Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Harman.
Hi Erika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a new mom, I felt overwhelmed by the baby gear clutter that easily accumulates with a newborn—constantly managing and storing bulky items usable for only a few months—looking at you, bassinet!—was stressful. Eventually, we joined the Minneapolis Toy Library, and I loved the freedom to swap out toys based on my little one’s changing interests and skill development. I felt drawn to the mission of supporting families as they care for little ones, and I didn’t see any services in the area that solved the problems I’d personally faced. So, in May of 2023, I opened Baby Gear Group Twin Cities to tackle the issues of clutter, cost, and waste in the baby gear industry. I’ve served over 150 families and partnered with numerous local organizations to run community events. Owning a small business has meant lots of experimenting and iterating to learn what best meets the needs of local families, especially since we’re introducing a new reuse model. So far, I’ve been thrilled with the enthusiastic reception and have many ideas for how to build and grow. My ultimate goal is to open a nonprofit that supplies under-resourced families with the gear they need to care for new babies. Over the next few years, I plan to gather industry knowledge and build connections with local organizations that would refer families to the service and provide comprehensive social support.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Early on, I questioned whether introducing a reuse model into this market was a sound business decision. I often questioned whether my invested time and funds would pay off! Now that I’m a few months into the process, I’m more confident about persisting through lulls until families whose needs fit our mission find out about the service. Filling so many business roles—accounting, graphic design, community relations, and quality control—has been challenging, but I’ve learned much and benefited from generous mentors.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Baby Gear Group is a locally owned baby gear library with the mission of making the search for the right baby gear cheaper, more sustainable, and overall less stressful. The unique feature of Baby Gear Group is our Money Back Value Guarantee, which means you’ll save at least 50% off retail on all the gear you use in a membership, no matter how long you keep items. We are mom-owned and here to serve fellow parents, so we designed the service as we would want to use it. There’s no such thing as forgetting to cancel or overpaying on rentals, and no stressful due dates. On the model pioneered by Bo Zhao in Philadelphia, Baby Gear Group provides families with gear for babies from newborn to five. We offer the flexibility to use gear when needed and swap as the baby grows, with delivery to make swaps effortless, saving families hundreds to thousands of dollars. Mini, Basic, and More membership plans provide families access to 5, 10, or 15 items at a time, but flexibility is the game’s name! We also offer a la carte rentals to try out just one thing before buying it or to take an item like a SlumberPod on a trip.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Parenting babies during COVID-19 was often incredibly isolating, and parents were deprived of opportunities to build community and share strategies and resources. Certain parenting decisions were politicized and became extremely divisive, adding fuel to the mommy wars. It’s clear in retrospect that community is at least as important to well-being as protection from infection is. Connecting as a community means fostering trust and sharing with grace for families navigating a very challenging season.
Pricing:
- More membership (15 items at a time): $199/month
- Basic membership (10 items at a time): $99/month
- Mini membership (5 items at a time): $49/month
Contact Info:
- Website: www.babygeargroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babygeargrouptwincities/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Baby-Gear-Group-Twin-Cities/100092540227108/
- Other: https://baby-gear-group-twin-cities.ck.page/89ba571a6c
