Issuu

Business

August 2016

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Couple launches Big Frog garment decorating business in SanTan Village BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Gilbert husband-and-wife team Bernard and Gianne Francisco have made a leap into the garment decorating business with a franchise called Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More at SanTan Village Marketplace. Big Frog uses cutting-edge technology to print customized artwork on fabric in the manner that a printer would print on paper. “We named it ‘Kunya;’ it means ‘Big Brother’ in Filipino,” said Bernard, referring to the large ink-jet printer that performs the work. “It’s easy to do.” Customers may avail of the basic graphic artwork for free, or work with Matthew White, the shop’s graphic designer, to conceptualize a final product at a computer terminal instore. Once the fabric is chosen and the artwork is finalized, Kunya springs into action. The garment is draped, and with the push of a button, the machine’s drum moves back and forth imprinting the logo on the fabric. Afterward, the garment is placed in another machine to cure. Big Frog stated that its Direct to Garment printing bonds the ink to the fabric’s molecules allowing products to be washed in both hot and cold water and with color-safe bleaching without risking damage, crack or peel to the image. “It becomes part of your shirt and it will last as long as your shirt will,” said Bernard, demonstrating on a T-shirt a logo’s smoothness and continuity to the touch. In addition to T-shirts, sweatshirts, onesies, pet clothes, sports gear, tote bags and even mouse pads may be printed to order. One of the key features of the service is that no minimum order is necessary, Bernard said. Customers may order just one T-shirt with a logo. The Florida-born franchise launched

Bernard and Gianne Francisco say that Big Frog’s technique ensures that the imprinted logos stay on as part of the fabric and are environmentally safe. GSN photo by Srianthi Perera

in 2008 has 65 locations nationwide and this is its first store in the Valley. The company plans to open an additional eight or so locations in the area by 2020, according to a media release. Both Bernard and Gianne hail from the Philippines, and their migrant families had settled in California when they were children. They held secure jobs there—Bernard is an accountant and Gianne worked in education—and owned a house to boot. But the desire to better themselves and to help their families cropped up now and again. So they sold their house, dipped into their savings and invested in the $3 million business in Arizona instead. “Over 10 years, we’ve really just been working toward this and really being financially smart,” Bernard said. Despite having plenty of relatives on the Valley’s West side, Franciscos

Big Frog store manager Duane Dizon drapes a T-shirt on the printer to imprint a logo.

moved to Gilbert because research had indicated the merits of the town. “I was looking for safe neighborhoods, good school districts and this is a family town…this is a great city to start a family,” Gianne said. “That’s what brought us to Gilbert. Also, it’s growing and we wanted to be a part of that growth.” Gianne was able to secure a position in international student advising at Arizona State University as soon as she moved. She plans to retain her job, while Bernard would work fulltime at the business. They have also employed a cousin, Duane Dizon, as store manager. “They told me about the venture and I was on board from the get-go,” Dizon said, who ditched a histology technician job at a pathology lab that he has held for 12 years to work for Big Frog. “I saw the potential in it.” After their business finds its feet,

the Franciscos plan to give back to the community. “We really want to embody the social entrepreneur spirit,” Bernard said. “To be able to thrive, and then…give back to the community.” Gianne said that they are living the American dream. “We’ve been to the Philippines and seen the poverty there. We’ve come a long way. I think it’s also a dream for them as well,” she said. Big Frog is located in Gilbert’s SanTan Village Marketplace at 2743 S. Market St. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Details: 480-750-8623 or bigfrog.com/gilbert.

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