A Spark of Inspiration
How did it all begin? The inspiration came from my niece. When she was born, I searched for gifts in Hong Kong and quickly realized how limited the options were in 2010. Growing up in Sydney, I was used to an abundance of choices, from big-name baby brands to unique indie labels, there was never a shortage of thoughtful gifts.
At the same time, I noticed a common issue with baby gifts, especially clothing. Babies grow so quickly in their first year that many outfits are outgrown before they’re even worn. The same went for other baby gifts, they were often short-lived and quickly forgotten.
I wanted to change that.
My goal was to create personalized baby gifts that wouldn’t just be adorable in the moment, but would continue to be meaningful and practical as the baby grew.
My niece came up with the idea of using the blanket as a cape! I flipped the blanket, ran out of the frame and our photographer captured this amazing shot!
The Birth of the Growing Kit Gift Set
This inspired the Growing Kit, a thoughtfully designed set of three onesies in different sizes, ensuring babies have outfits that fit as they grow through their first year. Each set is tailored to the season they’re born in, making it a practical yet heartfelt gift that lasts beyond the newborn stage.
But I wanted it to be more than just practical, I wanted it to feel personal. Each kit was thoughtfully curated to match the baby’s growth and the seasons ahead. A winter baby’s first onesie featured long sleeves, followed by a short-sleeved piece for summer, and a final outfit suited for the cooler months.
We did 3 separate photoshoots over the period of one year and we were so lucky to witness our baby model Lucas' growth spurts!
A lot of thought went into our signature gift packaging. Every onesie was rolled by hand and carefully assembled. I wanted the unboxing to feel just as special as the gift itself because even in those early days, I believed personalized baby gifts should feel intentional from start to finish.
The OG gift packaging of TinyBitz was a cylindrical box, each ribbon was sew by hand and glued on.
Aiobhin was one of our very first baby models of the Growing Kit!
TinyBitz launched in 2013 with the Growing Kit as its signature product, and it was an exciting time. Parents loved the concept. It felt like we were solving a real problem in the baby gifting space.
The Growth
As the business grew, we built a loyal community through markets and weekend events.
Swire Properties Christmas Market
Pop-up event at Editecture’s Studio
We joined international tradeshows and found new stockists in Australia, USA, Japan, and Taiwan. TinyBitz gained traction, and soon we were shipping personalized baby gifts to families all over the world.
Playtime New York Tradeshow
Our stockist in Tokyo, Japan
We were voted by Australia’s reputable baby blog as their best pick at the Playtime New York tradeshow in 2015. We won a Gold Award at the Hong Kong Smart Gifts Designs Awards in 2016.
After winning the award, our Growing Kit was displayed at a roving exhibition in Germany in 2017.
Proud to be a Gold winner at the Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards!
We gradually expanded our range to include blankets, sleeping bags, and other adorable pieces, always guided by the same principle: create baby gifts that grow with the child.
Twinkly Nights: sleeping bags and blankets were introduced
Pitta Patta: matching outfits were added to the collection
The Challenges That Shaped Us
Growth brought new challenges.
The Growing Kit had its limitations. Without someone there to explain the concept, it often appeared to be just another baby onesie set. We experimented with packaging improvements, display windows, and sizing stickers - but capturing attention quickly enough remained difficult.
We worked hard to improve the retail display of our Growing Kit, every little detail was considered!
We also discovered that customers preferred buying gifts after the baby was born, which made the newborn set less popular. Inventory became tricky. We had to stock multiple sizes for each set. Our packaging wasn’t stackable, which increased storage costs.
While I loved the concept, I began to sense that our business had plateaued.
I knew we needed to evolve.
The Opportunity for a New Chapter
In 2018, an exciting opportunity came our way! Eslite Lifestyle Bookshop invited us to open a physical store in their kids' section.
With only seven weeks to design and build, it was intense but deeply meaningful. On April 1, 2018, our store officially opened. It marked a new chapter for TinyBitz.
Our first brick and mortar store at Eslite Lifestyle Bookshop.
Reflecting on past challenges, I realized we couldn’t rely solely on stock-based products. Customers were looking for something more bespoke, something that felt uniquely theirs.
