BULAWAYO will host its first ever Baby Expo this Saturday, in the lush gardens of Pembroke Place in Hillside.
NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPODNENT
The brains behind the project, local businessman Ryan Joseph, saw the opportunity to bring Bulawayo parents together at an event designed to promote infant health awareness and ethical baby shopping, among other infant and toddler services offered throughout the city.
Speaking to Woza Weekend Joseph said he had a wake-up call on the lack of inexpensive, great quality baby products when he first became a father.
“When I became a father, it became apparent to me that Bulawayo had a lack of affordable, great quality baby merchandise,” he said.
“One should not be forced to compromise on the quality of products for your precious child just because everything is ridiculously fluctuated in price.
“It’s almost as if as soon as products cross the border there is an instant 40% to 50% mark-up. The average citizen is struggling to make ends meet as it is. Why make it difficult to provide the best of basic necessities for your child?”
Joseph will launch his baby merchandise store Bitz and Bubz at the event.
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He guarantees that the service will make it easier for new parents to access baby essentials at a competitive and economical cost.
Joseph notes that the US dollar has made the baby industry a profit-driven one.
The Bulawayo Baby Expo will host health professionals who will deliver seminars on pre and post-natal care, wholesale priced diapers, baby safety and health kits, as well as free toys and feeding equipment. Attendees will be treated to the amazing novelty baby shower cake by Jacqui Rubinya of Cake Diva Jay bakery.
Nappy Cakes and Gift Wares Shop; Bellestarr Designs will have a stall and award-winning photographer Natasha Mhone of Tasha Creations, among many other ethical service providers in the city will grace the event.
Expo co-ordinator Nicola Dawson said: “We are proud to be able to bring an event of this calibre to Bulawayo and we hope it carries on! There is a niche market for good wholesome products and services in the baby industry in our city.
“People just don’t know where to go. No one has the resources to scour through several shops for something as simple as a safe, good quality baby bottle. Stores are filled with cheaply manufactured untested and unregulated products simply because the good stuff is ridiculously priced, if you can even find it.”
She added: “No one wants to take those risks with their newborns. Neither should they be forced to run around in a state of panic trying to locate health info, advice and services which will not bankrupt them.”
The event will start at 9:30am with a seminar from Bulawayo maternal health professional Sister Jan Johnstone at 11am followed by a question-and-answer session.
