It’s an emergency most parents will be familiar with – you’ve made it out of the house but forgotten to pack enough nappies or other baby essentials.
Dundee mum Bianca Cockburn found herself in this position when her boys Mason and Carter were still in nappies. Recognising a gap in the market for a solution to this common experience, the entrepreneurial mum, 38, had a brainwave – a vending machine stocked with baby products.
Now, after making the leap and buying a vending machine, and winning the backing of Overgate bosses, Bianca has turned her vision into a reality. And the business is off to a flying start, with busy parents visiting the centre and finding themselves in the same predicament as Bianca once did, snapping up the products.
Conveniently located at the entrance to Overgate’s Baby Changing Facilities on the ground floor of the centre, the Busy Baby Vending machine sells a range of emergency essentials including individually-wrapped nappies, wipes, disposable bibs, baby snacks and ready-to-drink formula.
Bianca was surprised to not find another business of this kind in the UK when she started researching the market, and following the backing by Overgate for this industry-first, there are big plans to scale Busy Baby Vending.
Speaking about the launch into Overgate, Ms Cockburn says:
“I’ve experienced those moments when you’re out shopping or enjoying a family day out and suddenly realise you’ve run out of nappies or wipes. It’s something most parents can relate to. Often, the only option is to buy a larger pack than you need or cut your day short.
“It’s so annoying when you know you’ve got loads of nappies, or snacks, or formula at home.
“I spent months researching the concept of baby vending machines and was surprised to find no examples anywhere in the UK.
“That’s when I realised this was an idea worth pursuing, and I’m so glad I did.”
Continuing, Bianca says:
“When I pitched the idea to Overgate’s management team they got back to me very quickly and said they loved it. The centre is a dream location to launch my new business and I’m very grateful for the support.
“I have big dreams. My goal is simple: to make life a little easier for parents by providing convenient access to essential baby products exactly when they’re needed most. I’d love a machine at Ninewells Maternity Unit in my home city of Dundee, and other maternity locations across the UK, plus of course other shopping centres and busy footfall sites such as train stations.”
The machine has been made bespoke with the Busy Baby Vending branding, a card reader and CCTV and stocks quality products by popular household names including Huggies, Heinz, Ella’s Kitchen and Organix. The nappies come in three sizes and cost £2 each. An emergency bundle which has a nappy, wipes and a disposable changing mat can be bought for £4.
Commenting, Malcolm Angus, Centre Manager, Overgate said:
“Overgate is delighted to give its backing to this fantastic homegrown new business. Bianca has created a practical and affordable solution to a common emergency most parents will have experienced.
“Located beside the Baby Changing Facilities, Busy Baby Vending is a welcome service that will help to make our customers’ shopping experience a relaxing and enjoyable one, and it is already proving popular with families visiting the centre. We wish Bianca every success with this unique new business concept.”
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