HOBART | More than two years ago, Kathi Pavlou, of Hobart, and her daughter, Tina Pavlou, of Indianapolis, saw a need, devised a design and now are producing the Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit.
It all began when a frustrated Tina, trying to change the diaper of her squirming, infant son, Matthew, vented to her mother that there must be an easier way.
"I had the big diaper bag that was fashionable, but not functional," Tina said. Up to the challenge, Kathi spent many late nights on a borrowed Singer sewing machine and designed several protoypes to meet Tina's desire for "handy-like Kleenex wipes," cushioning for the baby's head, washable fabric to ensure cleanliness and easy, one-hand access to all other necessary items.
When Kathi's daughter-in-law took a prototype she had been given to a friend's house when visiting, it sparked interest, and spawned the birth of the business, Ticklebug Co.
The producers wanted to use good fabric that could go in both the washer and dryer and they wanted to keep its fabrication in the U.S.
"We could have done it for about half by having it made in China," Tina said, but they instead chose to select fabric styles from a Mississippi textile house and have the shoulder-strapped changing kits manufactured by a nearby Illinois firm that makes luggage.
The Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit retails for $39.
When a co-worker with a special needs child saw the changing kit and asked if it were available in a larger size for her 8-year old, Kathi said it certainly could be.
The result is the larger, 33.5-inch-by-26-inch style that has been recognized by Exceptional Parent Magazine.
"This isn't about fame and fortune," Kathi said, explaining that it had been her dream to be able to give back in some way for help she and her family received during a time when Tina was ill.
Each Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit includes an insert entitled, "My Story" which tells of Tina's diagnosis of Hodgkin's Disease at age 17 and breast cancer at 22, 13 years ago.
"We both want to make a difference in people's lives. I always thought it would be with cancer," Tina said.
A former television news reporter and anchor for a CBS affiliate in Laredo, Texas, Tina changed her lifestyle and began working in the fight against cancer. She became the national director of education for Y-ME before marrying and beginning her family.
Kathi works full time in the admitting department at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Dyer, after relinquishing a management position there to devote more time to the Ticklebug Baby.
It's been a learning experience for the entrepreneurial newbies.
"The Internet is a wonderful tool," Tina said, explaining they both conducted their research on the Web. "You can file in your state for a trademark yourself."
"A childhood friend, Christen Black, had started her marketing firm in Chicago, BlackDot Marketing. She designed our Web site and our logo," Tina said.
In October, mother and daughter had their first show at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The kit is available in a number of retail stores, as well as online.
BREAKOUT
To learn more about the Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit, including a list of locations where it is available, go online to www.ticklebugbaby.com.
