MEDIA RELEASE 21 SEPTEMBER 2009
DESIGNERS DOWNSIZE AS BABY BUDGET BLUES HIT PARENTS
RAINBOW-HUED designer prams, bassinets that become cots and beds as baby grows, and highchairs
that turn into seats for older children are the new must-haves as tougher economic times push Australian
parents to stretch the family budget further.
The swing from
basic
black or navy prams to strollers in bright designer shades
and the demand for
convertible nursery furniture comes as Australian parents and parents-to-be continue to feel the pinch from
the global economic crisis.
“We’ve already seen high-end prams in pretty pinks, baby blues and reds as pram manufacturers try to give
parents a subliminal pick-me-up. Now designers are going further by opting for even brighter colours such
as tangerine, lime and
purple with their latest prams, partly
in
response to the doom and gloom of the
economic crisis,” says Mandi Gunsberger, managing director of baby and child style weblog Babyology.
Mandi has just returned from the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, the world’s biggest baby and children’s
product expo. Many products from the show – including a limited edition $600 designer highchair and a
high-tech pram that tells mums how far and how fast they have walked – will soon be available in Australia.
Uber-expensive items aside, Mandi says the trend this year
from designers
is for more versatile and
affordable items that will save parents money. “Parents traditionally buy a bassinet or cradle when baby
arrives before switching to a cot,
a toddler bed and finally,
a single bed
but nursery furniture designers
overseas have responded to the credit crunch by creating convertible baby furniture that can save parents
hundreds of dollars over time. These will be very popular when they arrive in Australia next year,’’ she says.
iPod-compatible speakers that attach to pregnant bellies so mums can
play music to babies on the go,
baby bottles that mimic breasts, camera add-ons that mesmerise babies to make taking pictures easier, a
clock that changes colour when it’s okay for children to get out of bed, organic toys and gluten-free play
dough are among other new baby products snapped up by Australian retailers at the US-based show.
Babyology is visited by more than 55,000 Australian mums and dads every month. It is updated daily with
expert finds and ideas from well-known and independent designers in Australia and around the globe. The
Babyology blog was the only Australian finalist in its category for the respected Weblog Awards this year.
Mandi is available for interview about the expo and the new must-have items for parents and babies that
will be available in Australia in the lead-up to Christmas and into next year.
-ends-
For further information or for interviews contact:
Babyology Managing Director Mandi Gunsberger on 0404 064 452 or info@babyology.com.au
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