“I am a mother of three. When buying for toys for them, I often read “Made in China” on labels. I decided I could make soft toys myself. Soon, I was making them not only for my own kids, but also for kids of my friends and this is how it all began", says Katarzyna.

 

Pracownia Niewielka Hand made & Design has been operating for three months. “I am on a maternity leave, so my husband Mariusz has become the business owner, but we work together”, she adds. “My husband is in charge of logistics and organisation, and helps with direct sales. Often, if we receive a large order, he helps stuffing the toys, to speed up the production process.”

 

They used their own savings to start up the business. “This was not much, approximately PLN 3,000. I had already had a sewing machine, so I bought fabric", says Katarzyna. She has done most of her shopping at Sweet Craft.

 

Before Katarzyna had taken her maternity leave, she had carried out craft therapy workshops in pottery. By education, she is a wood carver, with a university degree in special pedagogy.

 

She has organized her workshop in her own apartment. She makes the toys during her time off, when she is not busy with her kids. According to her estimates, she can make about a hundred toys per month. She follows her own designs, intended mostly for babies and children. Using cotton and wool fabrics, she makes soft toys, duvets, blankets and sitting cushions. Some toys are knitted. “I embroider the faces of these toys. I do not use buttons or plastic eyes since they pose a choking hazard”, says Katarzyna. “Product quality and safety are of key importance to me”, she adds. She uses antiallergic furniture stuffing to fill her toys as it does not lose form when washed. Sometimes she makes interior decorations and special series, like angels or bunnies for weddings, baptism or First Communion celebrations. Lately she has extended her offer with nursery shelves for toys.

 

Prices of her products vary from PLN 25 to PLN 115. They are sold mostly through friends and Facebook. Interior decorations, such as angels, are sold to Prowansalskie Klimaty shop in Świnoujście. She reaches her clients through fairs organized in Szczecin, among others in shopping malls. She had her exhibition at the Christmas fair in Passewalk.

 

“Hand-made toys for kids are in demand and clients like my products”, she says with obvious satisfaction. She wants to participate in upcoming fairs, like Jarmark Szczeciński at Jasne Błonia in the beginning of May to promote her brand and win new clients. “I would like to develop cooperation with more shops and with etsy.com, an international sales platform, prepare a product folder and open a website with an e-shop”, she says.

 

“So far, so good in terms of finance, although I have invested all profits in the business. Now I want to develop a website and buy a better sewing machine”, she adds.

 

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