Would you pay for this?

[CPHB2021]

I am considering a new venture. I'm forever having friends and family message me asking for advice so thought I would put my passion into a side business. But would people even pay for this service?

Overwhelmed by the minefield of baby items. Travel system? Isofix? 360 spin? One hand fold?
Hello 👋🏽 I’m *, mum of two and self confessed baby item fanatic. I offer an online consulting service to source the best and most appropriate pushchairs, car seats, cots and beyond to suit all budgets and lifestyles. Offering a tailored product list to include the top 3 items from each category from approved retailers, both online and in store. The most local stockist to enable viewing in person and an approved list of all car seats suitable to the make and model of your car/s.

I would pay for it. I found it overwhelming finding the best things for us for my DTs, and still do! Car seats is a big one, they’re due to go up a seat and I’m putting it off because I’ve no idea which one is ‘best’ for them (they’re now nearly 4).

I got all that info from MN!

Nope. But I’m a details person that loves doing my own research. If he didn’t have me then my DH might well consider something like that though

No I wouldn't pay for this. I do agree that it is all very overwhelming, but I asked for advice from other mums on social media and forums. I liked hearing from lots of different viewpoints- a bit like when I pick a hotel by reading lots of reviews on TripAdvisor and then making my own mind up. I also really enjoyed traipsing round baby stores and talking to staff there- although some were more helpful than others!

Thanks! It's interesting to find out peoples views. I also love researching these things, hence the thought that maybe some people would prefer to pay for someone else to do this. How much would you pay, if you would?

I don’t think I’d pay but if the info was freely available I would definitely follow your advice… perhaps your business model would be better suited to you being a bit of an influencer for this market; and receiving payment and financial support from companies whose products you test/review and then advertising and affiliate links.. you might be better seeking the payment from the other side so to speak! X

@sjxoxo

I don’t think I’d pay but if the info was freely available I would definitely follow your advice… perhaps your business model would be better suited to you being a bit of an influencer for this market; and receiving payment and financial support from companies whose products you test/review and then advertising and affiliate links.. you might be better seeking the payment from the other side so to speak! X

This is an interesting way to look at it! I'm sure there are many of these pages on social media. I should have a browse and see!

No, because my personal view is that expectant mothers and new parents already have to much "this is an essential item" advice foisted on them - most of which is not.

We didn't have a special baby changing bag. We used a rucksack. We didn't have a special baby bath. We used a washing up bowl in the kitchen sink.

Why do you need to buy new? What is wrong with pre-loved from Gumtree / Marketplace at half the price.

I am not a green and wooly vegan eco-warrier but hasn't society moved on (COP-26)?

As PP, if I wanted something new I would read Amazon reviews not take the advice of an "influencer" paid to shift stock.

As your own DC grow older their needs and interests change. Would you still want to be researching the latest prams when your kids are teens?

Budgets are being stretched (energy and NI increases) so is there not more value in offering budget saving advice for new parents - except you won't get the £££ from manufacturers?

@JamMakingWannaBe

No, because my personal view is that expectant mothers and new parents already have to much "this is an essential item" advice foisted on them - most of which is not.

We didn't have a special baby changing bag. We used a rucksack. We didn't have a special baby bath. We used a washing up bowl in the kitchen sink.

Why do you need to buy new? What is wrong with pre-loved from Gumtree / Marketplace at half the price.

I am not a green and wooly vegan eco-warrier but hasn't society moved on (COP-26)?

As PP, if I wanted something new I would read Amazon reviews not take the advice of an "influencer" paid to shift stock.

As your own DC grow older their needs and interests change. Would you still want to be researching the latest prams when your kids are teens?

Budgets are being stretched (energy and NI increases) so is there not more value in offering budget saving advice for new parents - except you won't get the £££ from manufacturers?

Totally agree with so much of your response. I bought most of my items second hand and would urge so many people to do the same. Not car seats though. It's more the passion for helping people find what they're after. I really love pushchairs etc. I know it's weird, I have done for a long time. I was a nanny before I had my DC. Its not really about the money if I am honest, I have a good and stable day job but more to pursue my 'hobby' into something more. Perhaps a social media page displaying second hand pushchairs and car seats ( not for sale but not shiny and new ) and highlighting their main features/ which lifestyle they are designed for would be an idea.

I would pay for this, especially if there was no kick back from the companies/stockists (which would mean that I'd only be interested if you were not an influencer)

To the sustainability point - even better if you were able to find second hand items on behalf of new mums and manage all the purchasing etc!

It's the kind of job you'd struggle to prove you're good at. Unless you have experience designing products, selling them and using them all you're just doing the same thing I could do.

No I got all this advice for free when I set up a John Lewis baby gift list - even a voucher for a free tea and cake!

All this info can be found with a quick Google search though.

