Ask any apparel decorator how they got into this industry, and you’ll get a plethora of funny, crazy, and even accidental stories. From previous experience in the music world to printing for a college sorority, people often find a lot of creative avenues into this community. But for Domonique Downing, her entrance into this industry is rather unique.

Downing recently became part of the Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More family, opening a location in Fayetteville, Georgia. And while she has always had a creative streak, she comes from the world of chemistry.

Not only does Downing have a doctorate degree in chemistry, but she previously worked for Coca-Cola, where she worked on innovative solutions in sustainable packaging. “I thought I was going to be a medical doctor … but I ended up in graduate school,” she explains in an interview with Apparelist. “I worked at Dow Chemical before landing the sustainable packaging role at Coca-Cola.”

Downing feels like her experience in sustainable packaging allows her to make a positive impact on the world, an opportunity she knows will carry over to her new endeavor owning a Big Frog location. “[My previous role] was really fun, but a different world than I’m sitting in today,” she laughs. “It will definitely influence what I’m doing now.”

Opening a New Big Frog Location

Domonique Downing | Credit: Big Frog T-Shirts & More

Making the leap from working in chemistry to working in printing might seem a little crazy. So why do it? Downing says she’s always had a creative side to her. “I love crafting and sewing, and even had some experience in apparel decorating,” she says. And from her perspective, there are a lot of skills and knowledge from her previous career that she feels will translate well to this new endeavor.

For instance, Downing notes that you need to be a problem solver in both worlds. “The biggest thing that I’ve seen already in the short period since we’ve been open is that it’s important to bring the ability to problem solve into the space,” she says of owning a T-shirt and product printing shop. “Whether it’s interactions with people or facing challenges with technology … you have to stop, figure out what the problem is, and then come up with the solution.”

Downing feels that on top of that, being a part of the Big Frog franchise family also sets her up for success. “When I was researching franchise opportunities, Big Frog came up and it was almost too good to be true,” she notes. “After meeting the people in the group, they’re very supportive, very happy and excited about what we do for our customers, so it just made the most sense for me.”

She also hopes that her knowledge of sustainability will further a focus the group already has on the topic. “There are already sustainable fabrics we offer … and looking at our packaging, we’re already using paper and recyclable materials,” she says. Where she’s hoping to grow the conversation is through customer education. “We want to showcase our skills while still being responsible. We’re giving tips on how to recycle the packaging and also educating customers on how they should wash and care for garments. We want to make sure our customers are aware that any small thing they do has an impact.”

As for her overall goals with the business, Downing hopes to bring a strong sense of community, quality, and pride with their efforts. “For me, it’s about running a place that I can be proud of, and that people enjoy working at,” she says. “I would like to get out into the community more and meet people, learn the true needs of the greater southern Atlanta region and make those genuine connections. As our company grows and makes an impact, we can contribute our time and resources … and do what we can for our community.”