, I was inspired to design toys that could grow with my children.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Itsy Bitty is a brand for everyone who wants to be a great parent without losing themselves. As a minority mama-owned business, we’re a forward-looking company that serves the moment you’re in, but also knows that something much more is always around the corner. We make unisex diaper bags that you can actually hand to your partner. We make stylish toys built for the now, but after your child grows up, the toys become lasting, timeless, and decorative memories. We make days at the park, afternoons on the beach, and road trips they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. We’re a brand that grows with your family. Because we’re not just here for the moment – We’re here for whatever’s next.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

After having my first child, I was frequently traveling for business and found myself constantly pumping milk in random places. I had a bag of labeled ziplock bags as an attempt to sort and keep all of my supplies organized. Itsy Bitty’s very first product was the Bitty Bag and it was designed and created out of pure necessity. At the time, the type of bag I needed didn’t exist so I created a prototype and went through my trusted professional network to find potential manufacturers. It took a couple of vendors to get it right, but I finally connected with a manufacturer who understood my vision and aligned with my values. Constant communication, setting proper expectations, and building mutual trust were important lessons I learned along the way when I partnered with a manufacturer to mass produce our Bitty Bag.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Career-wise, I’ve been in the technology industry for more than 18 years. Working in positions across Sales, Marketing, and Channel/Alliances, I’ve been fortunate to grow into different aspects of business. Right before the Covid pandemic, I worked at a company that didn’t value work/life balance. That led me to taking a huge leap of faith and pivoting to become an entrepreneur and created my Brand Agency, Open Lock Marketing. Open Lock Marketing services SMB clients, primarily in the technology industry. Although Itsy Bitty was formed after creating the Bitty Bag, Itsy Bitty eventually became my creative outlet where I could design and craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: itsybitty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsybittyshop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsybittyshop/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linhbuijudin/

Image Credits
Jessica Doffing