Fashion forward mom creates cool  clothing for kids
by Jim Crawford

ANTHEM – Success stories about someone starting a business from scratch and making it big are rare these days, as big corporations hog most of the action with deep pockets, expensive technology and a barrage of marketing.

Tracey Martin, Anthem mom of two, has begun to make waves in the children’s fashion industry with her home‑grown line of clothes for kids.

Baby Butter Originals came about after Martin’s first daughter, Mekenna, was born.

“I pretty much taught myself to sew growing up,” Martin said. “If I wasn’t happy with something I bought, I changed it. That’s how I got started.

“I was always cutting and sewing things on my jeans or tops,” she said. “My mom didn’t care for what I was doing.”

Baby Butter was born in 2002 after a few years of tweaking her creations, Martin said.

“I took a chance and put together some samples and took them into some boutiques in Scottsdale,” she said. “To my great relief they liked them and bought them. Now we’re in 14 boutiques in Arizona. We’re in 12 stores in New York, and we’ve got interest in Dallas and Houston. I’m kind of limited as to how much time I can spend on the business. ”

Martin said she will introduce her line at a New York trade show in October.

“It’s called a hard launch,” she said. “Even though we’ve been around for four years it was considered a soft launch. We were very fortunate to be invited to this show.”

Martin made the transition into the fashion world after selling her gym in Scottsdale.

“I had the gym for five years and had built it into something I was very proud of,” she said. “Then a corporation came in offered to buy it from me three different times. I finally sold it after making them promise they would keep it the same as the neighborhood gym I’d started.”

It’s a delicate balance between family and running a growing business, and Martin said she’s got the goods to make it all happen.

“I’m a very good at multi‑tasking, but I’ve still got two girls at home,” she said. “I’ve worked since I was 19. I’m very driven, but I just don’t work well for others. I’m very excited and trying to make all the right moves. I’m being very careful about what I do.”

Customers can expect two design changes a year. Currently Martin is limiting her styles to girls clothing.

“I’ve got people bugging me to make boys clothes,” she said. “But I’m so wrapped up in my girls, I don’t want to get into that right now. I’ve got a lot of ideas for boys clothes, but they’ll have to wait a while. Right now the sizes run from toddler to 4T.

“They’re very unique, very trendy. Kids love them. The quality is impeccable–with just a little bit of attitude. We do all of the finish work here. I have two full time employees and the rest are subcontractors. ... everything is made right here.  I don’t want to go overseas. I’ve had several opportunities to go (overseas). You can make a lot more money sending the work out. I’m just not interested. I’d lose my integrity. To me it’s all about quality not quantity.

“My dad told me success is what happens when you don’t quit.  I want this to become a lifestyle brand.”