Cloth diapering is a whole world of its own (as I'm sure you are well aware!). When I first started learning about cloth diapers, I was so overwhelmed by all the terms and acronyms on message boards and blogs...so I thought I would refresh this post from 2005 and decipher a few more terms you may see out there:
AIO - All-In-One diapers - diaper with a waterproof outer and absorbent inner all in one piece
Aplix - hook and loop fastener a-la Velcro
bG - bumGenius - top selling cloth diaper brand
CD - cloth diaper
Contour - cloth diaper with sides cut in with out the elastic
CPF - Chinese prefold
Flats - Birdseye Flats - single layer diaper you fold like oragami for max absorbancy
Fitted - cloth diaper with sides cut in so they don't have to be folded and elastic in the legs
Fluffy Mail - mail containing cloth diapers
DD or 'sposies - disposable diapers
DH (or DW, DS, DD) - Dear husband/wife/son/daughter
FSOT - for sale or trade
Inserts - the absorbent pad that goes inside a pocket diaper
MFI - microfiber inserts
Nappy - European word for diapers
OS - one size diaper that will adjust to fit your baby as he/she grows
OC - organic cloth diaper - see bumGenius Oraganic Cloth Diaper
Pocket diaper - A pocket diaper is usually made of two layers of fabric sewn together to form a pocket for an absorbent insert - see bumGenius one-size cloth diaper
Stash - pile of cloth diapers that someone owns
UBCPF - unbleached Chinese prefold diaper
I hope this helps and if there are any other terms you run into out there, just comment on this post and we will help dicipher them together!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
bumGenius & Cotton Babies reviews are organic.
I've always been bothered by reviews that I read that were not organically inspired by the writer's natural desire to share information (without reward). I have Amazon Prime so we shop there all the time. I often look to the reviews before hitting that "buy now with 1 click" button. I completely disregard anything written before the product was available to the public or even by someone who got the product free. I just do... it means much more to me as a reader when a review was written by someone who just liked the product and decided to tell the world about it. I feel the same about movie reviews. When a fellow mom tells me that a movie is safe for my kids to watch, then I'm more likely to take my kids to that movie. I certainly wouldn't give much weight to her words if I knew she was getting paid to tell people to see that movie. I'm also not as likely to make the same decision because the entertainment guy on the news recommends it as a "family" movie the day before it hits the theatres.
I've been working on this post for a week now. I started writing down my thoughts on this topic after The Consumerist was kind enough to post a positive review of our customer service (http://consumerist.com/5312214/cotton-babies-stands-behind-the-cloth-diapers-they-sell). I read that article and then realized that my customers don't know how much I value the good, un-asked-for reviews from real customers that we see come across our Google Alerts every single day.
I’ve been selling products in this category long enough to see many companies forcibly generate buzz about their new item. They write their own reviews, their "testers" are asked to write reviews, their retailers write reviews, then customers are asked to write reviews in exchange for coupon codes. I've also recently seen bloggers proactively trolled with free product as long as they agreed to mention the product on their blog.
Sometimes review-driven sites will rank products based on the number and quality of reviews that a product gets. A manufacturer understandably wants their product on that list, and then wants to see their product rise to the top of that list. Right now, bumGenius is listed as the #1 rated product on Diaper Pin (http://www.diaperpin.com/). We've been there now for several years and only got there because real people (like you) told the world that you loved bumGenius and posted a positive review on Diaper Pin about your real experience with bumGenius diapers that you really bought. We've had our fair share of negative reviews, some fake, some from competitors trying to trash us, some from unreasonable people and some from real people who just genuinely didn't like the product. The world is selfish and thrives on recognition. I get it. There is something flattering about being #1. In reality though, only one of my products has made that cut. I'd like to see my fitted or my all-in-one at the top of those lists. They are great products, but they haven't been around as long as our regular one-size. They aren't nearly as popular and it just takes more time and more real use from real customers generating real reviews before they are going to bubble up to the top of their respective lists. I want them there, but I'm not about to try to "fake it" or "force it" to get them there either.
So, obviously I understand the manufacturer's position. They want to create buzz around their product. It can cost big bucks to bring a new product to market. The faster sales are built around that product, the faster the startup investment is reclaimed. The temptation to force that buzz is huge.
I understand the paid reviewer's position. They want a deal. Manufacturer's want buzz, the paid reviewer brings it, they want paid for their time as an advertiser.
I also understand the consumer's position. They just want the truth and they want it from people writing honest, unsolicited opinions.