That realization led to a natural evolution:
Personalized baby gifts became the future of TinyBitz.
The Pivot to Personalized Baby Gifts
Through customer conversations, one thing stood out: adding a baby’s name made a gift unforgettable.
Since we already carried high-quality baby products, I tested the idea of embroidering names onto existing pieces. It was a simple experiment, but it changed everything.
I launched a Mother’s Day campaign called ‘Baby Mumbles,’ embroidering the adorable phrases moms believed their babies were “saying.”
Customers loved choosing embroidery colours and personalizing each piece. That moment marked the true beginning of TinyBitz as a brand rooted in personalized baby gifts.
The wittiest ‘baby mumbles’!
This was my personal favourite.
From that point forward, personalization wasn’t just an add-on.
It became our identity.
Embroidering names on our sleeping bags.
Fun icons were introduced to the add-on service!
The Birth of the Personalized Name Blanket
With embroidery paving the way, the idea of the personalised knitted name blanket was born.
Unlike clothing, which babies quickly outgrow, a personalized blanket could grow with the child. It could become a comfort piece, a nursery staple, and eventually, a keepsake stored away with meaning.
The very first personalized blankets ready for their photoshoot in 2018.
When Daddy jumped in to bring out Parker’s happy smiles!
Alex and James had so much fun at the shoot!
Grace being a superhero with her personalized blanket as a cape!
In October 2018, we launched our personalized blanket range. The response was overwhelming.
The blankets required no explanation. They were knit-to-order, solving our inventory challenges. And most importantly, they resonated instantly.
One customer pre-ordered 10 blankets just from Instagram stories without even seeing the final product.
Since then, we’ve expanded our personalized blankets beyond baby gifting to include options for adults and even pets, marking the beginning of TinyBitz as a personalized gifting house for every chapter of life.
Expanding Beyond Baby
As demand grew, I invested in our own embroidery machine to bring production in-house.
This decision allowed us to expand into organic onesies, muslin bibs, kids’ and adults’ tees, tote bags, bath towels, and more.
Documenting one of the first items we made on the embroidery machine.
Embroidering a sample board to show our customers what they can choose from!
What began as personalized baby gifts slowly evolved into personalized gifts for families, celebrating siblings, parents, and even beloved pets.
A Sustainable Future with Personalization
Shifting fully into personalization transformed TinyBitz into a more sustainable business.
By embracing a made-to-order model, we eliminated overstocking challenges and reduced waste. Each personalized baby gift and now, each personalized gift across all life stages, is created intentionally for someone specific.
We transitioned to biodegradable packaging and continue to minimize plastic use.
For us, meaningful gifting and responsible production go hand in hand.
What’s Next for TinyBitz?
Looking back, every chapter shaped who we are today.
From the Growing Kit to personalized name blankets, TinyBitz has evolved based on real customer needs and a deep belief in meaningful gifting.
While our roots remain in personalized baby gifts, our journey has expanded to celebrate every chapter of life - babies, kids, adults, and pets alike.
Our mission remains the same:
To make every gift feel deeply personal and unforgettable.
TinyBitz started with a simple idea: create gifts that grow with babies.
Today, that idea has grown into something much bigger.
And we’re just getting started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the production time for personalized knitted items?
As each product is knit-to-order, please kindly allow for 20-25 days for production. If you have a deadline to meet, please reach out to us first and we will see if we can make it happen!
What is the production time for embroidery items?
Embroidery items generally can be completed in 3-5 business days.
Do you provide gift packaging?
Yes! We provide complimentary gift packaging for orders that have requested it. If you have a gift message to add, we can also add that in for you too. If you don’t need any gift packaging, simply opt out of this option when placing your order.
Do you offer free shipping?
We offer FREE delivery within Hong Kong (to one address) for orders over HKD500. For orders under HKD500, a delivery and handling fee of HKD35 will be charged. We can deliver to any SF station/locker, commercial or residential address in Hong Kong.
We also offer international shipping to many of countries! Enter the shipping details on the check-out page to see the shipping options.
