All moms, I need your ideas please.

@Zorrogirl (1502)
South Africa
January 27, 2008 5:49am CST
i have started a small shop. a used-babygoods store. i have loads of second hand clothes,toys and furniture to sell, but thats not a sustainable income. i need ideas for extra stuff to sell. diapers wont work as there are 2 wholesalers in town. anything you can think of which will sell sustainably? anything babies and small kids use regularly. thank you in advance. even stuff new mothers would use. i want to help poorer communities. as we didnt really have a problem with money when my daughter was born, i cant think of things that was expensive, but necessary.
4 people like this
12 responses
@chrysz (1602)
• Philippines
27 Jan 08
I agree that books, magazines and even other media such as cds, dvds, tapes could be added to your products. You can also buy diapers from factories then repack it or sell it by piece. You can also offer services such as designing the nursery, seminars for new moms who doesn't even know how to bath their newborn, etc...
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
that seminar idea is a good one. thank you very much for your response. i shall do the books as well.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
29 Jan 08
thats another great idea. maybe a blackboard where the kids can draw with chalk. thanks again.
@chrysz (1602)
• Philippines
29 Jan 08
I forgot to mention that you could transform a part of your shop into a playpen especially if there are a lot of toys and furniture that you haven't sold for a long time. You can charge kids per hour or offer one time payment for an unlimited time. Its like a playschool/daycare and you would be needing assistants anyway.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
28 Jan 08
cribs, carseats, carriages strollers, baby baths, baby chairs, high chairs, playpens, bottles, teething rings, changing table, bottle warmer, baby bag for carrying different things, thermometer, potty, blackets crib sheets
2 people like this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
thank you for all the great ideas. i have a friend who sews baby bags. i shall ask herto put some in on consignment.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
thank you for all the great ideas. i have a friend who sews baby bags. i shall ask herto put some in on consignment.
@mzz663 (2772)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Baby formula is alot more expensive now than it used to be.....it's almost 100% markup now. My grand-daughter uses alumentum, it is around $25. a can here for the powder mix. I think if you could get it cheaper than grocery stores and try to sell it cheaper would be a good idea (as long as the date on it hasn't expired.) I would check ebay or craigs list for that. Maybe Photo Albums and/or frames for each birthday or holiday. What I got my daughter was (and I can't remember what they're called) they're little pouches that you can freeze fruit or other food in and the baby sucks on it, I think those are great and so are the baby food grinders! Maybe maternity clothes?
2 people like this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
the formula is just as expensive here. i shall try and search for wholesalers. those food pouches sound very interesting. theres nothing like that here in sa. i shall search for that too. thank you very much for the responses.
@bhappy2 (327)
• Australia
27 Jan 08
I would try selling some new baby clothes as well. You can pick stuff up on the net for wholsale prices. Little things like baby rattles and dummies etc might work. You could also sell parenting books and magazines. Perhaps you could find people who make baby clothes and would sell them to you cheap or let you sell them on consignment and then you could take a commission out of the sale. You could do that also with other peoples second hand prams cots etc and that way you don't have to put any money out. http://maggie-familycircus.blogspot.com
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
27 Jan 08
thank you for your ideas. its great ideas. i live in south africa and everything is expensive here. thats why i need to sell cheaper goods. i like the commission idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jan 08
receiving blankets, nursing covers, baby quilts, burp cloths, wash cloths, maybe you could find someone that would wholesale or consign natural baby bath products? Good luck!
2 people like this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
the natural baby products is a very good idea. no one in our town stocks something like that. thank you very much.
• United States
27 Jan 08
Ok so they have these custom outfits. Check them out on ebay they are cutie outfits with ruffles and themes. I wish I would have found them while my daughter was still young enough most are size 7 clear on down to a 2T. They make "sisters" outfits too so they dress the same theme but not the same outfit. Also to pick up on some items that are not selling ebay off a lot BEFORE the season ends. I use to ebay box lot of toddler clothes and the best time is in the winter because there are no garage sales open.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
oh how i wish i could use ebay. paypal is not allowed to south africans and i dont have a credit card. it would just be adorable to have such custom made goodies in my shop. 2. thank you for the shopping cart idea. theres nothing like that here in sa.
• United States
27 Jan 08
You might also try those new cart covers for mom's to put on the shopping carts. It's an ingenious item that I wish was around years ago. Prevents the babies from touching the cart and getting nasty germs. Also might try some homemade kits that include little items such as baby bath, lotions, and powders. You can usually find the baskets and wrapping pretty cheap.
• United States
28 Jan 08
I always went to consignment shops for maternity clothes!
1 person likes this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
29 Jan 08
most people like to buy from those shops. i never thought to incorporate that until i got quite a few responses about that. thanks for your response.
@sharon613 (2321)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Try also selling diaper bags; as well as bottle warmers and humidifiyers; Rattles and pacifiers along with bibs could be added to your list as well. If I think of anything else I will let you know.
1 person likes this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
thank you very much. i shall try all of the above. the diaper bags will be a hit if i can get it very cheap somewhere. thank you again.
• United States
29 Jan 08
I responded to your email about natural baby products. My website is www.puresafeandbeneficial.myarbonne.com. If this is something you are interested in, please let me know. Good Luck!
1 person likes this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
29 Jan 08
seems like great products. i just think the prices are a bit high for what i am planning. a 100us dollars is equal to 700 south african rands. and the average salary is R1500 per month. it may not sell good.
• Canada
28 Jan 08
What about taking homemade baby clothes and toys on commissions from people who do that kind of thing? I have thought of doing that myself but never have and probably never will. Just not a business women that way. I have though of making things to sell in other peoples store though. Just has to be a good product that people would buy. It can't be just anything and it has to look well made. What do you think of that idea?
1 person likes this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
28 Jan 08
its a great idea. thank you very much. i have quite a few friends who make clothes. i shall have a talk with them. thank you.
@kelzuk (21)
27 Jan 08
You can try looking on the internet for wholesale or distributors for what you would like to sell, some places do have a minimum order but if you want a business its a good thing to do... and if your a sole trader then there shouldnt be a problem good luck to you
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
27 Jan 08
thank you for your response. i shall do that. i just need to get some ideas of what to sell together with the second hand goods. stuff people would come back for.
• United States
28 Jan 08
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2 people like this