What are the legal ramifications if younrecimmend something, say a cot, and children are injured by the cot/manufacturers recall it?

I've never followed any influences so no idea how they have to handle that. Just a thought that you might want to look into how it could affect you.

No, I wouldn't personally.

I used a combination of friends, local baby store, Mumsnet and bestbuggy.co.uk to help me choose a pram and rearfacingfortoddlers.co.uk to help me choose car seats suited to our lifestyle and car.

All of those were free and totally impartial.

If you're going to be advising on car seats I'd assume you need to do some sort of certified training to qualify you on the safety aspect.

Could you open a baby store? Maybe specialising in second hand goods (not car seats or mattresses) if that's important to you. I'd have loved one of those nearby!

@Itsalmostanaccessory

What are the legal ramifications if younrecimmend something, say a cot, and children are injured by the cot/manufacturers recall it?

I've never followed any influences so no idea how they have to handle that. Just a thought that you might want to look into how it could affect you.

Very good point- I had thought of this but I don't have the answer!

Slightly different to what you're suggesting, but, years ago there was a TV series called 'Pregnant in Heels'. It was New York based and the woman was essentially like a concierge to pregnant women. She was some sort of pregnancy specialist.
There were so many times when I was pregnant I would have loved someone to just come and sort things for me like she did! Maybe a different business model to what you were thinking and I've no idea if it already exists. It quite niche but I'd assume with the right client group could be profitable.
However, I don't have that budget so like a lot of other PPs have said, I got advice from Google, insta and family / friends. And basically just had to get on with it!

One thing I did find missing from a lot of the pram specifications was the handle height - which was massively important to DH at 6'4 and even me at 5'9.

One USP could be info for taller (and shorter) parents and/or information on compatibility for premmie babies or physically disabled children - which I'm sure must be a minefield - and not covered in most online reviews.

Some really great ideas and advice here ladies. Thank you!

I wouldn't because I would not trust your judgement over websites such as Which? There are also lots of retailers especially independent ones who film reviews of various travel products including ones such as which travel system fits in a Peugeot 306? etc and show a real person trying out various baby items. All free.

I was so overwhelmed and could not work out how the hell I was meant to choose a pram or car seat, etc, that if I had A LOT of money, then I might consider such a service. But even then, I don't think that I would have trusted you on the car seat suggestions.

@BrilloSolar

I was so overwhelmed and could not work out how the hell I was meant to choose a pram or car seat, etc, that if I had A LOT of money, then I might consider such a service. But even then, I don't think that I would have trusted you on the car seat suggestions.

Thank you. Can I ask why you wouldn't trust me on car seats? It would be information provided by the car seat manufacturer but just highlighted to you. Each brand Maxi Cosi / Joie etc have a list of car seats compatible with different cars. It's a lot of researching but it is readily available to anyone. I would just do the boring bit for people so it wouldn't be my personal opinion that the seat would fit any one car, it would be directly from the car seat manufacturer.

@JamMakingWannaBe

One thing I did find missing from a lot of the pram specifications was the handle height - which was massively important to DH at 6'4 and even me at 5'9.

One USP could be info for taller (and shorter) parents and/or information on compatibility for premmie babies or physically disabled children - which I'm sure must be a minefield - and not covered in most online reviews.

I agree the the handle height it drives me crazy I would have liked to know this before purchasing and not many prams descriptions include this. DH struggles pushing most prams with him being tall.

I'd be wary about car seats, etc. unless the person testing them and advising had training in the area. It's so important to get right and sometimes the manufacturer's information just isn't enough. We had a free consultation for car seat fitting from John Lewis, where the staff member doing the consultation had undergone specific training in car seat fitting. She was able to show us the pros and cons of different seats, which ones gave the best airway protection for a baby in our cars (some seats will be better than others for different car types, and it's hard to tell that wothout testing them out), and identified when a seat didn't fit optimally even though the manufacturer's information indicated it would be suitable. There was no obligation to buy, and the consultation was free, so I personally wouldn't pay for a virtual/remote service when an in-person one is available with someone with training in the area.

With prams, etc. I researched online and tried some in shops, and was comfortable doing that myself (it was part of the fun!). So I don't think I'd be your target client base, sorry.

I don't think so. I think the experience is overwhelming because you don't really know what you want, rather than because you don't know where to get it? It's easy to search for things online yourself once you know what you need, but I found that I only really knew in retrospect what was good or not-ie I bought the perfect pram for what I thought I'd need, but actually the baby only slept in a sling, but then my second loved the pram. Or, I bought a safe, recommended car seat, but actually the baby screamed every time the car slowed down etc. So I don't know really, I suppose people might pay you because they're feeling overwhelmed, but I'm not sure you'd actually be any help to them..? Babies are expensive enough!