UStory: Knitted Buddies

Last updated on October 24th, 2024 at 05:50 pm

What do you do when you can’t find the perfect gift? Keep looking?

Not Knitted Friends. They saw the need and decided to fill the gap in the market.

 

It started with a gift hunt

In early 2022, Nicolle De Sousa, the owner of Knitted Friends, told us they were looking for a special gift for a dear friend’s newborn baby. To their dismay, they couldn’t find the perfect present for the occasion.

Taking matters into her own hands

What Nicolle couldn’t find, she created.

With passion in crafting beautiful keepsakes for babies and families, Knitted Friends was established with a mission to bring back the simplicity in toys.

Knitted Friends aims to bring back simplicity in toys by offering handmade dolls and rattles.

According to Nicolle, today’s toy market is saturated with items that contain small plastics that could be unsafe for children. Knitted Friends offers a safer alternative through pieces that are made with simple and sustainable materials.

She shares,

Struggles from the onset

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Index study reveals a concerning trend: small business owners are struggling to meet their workers’ salary demands.

If the issue persists among those who can afford to hire employees, what about the micro businesses who are only starting to establish their brand? They might have to handle most of the workload alone.

On that, Nicolle offers some insights.

From crafting a brand image to navigating the complexities of marketing, Nicolle faces these head on to get as much exposure as possible for the products she believes can positively impact families.

Setting the brand apart

Big chain toy stores offer convenient shopping, a diverse selection, and a wide price range to accommodate different budgets. How can smaller brands like Knitted Friends compete?

Nicolle envisions their toy keepsakes to be treasured family members, capturing special moments and eventually becoming heirlooms passed down through generations, carrying stories, values, and family traditions.

With this goal in mind, she aspires to set the brand apart by creating unique designs, using organic materials, and adapting sustainable business practices.

Close-knit community

Much like how their premium toys are designed to endure for generations, Knitted Friends prioritizes fostering lasting relationships with their customers.

Their grassroots approach of engaging with their community doesn’t just happen online. Whenever they attend local pop-up events, they actively engage with the customers they meet.

Nicolle recognizes how these gatherings are a great opportunity for them to connect with people who share their appreciation for handmade gifts and foster a deeper connection with their audience.

Despite the absence of a physical storefront, Knitted Friends cherishes
every chance to engage with customers they meet in person.

However, creating memorable interactions, regardless of where it happens, is just one facet of community-building. That’s precisely why the brand goes the extra mile to ensure their customers’ shopping experience is seamless and compelling enough to guarantee repeat purchases.

The UPrinting experience

Nicolle explains the importance of ensuring all elements of their brand image all contribute to creating a reputable and unmistakable identity, from their online presence to how their products are promoted and packaged.

We’re glad to have helped them achieve this, from their first order of thank you cards, business cards, and hang tags, to their reorders of custom posters.

Thank you cards and hang tags enhance their customers’ unboxing experience.

What lies ahead

Nicolle dreams of one day opening a physical store for Knitted Friends.

For now, she focuses on expanding the business. She fuels the drive through glowing reviews that inspire Knitted Friends to keep on creating unique and special toy keepsakes.

Some customers even send pictures of their baby’s milestones featuring toys they bought!

She adds that customers also choose their products as baby shower gifts, eventually becoming their highlight of the celebration and the talk of the party.

Learn more about Knitted Friends at www.knittedfriends.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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