In her room, just left of her diplomas, is the station where the magic happens. Her desk holds vivid paint dye in every color imaginable. Above it, a board with Post-It Notes of orders waiting to be filled.
After a long day, Jackie Terrazas, a 24-year-old teacher and program director, still finds time to transform plain garments into custom tie-dye designs for her brand Splaxx. Her passion for tie-dye is as eccentric as the names she has given color ways in her collection, including thunderstorm, desert storm, cotton candy and Starburst.
Her small business began with a couple of shirts she had originally designed for herself and posted on Instagram. Her followers, like many in 2020, were over their drab neutral sweat suits they had been living in for the last year. Jackie was ready to brighten up lounge wear by hand dying socks and sweatshirts in bold colors.
“I mainly went for comfort,” Jackie said. “Even when I’m staying in, I want to look cute.”
She attributes the growth of Splaxx to customer interactions, which have allowed her brand to grow organically. Jackie’s customer requests have become staples in her collection, like matching sets for parents and their babies.
The pandemic has proven that customers are everything, especially when starting a business. According to report by Gartner, a global research firm, 89% of businesses are expected to compete mainly on customer experience. Her custom designs and close connections with her customers are her edge. But still, a one-person business requires extensive work.
“People need to know tie-dye is a very time-consuming process,” Jackie said, admitting she sometimes stays up until 2 a.m. working on orders from her room.
The commitment has not always been easy, having to balance a full-time job and personal life with her business. Still, she continues knowing the results are worth the process.
“When you unwrap the shirts, you’re like ‘oh my God that looks amazing’ and that moment motivates me,” Jackie said.
She finishes an order by handwriting a thank you card, throwing in candy, and tying a rainbow bow to finish it off:
“I would love people to appreciate the love and passion, not just me, but all small business owners put into our work.”
Photo courtesy @splaxx_tiedye
Jaylinn Reports 