It’s great to see more and more moms now engage into business. While looking for cute clothes for Zeeka, I came across a brand caled Tinker and Play. It turns out that the lady behind it was a classmate of mine back in College. Her name is Arjo and she is the mompreneur behind Tinker and Play.
Arjo is happily married for 8 years and blessed with a 3 year old girl and a two year old boy. She loves art, fashion, music and food. She used to work for San Miguel Brewery as a Business Planning Associate before becoming a full time mompreneur.
Mommy Arjo of Tinker and Play
Interview with Mompreneur Arjo Te of Tinker and Play
Ginger: What is your brand/business? What is it about?
Arjo: Our brand is Tinker and Play, a line of clothes and accessories for ages 1 to 4 years old that are fun, stylish and ready for play.
Ginger: How long have you been in business?
Arjo: My business is still new. I just started in October this year. Right now, I’m developing the brand by designing and producing items I hope would be appreciated by moms like me 🙂
Ginger: Who is your target market?
Arjo: My market are moms with children aged 1 to 4 years old, interested in stylish, playful and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces for their little kids.
Ginger: How did you come up with this idea? What made you decide to start this kind of business, Arjo?
Arjo: My business is a result of my pursuit to find stylish and contemporary clothes and one-of-a-kind accessories. When I gave birth to my eldest, I realized I wanted to be my own boss and have flexibility to attend to their needs. I don’t want to grow old and miss out on their school activities and not have enough time to play with them. That’s why I really made it a point to take a leap of faith and pursue my dreams of becoming a mompreneur. Back when we still didn’t have kids, I designed and created fashion accessories/jewelry for myself and for my friends. I was always interested in clothes and accessories and I liked the idea of producing items that are not mass-produced, that’s why I thought I would try my hand in retail and create a line of kids’ clothes and accessories that are playful, unique and affordable.
Ginger: Were there any obstacles that you faced when you decided to pursue becoming a Mompreneur? What are these?
Arjo: It’s really a difficult decision to start the business especially if you are used to getting a monthly salary from a corporate job. It took me more than a year to convince myself that I’m ready for my leap of faith to entrepreneurship. The convenience of a steady stream of income from a desk job is really appealing but at the end of the day, I am reminded that it’s more fulfilling if I have the flexibility to spend my time with the kids. Balancing work with family, establishing contacts, business credibility and presence are the obstacles I face while starting the business.
Ginger: What are three traits that you think a Mompreneur should have when starting their own business?
Arjo: Passion, Determination and Diligence
Ginger: Any unforgettable moments or lessons that you learned as a Mompreneur?
Arjo: Surround yourself with people who are supportive and believe in you. Learn all the details of the business and never give up. I always believe starting the business is difficult and may discourage you to pursue it but in the long-run, the rewards will be tremendous.
Ginger: What advice can you give to other Mompreneurs?
Arjo: A friend of mine told me to “follow your heart” and someone advised me to “do what feels right”. It’s inspiring and I think it gave me the courage to try and be a mompreneur.
Ginger: Thank you, Arjo, for sharing your story! 🙂 More power to your business.
Watch out for next week Zeeka’s Baby OOTD. It will feature Tinker and Play!
Tinker and Play Contact Information:
Website: www.facebook.com/tinkerandplay
Email address: tinkerandplay@gmail.com
Mobile Number: 0921-384 06 53
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tinkerandplay
Twitter/Instagram account: @tinkerandplay
Pinterest: Tinker and play
