Daily Tribune and Oakland Free Press

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Dream turns into livelihood for sisters

Titzy's also supports local artists by selling their work

By Catherine Kavanaugh
Daily Tribune Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK - Titzy's began as a joke between twin sisters going into business to sell nursing clothes and other items for new and expectant mothers. Owners Tiffany Brenner and Itzel Jodway, 32, toyed with the idea of combining their names for their boutique at 506 S. Washington Ave. Jodway at first was concerned the name Titzy's might offend some people, but Brenner convinced her otherwise.

"It will catch people's eyes," Brenner said. "They will remember it for good, bad or funny. Besides, it's significant to us."

Titzy's carries maternity wear, nursing bras up to 40G, infant wear, children's clothes - soon up to size 4T - and boutique items made by other local female entrepreneurs.

Amy Allen of Berkley paints wooden frames and chalkboards with flowers, bugs and balls for Titzy's. Colleen Dillon of Royal Oak sells dainty hair accessories. Stacey Verkeyn of Ferndale and Jennifer Johnson of Rochester Hills make funky infant T-shirts with rhinestones spelling "Silent night?" and ABCD separated by a lightning bolt like the rock band AC DC.

Jodway also points to microwavable rice bags for upset infant stomachs, baby wipe holders, bibs, knitted hats and "explosion boxes" that hold wallet-size photos and Polaroids that are all made by women who live in the area.

"We want to be a source of income for stay-at-home moms and working moms," said Jodway, who is expecting her third child.

She works the 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift at Titzy's, where her 15-month-old daughter, Jenevieve, naps in a back room after she arrives. Brenner takes over from 2:30-6 p.m., bringing her son, Julian, five months, in time for Jodway to pick up her son, Jamason, 5, from school.

The sisters are Royal Oak residents who have lived within a mile of each other since finishing college. As co-owners of a boutique they are now living their dream.

"In my dream we were actually retired, but after my sister had Julian she said she didn't want to go back to her job," Jodway said.

That 'dream' was fast tracked from the conceptual stage in July to securing a loan in August to opening in October.

"We had the same vision so it went like clockwork," Brenner said.

The sisters found inventory that reflects both their styles -- Jodway is conservative and Brenner colorful -- their affinity for organic and their price range. One of the most expensive items is a black $60 nightie for nursing. The nursing bras are $25-$35 with lace trim and rose embroidery.

"They're pretty, not what you see at Target and Kohl's," Jodway said.

The most popular items are Dr. Seuss clothes and cloth diapers by Bumkins. Titzy's is one of only two stores in Michigan to carry the line. Onesies with the characters Thing 1 and Thing 2 sell out quickly.

"We're on our third order," Jodway said. "They're really popular for twins."

Despite the rough economy, the sisters agree the time was right for them to go into business together. Brenner said she intended to return to her job in automotive purchasing and put Julian in daycare, but that was before she experienced motherhood.

"I thought here's our chance to work with two things we know about: being pregnant and nursing," Brenner said. "Then, the day we opened, Itzel told me she was pregnant again -- the irony of it all."

Jodway hasn't slowed down and her family even managed to move recently to another house in Royal Oak that still is within a mile from her sister but in another direction.

"People ask, 'Gosh, how do you do it?'" Jodway said. "I look at it as good stress. We're opening a business, not closing a business. We moved to a new house; we weren't a foreclosure. It's good busy."

Contact Catherine Kavanaugh at cathy.kavanaugh@dailytribune.com or (248) 591-2504.