Startup Spotlight #116: 123 Baby Box
123 Baby Box provides a monthly subscription box for babies ages 0-3.
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I got the chance to speak with Zarina Bahadur, founder and CEO of 123 Baby Box, about what she’s working on at her startup, and any advice she has for emerging entrepreneurs.
Zarina Bahadur is the CEO and founder of 123 Baby Box. 123 Baby Box is a monthly subscription box for babies aged 1 to 3. 123 Baby Box was founded with a mission to help the working mom by conveniently bringing everything her baby needs in a timely manner. Bahadur graduated from the University of California Irvine where she earned her bachelor's degree in Pre Law and Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Paul Merage School of Business.
123 Baby Box has built a loyal base and community that has members all around the world. The boxes are shipped worldwide with a concentration in the US and Canadian markets. There is also a philanthropy factor in that a portion of sales is donated to orphanages and charities to supply babies with their necessities.
The new age of millennial moms turn more towards online resources to help guide them. We hope to be a vital network throughout their parenthood journey.
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Startup Spotlight: 123 Baby Box
Problem: New parents spend a lot of time and money searching for the right products for their babies. They are often led down a rabbit hole sorting through thousands of different items wasting their time and money by not knowing which products are the best for their baby.
Market: There are over nine billion baby products sold in North America alone; of this nine billion, three billion are accredited to online sales. These numbers are on the rise as the global birth rate continues to increase throughout the years.
Solution: 123 Baby Box delivers the necessities that new parents need for their babies conveniently on a recurring basis. They never have to worry about products that aren’t the right fit as each 123 Baby Box is tailored to the baby’s age and developmental stage.
Team: I’m the CEO and Founder and my teammates are spread across the country.
Recent Success:
Bahadur: There have been many components to the success of the company. But one of the most important aspects can be shown through our social media marketing campaigns. The baby niche itself is ever-growing, but we’ve been able to generate a lot of buzz solely through influencers. This has been great because we don’t have to rely on paid ads. The mommy blogger community is very strong so when they like a product, they’ll be sure to let other moms know. Word of mouth marketing is still very strong and has played a huge role in the continued growth and success of the company.
Recent Struggle:
Bahadur: As a CEO, my job is to run the company successfully. I’ve been grateful to have such a fantastic, dedicated, and driven team. However, before building this talented team it was just me. I was wearing all the hats and I was doing everything, so naturally, the habit of trying to do everything sometimes kicks in. I’ve delegated those tasks and now I have to focus on the bigger picture and make sure we, as a company, are on track to hit our target goals.
Founder Advice:
Bahadur: Entrepreneurship can get lonely and confusing, surround yourself with a strong community of mentors, advisors, and innovators that could help guide you in your journey. The path to success is often a long and difficult road filled with many obstacles and failures being inevitable. But don’t let failure stop you from moving on, instead, let it be a learning experience to teach you how to take that next step. Cultivating a supportive environment for yourself can help you with this.
My support system was my school (UCI) and family. UCI is cultivating a climate for innovators and entrepreneurs and I am grateful to have attended a university that supports these initiatives. My parents were also entrepreneurs which is a huge bonus as I can always count on them for their industry knowledge, experience, and support. Being in a supportive environment like this has truly helped me and the company thrive.
Three Cool Founders You Should Know About:
Bahadur: Here are three founders you should check out next!
Gina Heitkamp, Founder of Middle School Moguls: Middle School Moguls teaches entrepreneurship, technology, friendship, and teamwork.
Patrick Dumas, Founder of Waterborne Skateboards: Waterborne Skateboards is a Southern California company founded in 2016 that has a mission to spread a new feeling to skate riders, surfers, and sports lovers.
Ahmed Zobi, Founder of Syntr: Syntr helps reduce diabetic amputations in the aging population.
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