Why don't big shops sell washable nappies?

[vess]

That's it, really. What is the reason, do you think? Wouldn't it be much more convenient if they did?

Boots do in our area!

I'm sure I've seen Kooshies on sale in my local tesco.

waitrose sell motherease and I think John Lewis do. maybe petition them locally to stock some
I agree if they were more widely availabel they would lose their "earth mother" only stigma

Well, they do - but generally only terries, prefolds or Kushies - none of which are the best types to try first, in my opinion. I know several people who have tried with prefolds and kushies and given up because they just weren't working. What we need is something like Tots and fuzzi's on the shelves, well done to Waitrose for stocking the MEOS though.

you can now get cotton bottoms from argos (but i dont like them at all!)

I agree if general people could EASILY go and look at the nappies without having to scan the internet etc and worry about trying / returning all the samples, that MORE people would use them rather than those horrid disposables.

I dont understand why John Lewis cant stock them in their baby department, i think they sell EVERYTHING else imaginable!

A few do nature babies, and the kushies aios round here, but definately no range. I'd love to be able to see them and feel them before buying them!

Almost impossible to get nappi nippas either.

Cottom bottoms... not nature babies

Does yopur local council sponsor any individuals to promote them in the interests of the environment ie free samples, £25.00 off first order, sales in local venue over coffee?

There are 'nappy coffee mornings' at our local community centre. I've never been to one (disposables user), tbh I've always been a bit afraid that I'd feel bullied by the organiser, not left to make up my own mind about whether they are right for me and my child/ren. Of course that is merely conjecture as I've never been to find out (please don't leap on me for that!)

NDP - I use cloth nappies, and the thought of the coffee morning type things, or meeting a rep would scare the cr*p out of me

I would feel like I was there to be sold something, and not just have a browse like in a shop, and chat if I wanted.

I tend to walk out of shops when assistants leap on me to try and "help" me though - I feel like "sod off, I can make up my own mind without you annoying me".

Did think about becoming an advisor person though - I figured that I might not make much money, but I would be there to answer questions rather than sell, because the concept of selling it to someone scares me

Absolutely, like going to one of those dodgy timeshare presentations

They are more like m&T groups, or party plan

I was wondering actually - is it that the big shops are not interested enough in the product, or the manufacturers are not keen on selling to them?
This is what made me wonder: I am now in Dubai, and, as you can't find any washable nappies to buy here, I thought I'd see how much would it cost to import them. Partly out of curiosity and partly as a business opportunity. So I emailed Fuzzi Bunz and asked them for some wholesale information, and they replied that they do not need any more retailers at the moment (???) and sent a long standard letter about their company history, how it was all started and how they only use WAHMs (work at home mums) as retailers because that's part of their business ethics, etc. Which is probably good for the WAHMs (I thought I could be one), but is it the best way to encourage more people to use washables?

Vess - they probably know they couldn't keep up with demand if it grew too quickly.

I expect most retail outlets aren't interested because it's too much trouble to go through the buying, storing, selling process for a tiny specialised demand.

flamebat - you might want to see if The Nappy Lady wants anyone at the moment. They have lots of advisors working from home.

The one who rang me after I emailed was fab and then sent a follow up email. We had a 19 month old who was wetting everything and a 6 week old and I was trying to hang in there with using the nappies on both. She really saved it for DH and I. And we've never bought anything from them as we already had our supply from DS.

I like to recommend them whenever I can instead

I've often wondered why real nappies are not in the main stream shops. They are missing a trick of getting the message across. I find it really annoying that the only one's they do sell are naff quality terries or kooshies - which so many people i know have advised against because they take ages to dry and leak. Such a shame as it could really benefit land fill and health issues.

We shall just have to remain in a socially elite club until they pull their finger out.

I'm sure you used to be able to get Cotton Bottoms from John Lewis (haven't looked since dd was potty-trained )and you can get NappiNippas at our local Boots (but no cloth nappies, not even a square terry!)

Friend of mine's mum was just in Canada where she found washable nappies in department stores, got all sorts of nifty washables & wraps, apparently.