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.

It is an opportunity to stay closer to customers and learn a lot about our own products and how they are used. Recently I was helping her mum use her baby carrier. As I talked to her, I came up with a new way to explain how to get the wrap nice and snug for the little one, and it comes in very handy when I help a customer by phone or email.

The local market isn’t just local customers, think suppliers and partners! There is one product that we searched high and low for, internet, yellow pages, wholesaler directories to find it by chance driving through a business park. We also found our fulfilment company at a Small Business exhibition.

I always look forward to local networking events, especially women’s events. Managing your own business can be isolating, it’s nice to get out of the office and meet real people. In addition to great business contacts, I always leave re-energised. You never know who you’re going to meet and how they could help you in ways you hadn’t even contemplated. Recently, I had dinner with a group of dynamic business ladies, one of them turned out to have a background in sewing threads (our wraps have 10m of expensive thread!), another woman had recently launched a local magazine,  another one gave me some tips on promoting our events and that was before we swapped seats for dessert!… I achieved more in one evening than the whole of the previous week.

I believe so strongly in nurturing your local market that I encourage our retailers to promote their local sales as well and support them in any way I can. We’re getting great response.

Get out there, its fun!

For more ideas on promoting your business locally, buy A Guide to Promoting Your Business.

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.

You won’t overheat in this baby carrier either. The micro fleece option is super lightweight, and the whole sling weighs less than 500g (1lb). Fleece is a very breathable fabric and you will be comfortable even indoors. Simply slip a coat over the top to go outside. The new improved design in warm winter red is also available in cool cotton.

Sling wearing tips

Anne Dhir of Calin Bleu has some tips to help you use your sling, “Millions of mums carry their baby successfully this way across the globe. Spend a little time practising, and persevere. The first time you try on your baby carrier, pick a time when your baby is neither tired nor hungry. Tie the sling fairly tight. The cosiness will remind baby of the womb, and it will be more comfortable for you. Make sure that you carry your baby high enough. Ideally, baby’s bottom should be just above your belly button, and their head within “kissing distance”. And finally, spread the fabric out for maximum comfort.” Anne continues, “It is easy to get help too. If you’re trying a wrap sling for the first time, have a go with a friend. Go along to a Sling Meet, parent gatherings held UK-wide, to chat over a cup of coffee and get to know other people who like to carry their babies. At most meetings there will be people with lots of experience and a range of different styles of slings to try.”

To buy the new warm winter red baby carriers, go to www.calinbleu.com or call 0845 862 0073, Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm. Calin Blue Wraps cost from £37.50. Free shipping to the UK, additional options available at checkout. Micro fleece baby slings are most comfortable from birth to 12kg.