Shalini Ahuja Agarwal's Safe Baby: India's first professional child safety company
Woman entrepreneur Shalini Ahuja Agarwal talks about her company, Safe Baby, the concept of baby-proofing, work-life balance and her supportive ecosystem.
Shalini Ahuja Agarwal talks about her company, Safe Baby, the concept of baby-proofing, work-life balance and her supportive ecosystem.
To sell the idea of professional baby-proofing the child's surrounding enviorns is indeed no cakewalk. But ask Shalini Ahuja Agarwal, who set up India's first professional child safety company, about her biggest challenge and her answer is: Work-life balance. "This is true for most womenentrepreneurs," Agarwal says.
Safe Baby was started by Agarwal and her husband Sachin Agarwal upon their return from the US to Mumbai in 2011. The company offers baby-proofing audits where the duo identifies probably risks of accidents in a child's room, a play or preparatory school. "We have safety equipment such as door guards, cabinet locks, safety gates, cord shorteners and many others which are installed on the spot to reduce risks instantly. We also offer workshops on preventing accidents, first-aid and CPR," says Agarwal. Audits and workshops are on offer for parents, day-cares and playschools.
Coming to her biggest challenge, Agarwal says she is always amazed by women professional who can manage both work and profession with ease. "Being a mother is a full-time job in itself. Fortunately for me, I have a supportive ecosystem - spouse, in-laws, parents, friends, neighbours. So many people have helped me balance my professional and personal commitments," she says. If it were not for them, she adds, either the business would have suppered or she had got guilt pangs.
The Agarwals claim that the response to their workshops on preventing accidents and first-aid has been phenomenal. However, since it is a relatively new business idea, it is difficult to estimate the market size, she adds. The idea to start such a service emerged from the idea that Indians have begun to spend a lot of money on their children. "We feel that if even a tiny share of that is spent on their safety, it is a worthwhile investment. We have received support from paediatricians, parents, day-cares and schools. We are confident that with time and greater awareness and acceptance, we will see exponential growth," says Agarwal.
In addition to customized audits, the company offers workshops for nannies, teachers, architects and other interested people. These workshops can be held in group or a suitable venue of the client. "Sometimes a carpenter is required to make certain changes. In such cases, we work with the carpenters or architects for making the product or place safe for a baby."
Currently, the Agarwals are looking for partners to help them grow business in metros other than Mumbai. They have the expertise and they are willing to share it for expansion of their business plan. "At present we are focused on parents, daycares and playschools. We are also interested in offering workshops for new mothers at hospitals and clinics." However, the challenges are many. "Since it is a new concept, we have had to invest in raising awareness not just about us, but also about baby proofing.
To sell the idea of professional baby-proofing the child's surrounding enviorns is indeed no cakewalk. But ask Shalini Ahuja Agarwal, who set up India's first professional child safety company, about her biggest challenge and her answer is: Work-life balance. "This is true for most womenentrepreneurs," Agarwal says.
Safe Baby was started by Agarwal and her husband Sachin Agarwal upon their return from the US to Mumbai in 2011. The company offers baby-proofing audits where the duo identifies probably risks of accidents in a child's room, a play or preparatory school. "We have safety equipment such as door guards, cabinet locks, safety gates, cord shorteners and many others which are installed on the spot to reduce risks instantly. We also offer workshops on preventing accidents, first-aid and CPR," says Agarwal. Audits and workshops are on offer for parents, day-cares and playschools.
Coming to her biggest challenge, Agarwal says she is always amazed by women professional who can manage both work and profession with ease. "Being a mother is a full-time job in itself. Fortunately for me, I have a supportive ecosystem - spouse, in-laws, parents, friends, neighbours. So many people have helped me balance my professional and personal commitments," she says. If it were not for them, she adds, either the business would have suppered or she had got guilt pangs.
The Agarwals claim that the response to their workshops on preventing accidents and first-aid has been phenomenal. However, since it is a relatively new business idea, it is difficult to estimate the market size, she adds. The idea to start such a service emerged from the idea that Indians have begun to spend a lot of money on their children. "We feel that if even a tiny share of that is spent on their safety, it is a worthwhile investment. We have received support from paediatricians, parents, day-cares and schools. We are confident that with time and greater awareness and acceptance, we will see exponential growth," says Agarwal.
In addition to customized audits, the company offers workshops for nannies, teachers, architects and other interested people. These workshops can be held in group or a suitable venue of the client. "Sometimes a carpenter is required to make certain changes. In such cases, we work with the carpenters or architects for making the product or place safe for a baby."
Currently, the Agarwals are looking for partners to help them grow business in metros other than Mumbai. They have the expertise and they are willing to share it for expansion of their business plan. "At present we are focused on parents, daycares and playschools. We are also interested in offering workshops for new mothers at hospitals and clinics." However, the challenges are many. "Since it is a new concept, we have had to invest in raising awareness not just about us, but also about baby proofing.
Source : By Ashwini Nair, ET Bureau
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