I side with the consumer. Big companies are likely to laugh and call me a "silly little lady" (like the guy in a suit a few years back who told me there was no way I’d make it in business without his help) because generating reviews to build sales is “just business”. They probably would and likely are. But frankly, we have grown because people told people who told people that we care about people. We've had our moments of trying to force buzz... like I said, the temptation is great... but the consumers have proven again and again, when you really care, you don't have to force your buzz. It just happens because people talk.
We believe in organic reviews.
1. We do not reward reviews. This means that we don’t offer coupons or reward programs for people who leave us reviews. This means that you’re more likely to get a mix of honest opinions.
2. We occasionally invite customers who have sent us a happy email to post their thoughts publically. We don’t reward them for doing so and we would never presume to ask again.
3. Professional bloggers approach us all the time asking if they can review our products. We are always welcoming of reviews. However, we never initiate the contact with the blogger. They always come to us.
4. Personal bloggers almost never ask us if they can review our products. They just do it because they love the diapers or they love Cotton Babies... and I love them for it!
5. Media approaches us frequently. We welcome their calls, but have always taken a very hands -off approach. I would love to be profiled on the Today Show or be interviewed by Oprah, but it isn't going to happen because I was annoying by asking again and again. (One of my favorite interviews was with Valerie Schremp Hahn. Valerie is a local reporter who happened to be using bumGenius. She interviewed us and wrote a story for the St. Louis Post Dispatch that she called "A couple of bums... and proud of it" for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It published on the front page of the business section.) If you are media, and want to interview us, several contacts are listed at the bottom of this post.
6. We choose not to publicly celebrate when celebrities use our products. You would be surprised who uses our product, but we believe that celebrities deserve to have a private life.
In a nutshell, if they like us, they call us. We do not, under any circumstances, “buy” any form of media coverage (other than ads in magazines). I will not send gifts or pay media. I do not send unsolicited samples to big companies. I do not take reporters out to dinner. I don’t host expensive media parties. I don’t even know what the big mommy blogs are. We’ve grown organically, parent to parent, from our $100 beginning seven years ago (6).
While this strategy may have worked against us in some ways (because we might not get coverage from members of the media who are influenced by favors), the media coverage for Cotton Babies and bumGenius has been hugely positive and from well-respected venues like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Slate Magazine, Parents Magazine, Pregnancy Magazine, The Consumerist (5) and a host of parents just like you.. While we may not take a traditional media approach, we believe that our approach is to your benefit.
We hope that you’re able to take things at face value, but if you ever have any questions about any review or media mention that you see, please email us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or give us a call at 888-332-2243. We’ll be glad to help! Reading reviews online can be overwhelming to anybody, but particularly to a new parent just diving into the swirling world of baby products.
In conclusion, we are appreciative beyond words to everyone who has written about us and all our faces (Cotton Babies, bumGenius, us personally or have inquired about covering our upcoming products) over the last seven years. I couldn’t have bought the kind of media coverage we’ve been treated to. Thank you for honoring us, our company and our product lines by taking the time to share your thoughts with the rest of the world. If you want to reach us with questions or interview requests, our marketing representative at Cotton Babies can be reached at kc@cottonbabies.com. Alternatively, you may contact Robyn Frankel of Frankel Public Relations at rfrankel@frankelpr.com.
(1) http://consumerist.com/185698/payperpostcom-pays-you-to-blog-shill-without-disclosure
(2) http://consumerist.com/5134066/belkin-caught-paying-for-positive-reviews
(3) https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome
(4) http://www.pcworld.com/article/167099/ftc_eyes_blogs_for_conflicts_of_interest.html
(5) http://www.bumgenius.com/media.php
(6) http://www.bumgenius.com/aboutus.php
(7) http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Get-Paid-For-Writing-Reviews-Online&id=131051
I've been working on this post for a week now. I started writing down my thoughts on this topic after The Consumerist was kind enough to post a positive review of our customer service (http://consumerist.com/5312214/cotton-babies-stands-behind-the-cloth-diapers-they-sell). I read that article and then realized that my customers don't know how much I value the good, un-asked-for reviews from real customers that we see come across our Google Alerts every single day.
I’ve been selling products in this category long enough to see many companies forcibly generate buzz about their new item. They write their own reviews, their "testers" are asked to write reviews, their retailers write reviews, then customers are asked to write reviews in exchange for coupon codes. I've also recently seen bloggers proactively trolled with free product as long as they agreed to mention the product on their blog.
