How Renting Baby Equipment Is Saving Time, Money, And The Environment

Baby equipment can be very costly, and something parents must invest in regularly. The constant purchases translate into a rise in the production of goods, which in turn leads to more waste. This directly impacts our planet, and drastically increases our ecological footprint. To explore how parents are finding ways to make baby gear consumption more affordable and environmentally friendly, I spoke with a leader in the baby gear rental market, Duygu Sefa, Founder and CEO of Babonbo, a baby gear rental marketplace & service that helps make parents’ lives easier with travel and long term rentals. Babonbo, Baby On Board, was born out of the necessity to provide support, ease, and flexibility to families, while breaking traditional consumerism ways, by renting only what is needed for as long as necessary, instead of repeatedly purchasing. Offering no compromise on quality or variety of choice, the items are delivered right to your door, directly from parents’ unused personal inventory. The Airbnb of baby gear provides the long-awaited ease parents have longed for.

Leveraging Duygu Sefa’s 10+ years of career experience and entrepreneur expertise, we looked at new data from Prosper Insights & Analytics and discussed the ways parents are buying baby equipment and how they can find alternative solutions to save the environment and make their lives easier. Babonbo has given the rental service (both long term and short term) so far only in Italy and thanks to a mobile app we have just launched we are expanding our presence in other countries in Europe through local providers (parents or local second-hand shops) coming onboard to rent out their unused baby equipment to other families to help other families to save money, environment and at the same time earn extra.

Gary Drenik: What are your tips when parents make purchasing decisions?

Duygu Sefa: We parents want the best for our kids, and we do not think twice when it comes to purchasing what they need. We end up purchasing many things that we use only for a very short time or that we do not actually use. This has an economical impact in families’ pockets and environmental consequences. There are ways parents can get what their kids need by saving money and the environment without compromising the quality and comfort. Here are my 3 tips for parents.

1. Pre-owned products in perfect condition from other parents is a perfect alternative. If you want to purchase, it is always good to see the product and quality check and try before purchasing (which is not always possible when buying from private parties). Most products can be cleaned and sanitized easily after purchase. You should pay particular attention in buying used car seats, because car seats expire, and you cannot be sure of the seat history. So, buy second-hand car seats only from someone that you trust.
2. A more practical and smart solution is renting if there is a service provider in your area. You can try the product, keep it only for the time needed, so pay per use and return it when you no longer use. You receive the products clean and sanitized after each rental. Renting is a great solution, so that parents can avoid purchasing wrong products which happen often to new parents.
3. If you want to purchase new, look for eco-friendly brands which designs products sustainably produced, 100% recyclable and still safe, comfortable. There are more and more brands in the market providing many options. We should give them the chance to grow.

Drenik: How are parents purchasing baby equipment?

Sefa: Data from a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics states that 52% of parents buy less than 25% of their baby equipment online. Almost half of those parents said they do not buy these products online at all. This is significant data, because it shows that even after the pandemic (which increased online purchases dramatically) parents still prefer to physically go to local shops. This shows that parents need to see the products and try them to have a better feeling and understanding about what is the best purchase option for their family.

Additionally, 61% of parents have no preference on where they shop for baby equipment. They are not loyal to specific online platforms or retail channels. Instead, they rather look for the platforms (online or offline) where they find the right combination of price, quality, and selection. These are key data points on why rental works: Parents have the opportunity to see and try a wide range of quality products and pay them only for the time used.

Drenik: When parents purchase baby-related products, what are the reasons why they buy a particular brand?

Sefa: Based on Prosper Insights & Analytics findings, it was found that 40% of parents say that a brand they trust is the most important. Parents look for the brand they know and trust. Babonbo allows parents to share their trusted brands with other families who would need them temporarily during vacation or at home.

The research also found that 29% of parents prioritize quality and 25% are driven by price. Parents are looking for quality at the same time for reasonable prices. Rental allows parents to get most quality baby products at reasonable prices because they pay only for the time, they use it.

Drenik: What are the top factors that influence a parent’s decision when purchasing baby equipment?

Sefa: According to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 30% of parents prioritize price, followed by 24% of parents saying quality and 22% of parents prioritizing selection. A significant number of parents still prefer local (or offline – you decide which word to use) shops (19%), because they rely on knowledgeable salespeople, in-store experience, and service.

Drenik: Thanks, Duygu, for your insights on how essential it is for parents to begin supporting a circular economy, especially through baby equipment rental. It will be great to see parents’ lives become easier and how this will impact the ways in which we think about purchasing.