Juvenile Solutions Solves Childcare Needs
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For almost thirteen years, Pamela Neckameyer’s Juvenile Solutions has been looking for, discovering, distributing, and manufacturing a variety of products that are the solutions to common childcare needs. Specializing in baby feeding, bathing, and diapering products, Juvenile Solutions has developed a loyal retail and consumer following that looks to the company for the “next best thing.”
It’s interesting that Pamela did not enter the juvenile products business until she was a grandmother herself and wanted to find baby products that both she and her daughter could use. Since then, Pam has held court at the ABC Kids Expo every year with both the eager enthusiasm of an entrepreneur and the wisdom of a seasoned pro who stays passionate about sharing and selling her innovative discoveries with the children’s market throughout the U.S.
Pamela recently gave The Giggle Guide® an inside look at how Juvenile Solutions remains a “go-to” brand at ABC and throughout the year for both online retailers and specialty stores in neighborhoods nationwide.
When was your brand born, and what was the initial inspiration?
“Juvenile Solutions began in 1999.The inspiration was having our first born grandchild and not finding unique practical products, such as an infant bath seat to use at grandma’s house, until a European friend gave my daughter the Thermobaby Daphne Infant Bath Seat. After our daughter told us what a great product it was, and I tried it for myself, we decided that we would import them… and the rest is history
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What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting?
“Finding products that were not already on the market in the United States.
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What do you feel are the keys to your success?
“The three biggest keys have been:
1. Listening to what parents and caregivers need to take care of their little ones.
2. Discovering unique products at keen prices from Europe and not Asia.
3. Bringing to market several “mom invented” products, including Sip & Stroll, and Messeez Car Seat & Highchair Covers.”
**How do you determine which products to represent and which to manufacturer and distribute? How do you choose products to import? **
“We look for unique products with a difference that may have been “mom invented” such as Dipe n’ Go Baby Changing Station. We also manufacture our own products, including Hush a Bye Animal Hooded Towels, Sip n’ Stroll, and Messeez, among others.
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What are a few highlights of success stories from your products?
“Juvenile Solutions was approached in the year 2000 by Petite Creations, the manufacturer of the “Original Baby Cubes” in Canada, when they first started, to distribute the product in the U.S., and we were able to make the product a household name. Today, websites, catalogs, and stores nationwide sell Baby Cubes.
Juvenile Solutions first imported product from France in 1999 was the Daphne Infant bath seat, manufactured by Thermobaby. We ordered 300 units, and quickly learned that we would not be successful bringing in only one product, so we started to import other products. We now are the exclusive distributor and bring in 40-foot containers of most of their products to include bathing, feeding, potty, and other baby care essentials. We also sell containers of popular products including Aquababy, Kiddyloo Toilet Trainer, and other brands to some of our larger customers. Thermobaby is now a well-known brand in the U.S.
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How do green or eco-friendly concerns influence your business decisions?
“We do not sell products that contain Bisphonal A (BPA), Phthalates, Lead or PVC… and where possible we ask our vendors to supply us with accreditation.
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What is one new trend you’re seeing in the marketplace?
“More mom-invented products and “green” eco-friendly products continue to be important trends.
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How does your business make use of the Internet?
“We use Twitter and Facebook, to let moms know about our products and in addition we also let them know about recalls, interesting articles on baby and toddler health, and product reviews. We also interact with our customers that buy products.
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What is the biggest challenge your business faces today?
“There are several challenges:
1. The economy being so poor, many small, independently-owned stores have gone out of business, and late-paying retailers that of course impact cash flow.
2. Finding unique products that have not already been brought to market.
3. The Children’s Safety Product Commission (CPSC) imposing so many unnecessary, very expensive tests and conditions to comply with, before attaining accreditation for the products we manufacture ourselves.”
What is one change/addition that’s had a positive impact for your business in the last year?
“There is more and more business being done by Web sites such as www.babydepot.com, www.rightstart.com, www.toysrus.com and www.babiesrus.com. These stores all buy one or more products from us. We have just attained CSN that operates many online sites that sell baby products. They will feature all of our products on multiple sites.
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What is your advice for someone entering the children’s market?
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- Do the research.
- Don’t spend money importing or manufacturing products that already exist.
- Make sure that you have enough startup capital if possible to expand, (JS started with very little). Times have changed and there is much more competition in small business and with majors.
- Find a mentor that has been in business for a while. This was hard to find when we started in 1999.
- Find cost-effective ways to reach the market place; use social media sites, press releases, trade magazine ads, and other means to communicate with sales reps, retailers, and end-users.
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About Juvenile Solutions
Juvenile Solutions, based in Van Nuys, California, are importers, manufacturers and distributors of unique infant and toddler accessories. Brands that Juvenile Solutions manufacture include Hush a Bye Baby Animal Hooded Towels, the Sip & Stroll Insulated Bottle/Cup Holder, Messeez Highchair & Car Seat Covers, and the newest acquisition, Dipe n’ Go Baby Changing Station. Imports are Thermobaby from France featuring feeding, bathing, and potty items, and Baby Cubes, manufactured in Brazil.
See Juvenile Solutions September 23-26 at the ABC KidsExpo, Louisville, KY, Booth 815.
For more information contact Pamela Neckameyer:
Phone 818-778-0858
Email:
www.juvenilesolutions.com
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