Sometimes review-driven sites will rank products based on the number and quality of reviews that a product gets. A manufacturer understandably wants their product on that list, and then wants to see their product rise to the top of that list. Right now, bumGenius is listed as the #1 rated product on Diaper Pin (http://www.diaperpin.com/). We've been there now for several years and only got there because real people (like you) told the world that you loved bumGenius and posted a positive review on Diaper Pin about your real experience with bumGenius diapers that you really bought. We've had our fair share of negative reviews, some fake, some from competitors trying to trash us, some from unreasonable people and some from real people who just genuinely didn't like the product. The world is selfish and thrives on recognition. I get it. There is something flattering about being #1. In reality though, only one of my products has made that cut. I'd like to see my fitted or my all-in-one at the top of those lists. They are great products, but they haven't been around as long as our regular one-size. They aren't nearly as popular and it just takes more time and more real use from real customers generating real reviews before they are going to bubble up to the top of their respective lists. I want them there, but I'm not about to try to "fake it" or "force it" to get them there either.
So, obviously I understand the manufacturer's position. They want to create buzz around their product. It can cost big bucks to bring a new product to market. The faster sales are built around that product, the faster the startup investment is reclaimed. The temptation to force that buzz is huge.
I understand the paid reviewer's position. They want a deal. Manufacturer's want buzz, the paid reviewer brings it, they want paid for their time as an advertiser.
I also understand the consumer's position. They just want the truth and they want it from people writing honest, unsolicited opinions.
I side with the consumer. Big companies are likely to laugh and call me a "silly little lady" (like the guy in a suit a few years back who told me there was no way I’d make it in business without his help) because generating reviews to build sales is “just business”. They probably would and likely are. But frankly, we have grown because people told people who told people that we care about people. We've had our moments of trying to force buzz... like I said, the temptation is great... but the consumers have proven again and again, when you really care, you don't have to force your buzz. It just happens because people talk.
We believe in organic reviews.
1. We do not reward reviews. This means that we don’t offer coupons or reward programs for people who leave us reviews. This means that you’re more likely to get a mix of honest opinions.
2. We occasionally invite customers who have sent us a happy email to post their thoughts publically. We don’t reward them for doing so and we would never presume to ask again.
3. Professional bloggers approach us all the time asking if they can review our products. We are always welcoming of reviews. However, we never initiate the contact with the blogger. They always come to us.
4. Personal bloggers almost never ask us if they can review our products. They just do it because they love the diapers or they love Cotton Babies... and I love them for it!
5. Media approaches us frequently. We welcome their calls, but have always taken a very hands -off approach. I would love to be profiled on the Today Show or be interviewed by Oprah, but it isn't going to happen because I was annoying by asking again and again. (One of my favorite interviews was with Valerie Schremp Hahn. Valerie is a local reporter who happened to be using bumGenius. She interviewed us and wrote a story for the St. Louis Post Dispatch that she called "A couple of bums... and proud of it" for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It published on the front page of the business section.) If you are media, and want to interview us, several contacts are listed at the bottom of this post.
6. We choose not to publicly celebrate when celebrities use our products. You would be surprised who uses our product, but we believe that celebrities deserve to have a private life.
In a nutshell, if they like us, they call us. We do not, under any circumstances, “buy” any form of media coverage (other than ads in magazines). I will not send gifts or pay media. I do not send unsolicited samples to big companies. I do not take reporters out to dinner. I don’t host expensive media parties. I don’t even know what the big mommy blogs are. We’ve grown organically, parent to parent, from our $100 beginning seven years ago (6).
While this strategy may have worked against us in some ways (because we might not get coverage from members of the media who are influenced by favors), the media coverage for Cotton Babies and bumGenius has been hugely positive and from well-respected venues like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Slate Magazine, Parents Magazine, Pregnancy Magazine, The Consumerist (5) and a host of parents just like you.. While we may not take a traditional media approach, we believe that our approach is to your benefit.
We hope that you’re able to take things at face value, but if you ever have any questions about any review or media mention that you see, please email us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or give us a call at 888-332-2243. We’ll be glad to help! Reading reviews online can be overwhelming to anybody, but particularly to a new parent just diving into the swirling world of baby products.
In conclusion, we are appreciative beyond words to everyone who has written about us and all our faces (Cotton Babies, bumGenius, us personally or have inquired about covering our upcoming products) over the last seven years. I couldn’t have bought the kind of media coverage we’ve been treated to. Thank you for honoring us, our company and our product lines by taking the time to share your thoughts with the rest of the world. If you want to reach us with questions or interview requests, our marketing representative at Cotton Babies can be reached at kc@cottonbabies.com. Alternatively, you may contact Robyn Frankel of Frankel Public Relations at rfrankel@frankelpr.com.
