When two Lincoln Elementary second grade teachers met more than 11 years ago, they found out they had more in common than just sharing a career path. With similar educational degrees, shopping tastes, and they both lacked the ability to steer a canoe. On a canoeing trip, the pair said they soon realized they were not meant to row. 

“Thankfully we work better together now than we did the first time we met,” said Randi Weller, teacher and co-owner of the Facebook page, Frontier & Frills. “It was an easy friendship that grew quickly.” 

Originally started in June of 2024 as Second Grade Simplified, Weller along with Krista Thomas, said they soon realized their page was being followed by more than teachers, prompting a name change. 

The idea comes from combining their rural roots, or frontier, with a love for finding deals online, the frills. 

Essentially, the pair test products or find deals, then link them on their Facebook page through a process called affiliate marketing. Once the pair are approved by a retailer, they receive a percentage of each sale. They began as Amazon Affiliates and have since grown to partnering with Wal-Mart, Target, Macy’s, and more than 200 additional brands.

“As our follower count continues to grow, so do our opportunities,” said Weller. Now with more than 1,300 followers, commission rates have increased as have sales. “In the beginning a few sales would trickle in here and there, after a few months we were invited to advance to another platform.”

Frontier & Frills receives products to test from retailers – sometimes multiple packages per day – though many are returned or used as follower giveaways, they said. 

“Our closets aren’t big enough to keep it all, so we do end up sending back products that aren’t our style or aren’t up to our standards,” Weller said. “We love to give products as giveaways to say thank you to our supporters.” 

In testing, Thomas said they are picky on how things fit, comfort, and durability.

“I also have to be able to wash and dry it,” she said. “There is no time for dry cleaning here.” She added that they try on things multiple times to get a better feel for each item. Family members also help try things on, they said. This helps them offer more items to include products for kids and men.

Top-selling items vary by the day, they said. Though top categories include women’s clothing and products to help simplify work and daily life. 

“This was not part of our initial business plan,” Weller said. “It prompted us to take our page in a new direction and we’re so glad we did. We continue to follow sales where they take us.” The pair follower sales numbers and get recommendations from followers for future featured products. 

Following sales and setting monthly sales goal, the duo said they see how many of each item is purchased, but they cannot see who purchased or where it was shipped. However, they often hear from followers who tell them about a purchase.

“We love when you tell us you were able to snag an item,” Weller said. 

Because the pair teach full-time, they carve out time before and after work to test items, schedule posts, and perform other business-related tasks.

“We are still full-time teachers by day and that takes priority,” Weller said. “We are not brick and mortar so scheduling posts consistently is essential to keeping products in front of our customers.”

She added that they have hired a guest poster to share during the day, which helps their page with Facebook’s frequency requirements. For instance, on Prime Days, a guest worked the page during school hours so the pair could focus on school. 

The pair also find success by being able to divide and conquer. Weller said her strengths are making creative visuals and corresponding on their page, while Thomas knows what their audience will prefer to buy. In addition, they balance their tasks based on one another’s schedules. 

“The demand of this small business is high while also balancing our jobs and families,” Weller said. “Being business partners is the only way we can make it work.” 

The idea for affiliate marketing began after the pair taught for three consecutive summers. 

“We had no break in teaching,” Weller said. “On the fourth summer, we agreed we needed to find a way to supplement our incomes but also recharge.” 

Each has three kids. Weller, who is from the Marysville area, is married to Justin, a native, while Thomas, who is from the area, married her high school sweetheart, Ryan. 

“We wanted a creative outlet and flexible option because we both have young families,” Weller said. Adding that they got their idea from a podcast that inspired them to help other teachers find the best products and deals. 

They said they were also fueled by inflation and the ability to help save people money, or taking a chance on something that had yet to be vetted. 

For more information or to follow the page, check out Frontier & Frills on Facebook.