Urszula Kaszubowska: You have been in business for 12 years. How has the market changed over the years?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: In the industry overall, we’ve been around even a bit longer. Before starting the business, both of us worked in a store offering a wide range of products for children. Because we were responsible for the strollers and car seats section, we decided to continue in that direction, so today we specialize mainly in these products and that's where we can share the most insights. We believe that the production of both strollers and car seats has changed diametrically over the years. Many strollers have gained a lot of functionalities and conveniences, such as improved suspension, new types of wheels, the option to fold the stroller together with the seat, or the ability to fold it with one hand (which seemed like an abstraction not so long ago). We should also mention the significant development of Polish strollers, which have been leading in our offer from the very beginning. We are pleased that we can support Polish businesses and simultaneously recommend domestic products with a clear conscience. Polish strollers stand up to many well-regarded foreign brands, and their affordable price works to their advantage as well. Regarding car seats, the most significant change was certainly the i-Size homologation, which not only enhanced safety during travel but also raised awareness about the importance of rear-facing transportation and proper car seat and user compatibility. Fitting the child and the car’s seat is currently a fundamental step when selling any model. We hope that in future this brings even more innovative solutions that will allow children to travel safely and parents to minimize concerns about correct installation.

Urszula Kaszubowska: How did you deal with adding new products to your offer in the absence of canceled trade shows in previous years?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: Certainly, nothing can replace face-to-face conversations and the opportunity to see the product in person, which is why many sales representatives visited us personally, presenting new products on-site. Currently, our offered assortment is sufficient, and we mainly focus on introducing novelties from manufacturers we already cooperate with. It must be noted that a new product must evoke the “wow” effect for us and stand out from the competition. We aren’t satisfied with slightly improved copies with a few minor nuances – the product must meet specific criteria.

Urszula Kaszubowska: Was the online store operational from the beginning of your business, or did you launch it out of necessity to utilize all sales channels?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: The online store was launched right at the beginning of our operations, and this sales channel allowed us to open a small personal pickup point and subsequently two physical showrooms. Online sales, unfortunately, have their own rules, but nevertheless, they are of great importance to us. The reach to customers is enormous, and effective online sales enable us to think about further development and surviving tougher times – the pandemic period was a perfect example, forcing people to engage in remote shopping. We hope that opening additional physical showrooms is a matter of time, although it's not our priority. Above all, we value service quality over the number of stores. We believe that sometimes, less means better.

Urszula Kaszubowska: You also run a blog on your website, where you share your experience, provide advice to parents and write about new products on the market. Where did the idea for the blog come from?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: The idea for the blog has been with us from the very beginning, but due to running the store with just two people, we didn’t have the time for it. Fortunately, we managed to hire the right people who assist in its development, leading to interesting articles, advice, and responses to frequently asked questions. The idea for the blog is a natural progression when running an online store. They complement each other and offer customers everything they need in terms of knowledge before purchasing products.

Urszula Kaszubowska: Have you noticed any strong trends among stroller and car seat manufacturers?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: In terms of strollers, the main trend is a color palette based on a combination of black and gold (it’s hard to find a brand that doesn't offer at least one model with a gold frame or accents). There’s also a strong focus on suspension quality, as well as making the stroller as lightweight as possible and minimizing its dimensions when folded. This is a good direction, although more attention could be given to the bassinet, as it's in this component that a child shapes their musculoskeletal system in the early stages of life. It also happens that the seats in multifunctional strollers are not completely refined in terms of fitting the child. Customers sometimes report issues with improper positioning of the crotch strap, the barrier being too far, or improper backrest positioning (such as lacking an upright position). For car seats, we’ve observed a surge in rotating models, both for baby carriers and for older children. There’s also a strong emphasis on ventilation, which has considerable importance, especially in the spring and summer seasons. To ensure a high comfort level during travel, customers also choose additional universal inserts that provide better air circulation.

Urszula Kaszubowska: Which strollers and car seats have recently been most popular among parents?

Mateusz and Marcin Aumiler: For strollers, models with excellent suspension, one-hand operation, and those that are lightweight and fold into small dimensions are leading the way. Weight and dimensions after folding have always been crucial, but until recently, you had to sacrifice some convenience to find a suitable model. Fortunately, there are now many options that possess both of these features. As for car seats, the most popular are rotating options and convertible seats that allow for longer use. User-friendly comfort must go hand in hand with safety, so whenever possible, seats with Isofix installation are chosen.