Today we’d like to introduce you to Junia Joseph-Benham.
Hi Junia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve worked in or adjacent to the event industry my entire 20+ year professional career. My background is in television production, and I currently work as a freelance producer for corporate events. Over the years, I noticed time and time again that mothers (and families in general) didn’t have any great options to nurse, pump, or change diapers at outdoor events.
When I initially came up with the idea for KaiBi about ten years ago, I didn’t have children myself at the time but was always around small children including nieces, nephews, younger cousins, my friends’ children, etc. Probably also related to my lifelong aversion to portable toilets in general, I couldn’t imagine having to maneuver the physical and mental balancing act needed to try to change a squirmy infant or toddler in a cramped and likely dirty tiny space. I had no idea what exactly this solution would or could be, but I knew there had to be a better way. There’s always a better way.
As with many great ideas that are not realized, life got in the way, and I put my idea for some sort of family hospitality service on the shelf and essentially “forgot” about it. Fast forward to Spring 2020. With events canceling left, right and center, I was suddenly faced with a lot of extra time on my hands which I wasn’t used to. I use the word “extra” loosely because at this time I was now married with almost one-year-old twins, Kairo and Fabiola, so life was far from boring but as a freelancer, all my work for the unknown foreseeable future disappeared. I was in professional limbo so the time I would usually spend working had now freed up and gave me space to pursue a couple of failed pandemic hobbies and cook up new business ideas and opportunities.
As a still-nursing newish mom I started to think about my own experience with my twins while attending local festivals and fairs the previous summer and fall, and all the less-than-stellar options I had. I began to envision an RV or trailer that would travel around to family-friendly outdoor events and provide a service that was severely overlooked and lacking in the industry as a whole. Putting pen to paper, I started to pull my concept together and spent the next two years researching and creating a business model that would serve not only families but event organizers as well. Being part of the event industry, I knew I would need to create a turnkey service that alleviates the pain points event producers are faced with. Even if they want to provide this type of service it’s now one more thing that needs to be built out, managed, staffed, etc.
It hasn’t been a smooth journey, to say the least, and there have been several stumbles and setbacks along the one. One of them has been combatting the notion that this type of service isn’t really necessary because restrooms have diaper changing stations and if a mom needs to nurse or pump, she can also use a restroom for that. Frankly, those options are unacceptable and unreasonable. Remember, most outdoor events do not have indoor standard restrooms and a port-a-potty is NOT an ideal environment for either activity. Parents and caregivers are resourceful so we will find or create a place to change diapers when out and about including on a blanket in the grass, in the car, on a park bench, with a baby on your lap, etc. This doesn’t make it okay. And when was the last time you went to an event, ordered your food, and then took your food to the restroom to eat? Never. So why is it okay to prepare or feed a baby in a restroom? It’s not.
After two long years of creating, planning, iterating, pivoting, building, and collaborating, KaiBi made its debut in the summer of 2022. What started as a concept for a mobile mother’s room has evolved into an inclusive family care center that far exceeds my wildest dreams. The name itself is thanks to my twins: KAIro and FaBIola, who were and continue to be my inspiration and part of my WHY for creating this business. My other WHY is the families we serve. The reactions, feedback, and heartfelt testimonials make all the hard work and sleepless nights worth it. Families are so appreciative and thankful. But it’s not just parents of littles who have noticed, we also hear from parents of older and grown children who tell us they wish we were around when they had to go through their own often stressful experiences.
I’ve been able to solve a problem and create a comfortable, hygienic, and inviting space for parents to change diapers, nurse, pump, feed, and provide sensory comfort for their littles so that they could go about their day and continue to enjoy the event they’re attending. It’s a win-win for everyone. We currently have one trailer but my goal is to build more and continue to provide this necessary service to more families and more events.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Where do I start? As many small business owners can attest, creating something from scratch is far from smooth.
Especially when you’re creating something innovative and new you’re constantly convincing everyone, including yourself, that it’s a good idea. As I mentioned briefly before, one of my obstacles was and continues to be the naysayers who don’t see the need for something like this when, in their opinion, a restroom is an option. I will continue to advocate for nursing moms who shouldn’t have to feed their babies in a restroom stall or hide under a cover because someone else is uncomfortable with her caring for her child.
Then there were the challenges of just building out the trailer itself. The first trailer I purchased turned out to have a ton of water damage, so I had to completely start over with a brand new one which was stressful on so many levels. Thankfully, I partnered with an amazing fabricator who helped bring my vision to life and did so in record time.
Add to that the general stress, anxiety, long hours, financial commitment, etc. associated with building a business, and all the inherent challenges. This company has been 100% bootstrapped and self-funded.
Keep in mind, this was all happening as the event industry began to recover so I was back to working as a freelance event producer and building KaiBi on the side. Not to mention my family and personal obligations. My twin babies were now very active preschoolers. I take things one day at a time and am still working on creating a work-life balance that works for us all.
As you know, we’re big fans of KaiBi Family Care Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The KaiBi Mobile Family Care Center is a simple hospitality solution for fairs, festivals, and other family-friendly outdoor events that provides an inviting and sanitary space to care for little ones with minimal interruption to the event experience.
The turnkey climate-controlled trailer features private rooms to nurse, pump, bottle feed, or provide sensory comfort, two diaper changing stations with a complimentary supply of diapers and wipes, an activity center to occupy siblings, a sink and water cooler, and more.
KaiBi is the serene, sophisticated alternative to the bare-bones spaces not readily found at outdoor events. All features and services are complimentary for event attendees and supported by the event organizer or a sponsor.
What I’m most proud of is helping to make families feel seen. Interacting with other parents and hearing their stories is invigorating and makes me want to work that much harder to bring KaiBi to more families.
On the other side of the coin, working with my event industry peers to help them bring KaiBi to their attendees also makes me proud. I’m helping them solve a problem and provide a service that proves they value their event attendees.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?I think the Twin Cities is a hidden gem that I’m still discovering myself. There are so many things to experience and so many things to do. I moved here in 2015 and still consider myself the new kid on the block.
The summers are phenomenal but way too short. I’m a Florida native with Caribbean roots (Haitian to be exact) so of course the long winter is still very much a challenge for me. After 8 years I still haven’t adjusted and I know I never will. LOL.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaibimobile.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaibimobile
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaiBiMobile
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaibimobile
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaibimobile
