HOW TO START BABY SHOP BUSINESS IN GHANA

The market for baby and kids’ products from diapers, clothes and antenatal items is very big in Ghana.Most baby shops are called mother care which is a company founded by Selim Zilkha and Sir James Goldsmith in 1961 which specialize in products for expectant mothers and general goods for kids. The mother care brand was one of the leading brand in selling baby and mother’s needs especially in local day-care and Obstetrician hospitals.

An article published by franhiseindia.com on starting a mother care store states that starting a baby shop is a fulfilling and lucrative business idea. Its however important to have a niche to be able to penetrate the market. You can focus on diapers, baby foods, baby cosmetics, kids clothing and accessories, used kids wear or mixed products. Most baby shops in Ghana sell Maternity clothing, shoes, undergarments, body care and breastfeeding gear for new mothers.

Starting a mother care business in Ghana can be more intensive but sustainable and less capitalized. It’s important to have a business plan since its helps with the budget, location and marketing strategy. You can start by renting a store or land where you can mount your container. As a start-up with small capital, you can also sell from home by using online platforms.

The demand for baby and mother care products is on the rise in the world and Ghana is not an exception. These products are very important and a necessity immediately a woman gets pregnant. Baby products such as clothes, diapers, wipes, detergent, baby food among others are what they need. Most of these products are imported from China, U.S.A, U.K etc.

In Ghana when the wholesalers import them, the retailers usually go to Accra to get these goods to sell. There is high demand for diapers and wipes in recent times because mothers do not use the napkins anymore and since these items are disposable demand is high. Even though diapers have different quality and grades the mothers buy based on their financial strength. It’s ideal for this business to be cited around maternity hospitals, nursery schools and market centres.

You must also note that most of these products come with expiry dates, and one would have to be observant with dates of expiry. Most expectant mothers’ visits mother care shops as referrals hence customer service must be top notch. Some mothers also prefer online shopping. One would have to adapt to customer needs and purchasing trends.

Its important for your shop to be welcoming and practical to expectant mothers. Though you will have customers that are not pregnant women, the majority of your customers will be. Therefore, it’s important to place comfortable chairs or sofas for expectant and nursing mothers to feel comfortable. Finally, it’s important to identify your target market and the marketing strategy to use. You can place fliers in local day care facilities, obstetrician offices and clinics. Social Media marketing is the new trend so open some social media handles like Facebook, Instagram, what’s up among others which would help generate extra revenue. You can also create nice hampers which can be used as gifts during naming
ceremonies.

It would be important to contact someone who is already in this business to understand the market since its very wide with different kind of products. This is a business I’m into and personally recommend this business to start-ups since patronage is high because it’s a necessity since babies are born every
day.