We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Teresa Baker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Teresa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I started Brown Boy Brown Girl (BBBG) in 2015 for me and my husband’s three children as a solution to crack the urgent problem facing black children in America. In the wake of social injustice surrounding teens Treyvon Martin and Mike Brown, I wanted to create a new narrative of how black youth were perceived. I called my sister Kimberly one day while shopping in a grocery store called Meijer and I started telling her how I wanted to start a business around the idea of mainstreaming content highlighting positive images of brown children, but I didn’t have a name. I mentioned how I have a brown boy and 2 brown girls to keep brainstorming for names. Then my sister said, “I got it!” She told me that I should call the business Brown Boy Brown Girl. I loved the name right away. I felt it spoke to what our business wanted to address. I told her that as soon as I was done shopping, I would go home and create the LLC and so I did. Later that night, I had a dream about what the website would like. I literally got up the next morning and created our first website based on the visions I saw in my dream. I never built a website before; it was my very first one. So, I had to search different platforms and came across WIX. I selected WIX because there was no coding needed. From there I took some photos of my children, asked one of my best friends to design my logo, it’s the same logo still used today. Shout out to Donetta Morgan of OMG Marketing!
Okay, so I had a logo, website, and photos. Now it was time for content but what type of content? I had a business, and I knew I wanted to celebrate the diversity of brown children, but I wasn’t sure exactly how I was going to achieve this goal. I thought for a minute and decided that BBBG could start off as a blog introducing parents to books that had characters of color as protagonists. I figured that would be one way to start creating a new narrative. I started looking for authors of color who published children’s books. I would review their books and then do a book review on their book and share on our social media pages. During the times I offered doing book reviews, I decided I wanted to write a book as well. I researched and researched on how to write a book. It was a daunting process, and I knew it would take a little time before I would publish as book, so I had to think of a way to monetize. So, we first came out with a BBBG tee shirt. The tees were great because they were a way for us to promote and market us…to get our name out there. As well, the tee served as a statement piece. People loved the tee and loved even more our company’s mission.
Even in BBBG’s infancy stages, I always wanted to make sure that we were legally protected. Afterall, I saw my company as being a fortune 500 company. Therefore, we hired an attorney to trademark our company. We wanted to make sure that our intellectual property was protected, an to add another layer of protection for future products.
We started selling our logo tees, continued blogging on books written by authors of color all while researching on how to write a children’s book. Once I was ready to write and publish, I asked my mother would she come on the writing journey with me. She said yes and in 2017 we published our first children’s book titled Josie’s Bedazzled Shoes. I set up BBBG as a publishing house.
Part of our mission is to support the enterprising youth, I wanted to come up with a way of supporting youth in business, after all our children were now entrepreneurs. Their company just published their first book! It became clear to me that if there are children’s publishers there should probably be youth authors. I put a call out for youth authors on Facebook and the response was unbelievable! I had people tagging youth authors. We purchased the books at 40% while the youth author would keep 60%. Now, BBBG was creating a new narrative in 3 ways: blogging on black and Latinx stories written by black and brown authors; selling BBBG products which at the time included our BBBG Tee and our children’s book Josie’s Bedazzled Shoes, and our online bookstore comprised of books written and published by black children. We started participating in vending events with our children since their tender ages of 2, 3, and 5.
During the times of launching the aforementioned products, I continued to brainstorm about future products to be launched. In the background I wanted to launch a Josie doll and I wanted to help authors leverage overseas printing to help authors of color have their books more accessible to the black and brown communities by lowering production costs.
When the covid-19 pandemic hit sales slowed down because there were no longer opportunities to participate in vendor shows. I know I had to think of something quick to earn revenue for the company. So, I thought about launching a product, while sticking to our esthetic, a consumer can buy repeatedly. It was then that I decided to launch multicultural notebooks with positive affirmations on the covers. I found an illustrator who I love and now do several products with, sourced companies overseas and launched the notebooks. We launched 7 styles. In November 2021 we launched our Reach For The Stars boy and girl notebook in all Meijer stores- A major Midwest retail chain. It’s amazes me when I think about it. Thinking back as a kid, I walked Meijer isles and during back to school, I remember shopping for school supplies by TrapperKeeper, Mead and the like. Now, my products share the same aisle I once envisioned them to be once I created the school supply line.
While having our notebooks created, I circled back to designing our 18 inch Josie doll and created a book printing partnership with a manufacturing company in India.
From the inception of my idea, I knew that I wanted to affect change and create a new narrative of how black children are perceived. I had to step outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself to keep sharpening my vision, as well as believing in my vision.
To help me see my vision more clearly, I would do a vision board of all of the events I wanted to plan and all of the products I wanted to launch. I looked at my vision board daily. To this day, I look at my 2020 vision board and I smile when thinking how I have achieved everything on that particular board.
To legitimize my business, I applied to become a woman-owned certified business. In 2021, I became a woman-certified business. This designation affords me the opportunity to have our products in stores, as well as position us to pitch to other retailers.
