Launched in April of 2007, one year ago, Baby K’tan has been able to bring together many positive things that people liked about all the other carriers while simplifying how to use one.
The idea came to Michal Chesal when her son was born. Altering other carriers to create what would become Baby K’tan would be the best thing she’d ever done. With the help of her parters, her husband - Brian, Isaac Wernick and Aviva Wernick, Baby K’tan is a quality product and a growing business.
I got a chance to interview Michal and ask her some questions about her business. This is what she had to say:
What is Baby K’tan?
The Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is the first carrier to combine all the essential qualities of both a structured front carrier and a sling, providing the positions and benefits of both. It is a unique two-loop design, which allows parents to carry their infants and toddlers (from birth to 4 years old or 42 lbs.) in 8 different positions. There is a built-in back support band to keep mom and dad as comfortable as baby. There is no wrapping, no rings, no snaps, no buckles and it’s all natural cotton. K’tan means “Little” in Hebrew - so our carrier is “Little Baby”!
When did the idea for the carrier come together into a potential product?
My oldest son, Coby Joshua, was born with Down Syndrome in December of 1999. Coby’s birth and disability presented the need for me to create an environment for him that would facilitate his development and provide the extra stimulation he needed for optimal growth. In addition to his developmental delays, Coby was born with hypotonia (low muscle tone) and was adversely affected by carriers that placed his legs in excessive abduction (legs spread too far apart). He also required tight swaddling. It was disheartening not being able to carry him in a forward facing position as used in traditional baby carriers. I kept reading everywhere how good it was to “wear” your baby, so not only did I want to hold Coby closely and show him the world, I wanted to do it appropriately. I could not use any carriers that were currently on the market, and with advice from his physical therapist, I ended up partially modifying existing carriers to provide a position for him where he could face forward and see the world and get the developmental stimulation and closeness from me, while having his legs in a more developmentally appropriate posture and having a tight swaddled and secure feeling. Over the years, our carrier (Baby K’tan) became very popular and I realized it was time to market it on a business level. We then decided, with our business partners, to start the business.
What steps were needed for getting the business started and turned into an LLC?
We incorporated Baby K’tan and formed an LLC 2 years ago, but just launched the product in April 2007. It took us approximately 1 year to research the juvenile products market, source factories, receive and review multiple prototypes in various colors and cottons, and do testing, to finally perfect the carrier and launch our product. We then immediately proceeded with grass roots marketing, attended our first trade show, e-mailed websites, and approached local stores.
Have you learned anything since starting that you wish you’d known before?
Yes, I have learned that you just need to go for it. My husband and I threw out the idea to
Create the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier and manufacture it almost 7 years ago, and hesitated. I wish
I would have started it when we initially had the idea. I have learned from my mistakes. It took the push of our business partners and the security of the 4 of us pursuing this dream to actually put our foot down and start from stage one! But look, over the past year, we have developed and launched a new product based off of the construction of the Baby K’tan carrier. We just entered the Pet Industry with www.petteek.com.
Do you have any previous experience or education that you’re able to apply to the baby carrier and your business?
Not really. I dabbled in marketing, but knew nothing of the baby industry or pet industry for that matter. I am fortunate to have 3 great partners, and between the 4 of us, although entering a new industry, we were all able to bring different strong backgrounds and experience to the table and make it work.
Have you learned anything as a parent that you’re able to apply in business?
Always put things into perspective. There are always going to be stressful times when running your own business (as well as being a parent). But the joy that comes from being a parent as well as the joy that comes from running your own business far supersedes any stressful moment that occurs. (just keep reminding yourself of that!)
How do you manage your time as a president of a company and a mom?
I am still trying to work on that and figure it out! I am currently attempting to spend my days on Baby K’tan and devote time to my kids every evening when they get back from school, even if I have work on my mind. Then I get back to work when they are asleep. Weekends are mainly family time.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other moms who’d like to start their own business?
Don’t let any obstacles get you down so much that you consider giving up – keep on pushing. They say it takes at least 2 years to know if your business is going to succeed, and it probably will if you believe in it!
The Last Reflex on April 17th, 2008 at 8:04 am
It seems this product can help a lot of us, men and women, on caring our children.