Anne Dhir runs Calin Bleu, a Scottish company selling stylish and comfortable baby slings. In this useful article she explains why online businesses need to think about local promotion.

With the internet bringing the entire world on your desk, it’s tempting to focus on big leads, national campaigns, being first on search engines… It’s a big world out there but there is one lesson I have learned over the last four years, it’s always nurture your local market.

I enjoy the challenge of promoting Calin Bleu and baby wearing in general locally, getting out there, talking to parents, sometimes you spend several hours talking to one customer for one item or for none! Other times, after one shopping appointment or dropping off leaflets in a café, I see a cluster of orders over the following months, all from the same area or even the same street. It is also a cost effective way of increasing sales. People love shopping from a local company and are happy to refer their friends and families to us. (more…)

Calin Bleu is launching this season’s NEW redesigned wrap sling. A warm winter red, you and your baby will be comfortable and cosy indoors and out. No need to worry whether baby is too hot or too cold, they will be right up next to you, sharing your body temperature.

The sling has been redesigned to make it even easier to use: the ends of the sling are tapered so that it is wide in the centre where you need it to support the baby, and slim around your waist. Each sling comes with a 24-page colour booklet of step-by-step instructions to tie your sling. (more…)