I am very interested in setting up a small business from home selling baby things…
e.g.
change mats
feeding bottles
potties
bouncers
bath sets
play gyms
towels / blankets
baby carriers / slings
monitors
cot mobiles etc
Basically stuff that every parent needs for a baby / toddler … except for the big things like prams and cots…
Also want to stay away from clothes and small toys as I think they are given to new parents as gifts…
And I was thinking about putting together new baby hampers to sell too that include toiletries for mother and baby, dummies, a nice blanket, a small rattle, cuddly toy, a baby grow ( cream, blue and pink depending on sex of the baby) and a couple of other things… btw I know I just said I wasn’t selling clothes or toys but that was individual toys and clothes, NOT as part of a hamper gift set!
Back to the point, how would I go about starting this up? Posting leaflets and small booklets listing some of the things I’m selling? Posting ads in the local shop windows?
I am planning on doing the deliveries myself seeing as I am just concentrating on my local area to start off with…
Thank you for any advice and tips!
Do you have enough new mothers (their family and friends) that will forgo shopping at a discount retailer for these items? Your first step should be to conduct some form of market research to determine if there is a demand for your services. I can’t stress this enough….contact your local Small Business Administration and or your local SCORE for assistance. I would at the very least set up a focus group with expecting mothers and their families from your target market to obtain their feedback.
If you have already done this and determined there is a market willing to pay for your goods and services, then I would ask your local obgyn clinics if you can leave your leaflet or flyer in their waiting rooms. You should also join as many networking groups as you can- like the Chamber of Commerce. Attend every networking function you can to get your name out there. If it is within your marketing budget, place a classified ad in the services section of your newspaper.
Good luck.
June 19th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Do you have enough new mothers (their family and friends) that will forgo shopping at a discount retailer for these items? Your first step should be to conduct some form of market research to determine if there is a demand for your services. I can’t stress this enough….contact your local Small Business Administration and or your local SCORE for assistance. I would at the very least set up a focus group with expecting mothers and their families from your target market to obtain their feedback.
If you have already done this and determined there is a market willing to pay for your goods and services, then I would ask your local obgyn clinics if you can leave your leaflet or flyer in their waiting rooms. You should also join as many networking groups as you can- like the Chamber of Commerce. Attend every networking function you can to get your name out there. If it is within your marketing budget, place a classified ad in the services section of your newspaper.
Good luck.
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