Cloth Diaper Business

Starting your cloth diaper business is one of those great green business ideas that I see as an up and coming business.  

Take a listen to this interview with Morgan owner of Green Bambino as she educates us on the benefits and new trends in cloth diapers and accessories.     

So have you priced disposable diapers lately?  This is a HUGE costs to parents with small children.  You can develop marketing materials which show the cost of disposables to the cost of reuseable cloth diapers over time.

There (obviously) will be an initial outlay to the parents, you'll need to be prepared to handle this issue when you're working with parents on this important decision.

Make sure you're promoting the overall benefits of comfort to Baby, helping rid the environment of disposable diapers which takes years to decay, and the overall cost savings to the family! 

It unclear to me that parents even know they have a choice today and the alternatives are soft, comfortable and have the same wicking benefits of disposable diapers.  These are not the cloth diapers my Mother used on me!  :)

With the continuous expense of disposable diapers, running out of diapers in the middle of the night, and the fact that 3.5 tons of disposable diapers end up in landfills every year, this is a terrific green business idea for you. Your business will keep toxins from dirty diapers out of the water supply and seeping into the ground.

As the "green" professional with a cloth diaper business, you can provide much needed support, education, and inspiration for busy new moms and dads by providing the needed information for them to make an informed decision to go green and support baby's health while helping with the financial burdens of this stage in the child's life.

You can be a tremendous asset educating your customers on the benefits of the new cloth diaper products available (very similar and superior to their disposable diaper counterparts). 

The new products are very similar to their counterparts without complicated folds, using Velcro instead of sharp pins, soft linings, natural gussets to fit baby, microfiber absorbent core, waterproof outer layer, and these natural alternatives grow with Baby from infancy to toddlers while being very stylish!

Niche Notes!!

In addition to offering diaper services, you can consider providing the following to your customers:  

1) Purchase and re-sell the cloth diapers to your clients.

2) Offer a gift registry for expecting parents or use your gift basket business to support green products -- put cloth diapers in a gift basket.

3) Contact health professionals/institutions to get their business or referrals for new parents,

4) Do the shopping and offer other organic products for Mom and Baby.

5) Add a line for seniors and nursing homes.   

6) Make cloth diapers a part of your day care services.

7) Write your own blog helping new parents identify specific green alternatives for their children.

Cloth Diaper Business - What's It Take?

Day Care Service

Personal Shopping Service

Gift Basket Business

Interests/Skills:  

• Knowledge of cloth diaper products
• Organization/Inventory Management
• Driving skills to pick-up/delivery cloth diapers
• Knowledge of green cleaning products
• Communication skills 
  

Resources: Your cloth diapers business will require an organization and inventory management system to make sure each customer's order stays together and all pieces are returned in good order. You'll need appropriate transportation and a telephone.

Also, you may want to visit the Real Diaper Association for additional facts regarding the use of cloth diapers.  

Time Required:    Part Time 8-10 hrs/wk; Full-time 30-40+ hrs/week

Training:  Educate yourself and understand the alternative cloth diaper products available and the pros/cons of each type of diaper to adequately communicate with your customers. Identify wholesalers/retailers you can work with to obtain this information and be prepared for skeptical customers (this is a relatively new, but growing field).  Attend a local community college or university to take business classes.  

Market:  Moms/Dads, Grandparents, Daycare Centers, Mid-Wives, Physicians, Hospitals 

Home Based:       Yes

Internet:              No

Location:             Local

Start-Up Costs:    $500 - $5,000

Minimizing Start-Up Costs:  Your cloth diaper business can use your current equipment to start – washer, dryer, computer, and fax machine.  Find cloth diaper wholesalers where you can purchase the inventory in bulk and reduce your overall costs.   Purchase cleaning products in bulk. 

Contact local hospitals, mid-wives, and other healthcare professionals to educate them about your services.  Attend local networking events and other local marketing events to get word-of-mouth referrals.  Place flyers in retail establishments and in neighborhoods.   Advertise in small local papers or with coupon businesses.       

Business Ideas. .  .

Mobile Business Ideas . . .

Cloth Diaper Business Back to Green Business Ideas . . .