Despite predictions of doom and gloom from the local corner store all the way to Wall Street, online retailer Global Enfant is taking a decidedly aggressive approach to their holiday sales strategy. While many stores cut holiday inventory and slash prices with pre-Black Friday sales, Global Enfant is expanding with added inventory and an increased selection of baby carriers for holiday shoppers – a risk most shop owners are not willing to take this year.
With an exclusive focus on eco-friendly baby items and natural parenting products, baby carriers and reusable diapers are the bread and butter of Global Enfant’s business. While the reusable diaper industry has seen an increase in cloth diaper sales as both eco-conscious and mainstream parents look for budget-friendly alternatives to disposable diapers, baby carriers tend to be a higher ticket item and can sometimes be a hard sell to families looking to cut extraneous spending. But change in the economic climate is exactly where Global Enfant’s founder, Selena Volodzskis saw opportunity.
“When faced with economic hardship, families are forced to make tough decisions such as scaling back from two cars to one family car and a bus pass. Try pushing around a stroller when you are trying to catch the bus with a newborn and a toddler in tow, or finding space for your stroller on a crowded subway train. Moms and Dads who never considered a baby carrier before, are realizing the value of having two free hands – especially when they are walking home with a bag of groceries in one hand, and an energetic 4 year old in the other hand” says Selena.
While extra spending money is limited, families are making their few purchases count – doing research and then buying online to avoid the temptation of impulse spending which often accompanies going to the mall. One customer recently told Global Enfant that she is doing all of her shopping online for emotional reasons. “I go to the mall and I just get depressed by seeing all of the things we can’t afford this Christmas, so I’m not stepping foot inside a shopping center this year. Our bank account can’t afford it, and my mind can’t afford it.” Beatrice, Washington
Selena first saw opportunity while doing seasonal purchasing for her store at industry trade shows over the past year. Trade show attendance was down industry-wide, her competitors were closing every month, and store buyers were being conservative in bringing in new merchandise. Everyone from the independent boutique buyer to major chain store buyers had strict instructions not to spend a penny over budget. With few stores offering new product, Selena saw an opportunity for Global Enfant to gain sales by offering a selection of quality baby carriers that other stores were passing by. Already stocking well known baby carrier brands such as ERGObaby Carriers and Beco Baby Carriers, Global Enfant now offers specialty brands such as BOBA Organic, Rockin’ Mama organic Ring Slings and Pouches, Cat Bird Baby, and Scootababy who makes a side carrier that lets parents wear their baby or toddler on their hip.
Of course not every family has been hit by the current economic crisis. With limited selection in other stores, Selena’s gamble is paying off. Buyers who are fortunate enough to have escaped job loss or cutbacks are shopping at Global Enfant for their diverse selection of baby carriers, great customer service and quick shipping. With baby carriers ranging in price from $40 to $200 and free shipping on all orders, Global Enfant has a baby carrier in stock for every family’s budget. And according to Selena, Christmas came early this year. The sales boost that Global Enfant needed to throw them into the black came not on Black Friday, but on November 9 when major stroller manufacturer Maclaren issued a recall of 1 million strollers after at least 12 children had a finger amputated in the hinge mechanism of a Maclaren stroller. Selena says, “We’re selling more baby carriers than ever. Whatever your budget, we have a baby carrier for you. We want to see more parents wearing their babies. It’s a natural, healthy way to transport your baby, and it’s fashionable too!”
About Global Enfant
Established in 2006, Global Enfant is a woman-owned and family-operated Ecommerce company specializing in organic baby products. Founder Selena Volodzskis has been environmentally and socially conscious for as long as she can remember - from secretly tossing the Tupperware used to pack her school lunches into recycling bins until her mother finally agreed to pack her lunch with a non-plastic alternative, to volunteering with the Peace Corps after college. With the birth of her first child, Selena was appalled by the amount of unnecessary and unhealthy baby products being heavily marketed to expecting mothers and new families. Aiming to fill a gap in the retail baby industry for the growing number of eco-conscious families, Selena left behind a career in finance to build a business that focused on families and a different type of ‘green’. Global Enfant offers Earth-Friendly Essentials for Mama, Baby and Child. Offering organic baby clothing for sizes preemie to 4T, Global Enfant has everything from cloth diapers and organic nursery items, to baby carriers and breastfeed accessories for the mommy-to-be and the nursing mom. http://www.globalenfant.com
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