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Making it through your first year in New York City is something to celebrate. If you’re a retailer, it’s a stroke of luck. If that year is 2020, it’s a miracle. Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More has done the impossible, and this Thursday marks this family-owned business’ one-year anniversary on the Upper West Side. In a year with no big corporate events, school/group festivities, organized sports, etc. to stabilize the brand new garment printing business, Big Frog has relied primarily on the support of our local community to keep it afloat. It seems we’ve done our part, because the shop is thriving and projected to have its best month yet thanks to the holiday season.
Perhaps it’s not so surprising, because celebration is what Big Frog is all about. Even if you haven’t been inside yet, you might know it as the store on Broadway and 80th that seems to have a large inflatable decoration to mark every occasion. Indeed, the store’s cheerful staff, and colorful atmosphere bring much needed fun and festivity to those looking for a creative outlet.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our neighbors for the overwhelming support they’ve shown us,” said owner Kerry Colley, an UWS resident. “I’m always moved by how much people love creating one-of-a-kind items for themselves and for loved ones. The positive feedback we hear about our designers, who have been with us since before we opened, or the way a customized garment brightened someone’s day, has been so gratifying as a business owner and makes us all very proud to serve this community. We wouldn’t have survived 2020 without our UWS family and we look forward to many more years to come.”
The franchise owners, a married couple who’ve lived in the neighborhood since 2015, launched Big Frog last year in the hopes of bringing something fun and unique to the UWS. Unlike online “upload and pray” T shirt decorators that take weeks, Big Frog customers can work one-on-one with a design expert to perfect their artwork, which often involves original art, family or pet photos, logos, hashtags or other personal branding, and then print it on high-quality garments you can actually feel and size beforehand – usually within 24 hours or less. They offer an extensive range of all-season clothing as well as other items like tote bags, aprons, towels, dog shirts, puzzles, coasters, and of course, custom face masks.
Apart from the gratification of personalized design and gift giving, Big Frog also provides real solutions for schools, businesses, and other organizations in need of a true partner with the expertise and patience to find the best option for a particular project or fundraiser, be it uniforms, corporate swag or employee/crew gifts. The store offers a range of modern decorating techniques including direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, screen printing, and heat transfers, as well as custom embroidery, and can handle orders large and small with the same personal attention to detail.
As a thank you to the community supporting it, Big Frog will celebrate its first anniversary by celebrating the Upper West Side with a free gift for everyone who visits the store on December 18th.
