If you haven’t already heard the news, BabyQuip is super excited to be announcing a new service! Drum roll please…..BabyQuip Cleaning! BabyQuip Cleaning was created from a recent acquisition of the cleaning and repair business from TotSquad, a marketplace for virtual parenting services. With BabyQuip Cleaning, we are able to put our experience to work by offering families an exceptional cleaning service of their prized baby gear. Car seats, strollers, high chairs—you name it, we’ll clean it. We are already providing clean, sanitized and insured baby gear rentals, so this new service is a natural extension of our national brand!
We sat down with our very own CEO, Fran Maier, to learn more about this exciting new cleaning service. Continue reading for some insider info!
What is BabyQuip Cleaning?
BabyQuip Cleaning is our new service to clean baby gear. Primarily car seats and strollers, which we all know can get rather filthy and disgusting at times! Check out the before and after picture above!
How did BabyQuip Cleaning start?
From the time that BabyQuip started in 2016, we’ve become part of a network of companies focused on families, travel and children. Along the way I met Jen Saxton, CEO of Tot Squad. From time-to-time we would check in with each other, and she indicated to me that they were doing a pivot to provide a marketplace of virtual services. She said she had interest in selling the cleaning service aspect of her business.
BabyQuip has become a national brand with 600+ providers in over 500 locations. Our community of providers are already cleaning gear and I know they want more opportunities to earn income. So, it seemed to me that acquiring Tot Squad was a really good fit. We have already served over 40,000 customers (mostly parents) and it’s clear that our customers already trust BabyQuip. We know that they’ll trust us to clean their personal baby gear too.
I didn’t anticipate that this acquisition would be so timely given the Coronavirus pandemic.
When did this acquisition/process start?
We started the acquisition of Tot Squad cleaning services in January. But now, with Coronavirus impacting all of us, it seemed that it was urgent and necessary for immediate launch.
What makes BabyQuip Cleaning services a great addition to the BabyQuip brand?
The synergies are many. But our name says it all—we are all about baby equipment! Importantly, this new business reinforces our commitment to cleaning and safety. We are also committed to our community of 600+ Quality Providers and this is a new way for them to earn even more income serving families. It also fulfills a need in the current market that we can scale up to meet pretty quickly.
Why do you think BabyQuip Cleaning is important to families?
We believe the main reason why BQ has become the market leader is because people trust that we are doing everything possible to provide clean and safe gear. (Especially now, in the midst of the COVIC-19 pandemic.) I think customers will trust us to clean their personal baby gear too. They want that confidence.
What is the cleaning process? How does it work?
We follow a Three P model: Products, Process and Proficiency. We use the safest most effective Products and tools; follow a detailed top to bottom cleaning Process; and ensure Proficiency through training, skill and baby gear knowledge. Check out that before and after pic!
What makes you most excited about the cleaning services?
I’m excited because so many of our providers are excited about this! They are eager to get trained and get the necessary cleaning products and equipment to provide the service. I’m also excited because we’ll have new and different partners: big box stores, car companies, car rental companies, preschools, and so many others. Soon we’ll have baby gear cleaning events in all markets! Parents can drop off their car seat, get it cleaned while they run errands and come back to a clean car seat for their child. We know this will help build the BabyQuip brand for all our services including baby gear rental.
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What items do you clean?
The key items, generally speaking, are car seats, strollers and high chairs. Many families also take advantage of house calls so all of their baby gear is cleaned at once.
It’s amazing what soap and hot water can do! A deep clean usually involves a steamer, washing machine, and some specialized products and tools. But just remember that soap and water goes a long way and to follow manufacturing guidelines. Most of those are available online for easy access!
Do you have any special plans, partnerships or ideas for BabyQuip Cleaning services?
We’re excited about expanding into new types of partnerships, for example, we will be cleaning car seats for Uber in NYC. We also plan to partner with children’s hospitals, daycare facilities, babysitting businesses, rental car companies and more!
We currently have a storefront in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles which accepts walk-in cleanings. We expect to offer rentals too once the current crisis is over. Right now we are looking at how that might make a difference to our brand and business.
What is your vision for BabyQuip Cleaning services long term?
From BabyQuip’s onset in 2016, we identified a large and underserved market for renting baby gear, particularly for traveling families. We are now by far the market leader and have earned the trust of parents across the county. With our large community of Quality Providers – mostly moms- we are thinking more about the other products and services parents’ need and our community can deliver. BabyQuip Cleaning is a natural extension, and unlikely to be our last.
Thanks, Fran! Sounds like BabyQuip will keep your gear clean while you’re home and while you’re on vacay! Want to learn more about this new cleaning service? Click here!
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Good post!
This is such a perfect marriage and I am beyond excited about it!
The before and after pictures are impressive. Congrats and good luck on your new venture!
Great timing!
Congrats on the acquisition. Sounds like a great extension of BabyQuip.
Did you have this planned before or after the coronavirus pandemic? Great to hear this service is coming soon nationwide.
Congrats!
The before and after pictures of the car seat have me seriously grossed out. If my kid’s car seat looked like that I think I wouls just throw it out! lol