I would be remiss if I didn’t include how my husband and tribe have been super instrumental in helping me turn BBBG from an idea to execution. If it were not for the investments they made in my business, I would not have been able to do what I am doing now. It is truly a blessing to have family and friends not only believe in your dreams, but play a major part in empowering your dreams. Additionally, I have entered pitch competitions and placed, which I was awarded money to help me launch my notebooks.
Brown Boy Brown Girl is committed to launching products that serve as mirrors, windows and sliding doors. To this end, I will continue to map out and plan how we are going to achieve more product launches.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
This is a loaded question because I do a lot. I am a parttime lobbyist, in fact before I started having children, I lobbied fulltime. Once I had my first child, I decided to leave that world and raise my family. Once I had my 3 babies, I thought about what I could do entrepreneurial that could both make an impact on our community but to also earn revenue. I’ve been able to take those transportable skills I’ve acquired as a lobbyist to consult in other areas to help business owners elevate their brand in some capacity.
I offer book publishing consulting to aspiring authors. I give a deep dive of the publishing process for those authors who want to self-publish. Additionally, I formed a partnership with a manufacturing company overseas to help authors of color leverage overseas printing to help make their more accessible because they are able to print quality books for less.
Recently, under my newest company Little Reads + Company, I help produce author’s children’s books under my publishing agency. Authors who utilize this service are those who want to publish their book but would like for my company to produce the book for them from start to finish, from illustrations to formatting to uploading the book onto Amazon for them. We do not take any royalties.
Lastly, since our brand Brown Boy Brown Girl has entered the retail space, I have been helping black-owned brands to help launch their products into the retail space. We helped a teen launch her body scrubs in Fresh Thyme stores.
I am actually proud of all of the work that I and my team (my family) do in the name of making impact, but I am most proud that our school supplies have hit retail shelves and that that means. It means children of color can see products on the shelves that represent them. It means that children can see products on the shelves that represent people in the world in which they live. Our notebooks and other school supplies separate us for the industry giants. For those giants who produce fashion notebooks, you will not see a notebook from them that will have characters of color on them. We are entering the paper space by staying true to our esthetic.
Our brand Essence: Belonging and Empowerment
Our brand position: “Be you. See you”
We create innovative children’s products in the realm of school supplies, toys and books that represent characters of color in positive imagery to help children see their true beauty and abilities. We inspire them, we show them through representation, and we encourage them to hold themselves in the highest esteem and help them believe they belong and are valued.
Our brand purpose: To create a new narrative that embraces diversity, kindness and empowerment. We believe the more products we create that represent mirrors, windows and sliding doors, the increased likelihood that the younger generations that follow will become generations of adults who will embrace acceptance and belonging within themselves and in others, which will lead to a more harmonious and peaceful world.
Brand core values: Love, social benefit, integrity, and awareness
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
For our school supplies and our Josie doll, I definitely had to find a manufacturer. It was not an easy process. Reaching out to manufactures in beginning was intimidating in the beginning because I had no clue on what to do. I also was concerned about those companies overseas stealing my ideas but quickly got over that because it is hard to protect your IP overseas. I used the Alibaba app and started looking for OEM that specialized in what I was looking to make. I would vet each company before engaging with them On the Alibaba app, you can check the validity of a company. Then I would ask for quotes. Once I was sold on a manufacturer, I believe gave the best quote, I would send over an agreement to them before I would ask them to make a sample. The agreement I require them to sign is called a nondisclosure agreement for good measure. The constant communication with our manufacturing partners also brings more comfortability. Lessons learned: Sometimes when dealing with companies overseas the language barrier can cause a little bit of confusion. When I am explaining something, I make sure that I send a photo of what I am looking for, or to send a photo to help clear up what I am asking. I had to learn to be a specific and clear as possible. The best way to do this is to show photos. Other lessons learned: I had to learn to place my orders on time to avoid late shipments. Especially with having a trade partner, It is highly important that I place my orders on time so I can receive shipments on time. Additionally, I’ve learned to dual source. To ensure timely shipments, we once had to source stateside. Total lifesaver.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Exceptional customer service. One thing business owners must understand is that we are in the service of offering good customer service, During Christmas 2020, one of our overseas partners was late with their shipments, which delayed shipping products on time to customers. After sending out an initial email to customers explaining our delay, I also called customers to let them know personally. So many of our customers loved the fact that I as an owner reached out to them to explain the delay. That personal touch made the customers feel comfortable with me and they were more inclined to understand the delay and kept them from cancelling their orders. I also will call a customer when they have expressed a concern and address the concern right away. Honesty goes a long way with customers and helps to build trust, which helps molds a positive reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brownboybrowngirl.com and www.littlereadsandco.com
- Instagram: @brownboybrowngirl
- Facebook: @brownboybrowngirlpage
- Linkedin: @brownboybrowngirl
- Twitter: @bbbg_llc