Raising kids is a big deal! theplanner.guru speaks to the BabyYumYum.co.za team to learn more.
What started out as a blog intended to empower parents who were coming to grips with the numerous challenges presented by their newfound parenthood has grown into South Africa’s top parenting portal.
“When I started writing the blog, I had a very well-established PR and event management company. I was going to be one of those women who gave birth and was back at my desk the very next day. At some point during my pregnancy, I became overwhelmed by the amount of content that was out there and I didn’t know what information I could trust, so I started writing my own articles. I would then get experts to contribute and also check my articles to ensure that these were 100% sound,” explains Amanda Rogaly, founder and CEO of BabyYumYum.co.za.
A virtual success
As part of its drive, BabyYumYum.co.za aims to support businesses working within this space by giving them a platform in the form of its BabyYumYum.co.za.co.za Virtual Parenting Experience powered by Momentum Medical Scheme (VPE). This includes everything from homeware and clothing to services specifically geared towards supporting parents and their children. Last year, this attracted 13 000 people and it is hoped that this year’s VPE will surpass this number.
“Last year, because we are so entrepreneurial, of course, we decided to solve the problem behind people not going to in-person expos, with the knock-on of this being that brands weren’t able to get exposure, so we decided to create the Virtual Parenting Experience. Last year was really a proof of concept, so we didn’t invest heavily in it, but from a resource point of view, with the number of staff and energy we put behind it, we went balls to the wall,” says Amanda, who attributes the success of the BabyYumYum.co.za VPE to the format of the event.
“For mothers with younger children, moving around with them is hectic. There is The Bag that needs to be prepped for every single mealtime, nappy change and clothing for all seasons – and heaven forbid one item is left behind. Babies can also be niggly and fuss and cry. New mothers also may not want to spend extended periods of time away from their children, so we found VPE to be ideal for moms, who can sit back and enjoy themselves and be with their children in the comfort of their home,” says Amanda.
Forging partnerships
With the steady growth of BabyYumYum.co.za and its VPE event, this is attracting support from the likes of Momentum, resulting in an endeavour that has become mutually beneficial for the two parties.
“Momentum Medical Scheme has partnered with BabyYumYum.co.za over the past few years to ensure that our members enjoy the world’s best healthcare, and in particular, maternity benefits.
“The Scheme boasts one of the lowest average member age profiles in the open market industry, which has a positive impact on claims ratios and its resulting impact on the future sustainability of the scheme, as well as contribution increases. This success can in part be attributed to our partnership with the likes of BabyYumYum.co.za, ensuring that what is available to Momentum Medical Scheme members, appeals to younger individuals, such as moms and moms-to-be,” comments Damian McHugh, chief marketing officer at Momentum Health Solutions.
About #VPE2022
#VPE2022 will run over three days and include the following:
Friday 20 May – Dedicated Brand Engagement and Retail e-Commerce Space
Saturday 21 May – Day 1 Expert Presentations (10h00 to 16h00)
Sunday 22 May – Day 2 Expert Presentations (10h00 to 16h00)
The programme will see participation from expert speakers and host several interactive workshops. As part of the experience, incredible prizes aimed at couples who are wanting to start a family and those who are already on their parenting journey will also be given away.
To book your ticket, visit https://BabyYumYum.co.za.co.za/virtual-parenting-experience/. Read the full event showcase in the upcoming issue of Meetings magazine, which you can subscribe to here: https://theplannerguru.co.za/request-free-magazine-and-newsletter/.
