With grandparents taking an increasing role in childcare these days, it makes sense that they have a say in the products parents buy for their children ? especially if they have to use them too.
This month sees the launch of GrannyTakesAGrip.com ? an online store selling baby products for hands-on grandparents.
Granny Takes A Grip is the brainchild of Gloucestershire grandmother Fran Yorke, who thought up the idea while shopping for her first grandchild.
?Very few baby and child products are designed with the older generation in mind ? yet in the UK, more and more of us grandparents are taking an active role in childcare. So set out to find products that are easy to assemble, easy to lift and easy to store ? and to make them available for grandparents to buy online from one safe, easy-to-use website?, says granpreneur Fran.
All products sold on the website have been extensively tested by focus groups of men and women aged 60-plus ? and, of course, all products have granny Fran?s personal seal of approval.
As well as high quality, grandparent-recommended products, GrannyTakesAGrip.com is committed to offering a fuss-free service, personal advice on product suitability – and a safe, trustworthy online shopping environment, which Fran knows is critical to enabling novice web users to shop online with confidence.
Granny Takes A Grip is a real family affair, with Fran overseeing product selection and creative communications, and son-in-law Richard Hudson taking care of business finance and commercial matters. The whole family is involved in promoting the new business, with everyone playing their part ? including seven-month old Romilly, Fran?s youngest grandchild, who took part in modelling for the catalogue photoshoot.
The site will sell almost everything that grandparents need in order to care for grandchildren at home and away ? from pushchairs and potties, to travel cots and tot seats. However, what makes the site special is that it offers a handpicked selection of the best products for the target audience ? rather than overwhelming shoppers with choice.
?There is a bewildering choice of brands and new products on the market these days, and there are a huge number of websites selling those products?, says Richard ? ?Our concept was to cut through all of that for grandparents and narrow the field to a considered selection of recommended products that are good value for money.?
The products on the website are categorised into six helpful sections: Getting Around, Sleeping, Eating, Bathing, Playing and Safety. The online store will stock big brand names including Cosatto, Hauck, Babydan and Hippychick, as well as innovative products from lesser-known manufacturers.? The challenge has been to get the product balance right: picking the best, most usable innovative products that grandparents may be unfamiliar with, (but that will work really well for them) alongside the most suitable, more traditional products.
GrannyTakesAGrip.com will also include ?granny says? hints and tips for new grandparents, and will encourage grandparents to share their own tips and advice on successful childcare. The business offers a free catalogue for those who prefer to browse before they buy, and mail order is also available through the catalogue.