(1) http://consumerist.com/185698/payperpostcom-pays-you-to-blog-shill-without-disclosure
(2) http://consumerist.com/5134066/belkin-caught-paying-for-positive-reviews
(3) https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome
(4) http://www.pcworld.com/article/167099/ftc_eyes_blogs_for_conflicts_of_interest.html
(5) http://www.bumgenius.com/media.php
(6) http://www.bumgenius.com/aboutus.php
(7) http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Get-Paid-For-Writing-Reviews-Online&id=131051
Best Tweets Ever
Ellen DeGeneres (aka @TheEllenShow) posted: Kids need diapers, but can't drive to the store to buy them... yet. Watch the show & win Huggies.
@YvonneLew replies with: @TheEllenShow you should give away BUM GENIUS DIAPERS. They are better for the environment and reusable!
So awesome! Thanks @YvonneLew!
@YvonneLew replies with: @TheEllenShow you should give away BUM GENIUS DIAPERS. They are better for the environment and reusable!
So awesome! Thanks @YvonneLew!
New Limits on Rear Facing Seats
This summer, not one or two but THREE seats have now come out with new rear facing weight limits.
First Graco released its brand new My Ride seat. It rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces to 65 pounds. It was the first seat to break the 35 pound rear facing weight limit and retails for around $150. It got pretty good reviews and looks like it will be tall enough to allow children to rear face until they are 3 or possibly 4 years old depending on the height of the child. One caveat to this seat is that it is very wide. If you need to fit multiple seats into your car, this seat could cause problems with that.
Next Safety 1st/Dorel released its Air Protect seat with a 40 pound rear facing limit and forward faces to 50 pounds. It retails for $250 and appears to have a narrower footprint than the My Ride. I have not seen this seat in person or spoken to anyone who has, although the side impact protection it provides looks impressive.
Within days, Sunshine kids released information that they had done additional crash testing and were raising their rear facing weight limit to 40 pounds as well. The extra bonus to this is that it is retroactive to seats manufactured during or after September 2008. The Radian rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces to 65 pounds. CottonBabies sells the Radian for the best price I can find - $189. The Radian is also available in the Radian 80, which rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces with harness to 80 pounds. It would be a good choice if you have a very solid kid. The Radian is the narrowest car seat on the market and is an excellent choice if you need to fit three seats/people across a car bench.
40 pounds will very soon be the new standard for rear facing weight limits. I am sure we will see more seats willing to undergo the extra crash testing to show that they are safe to 40 pounds. In the meantime, general safety and options for car seat safety are improving!
But can 40 pound kids really still ride rear facing? Won't they be uncomfortable? For that information, I will leave you with this gallery of pictures of children over 1 year who are still rear facing happily. And here is CPSafety's explanation of why rear facing provides unparalleled protection for your children.
I didn't think I could stand to keep my kids rear facing longer than the one year required by law, but after viewing a forward facing crash test and a rear facing crash test, I knew I could find a way to make it work. And so far, at nearly 2 years old, Lily is still rear facing without complaint. She has a great view out the window and keeps herself busy in the car listening to music and talking.
First Graco released its brand new My Ride seat. It rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces to 65 pounds. It was the first seat to break the 35 pound rear facing weight limit and retails for around $150. It got pretty good reviews and looks like it will be tall enough to allow children to rear face until they are 3 or possibly 4 years old depending on the height of the child. One caveat to this seat is that it is very wide. If you need to fit multiple seats into your car, this seat could cause problems with that.
Next Safety 1st/Dorel released its Air Protect seat with a 40 pound rear facing limit and forward faces to 50 pounds. It retails for $250 and appears to have a narrower footprint than the My Ride. I have not seen this seat in person or spoken to anyone who has, although the side impact protection it provides looks impressive.
Within days, Sunshine kids released information that they had done additional crash testing and were raising their rear facing weight limit to 40 pounds as well. The extra bonus to this is that it is retroactive to seats manufactured during or after September 2008. The Radian rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces to 65 pounds. CottonBabies sells the Radian for the best price I can find - $189. The Radian is also available in the Radian 80, which rear faces to 40 pounds and forward faces with harness to 80 pounds. It would be a good choice if you have a very solid kid. The Radian is the narrowest car seat on the market and is an excellent choice if you need to fit three seats/people across a car bench.
40 pounds will very soon be the new standard for rear facing weight limits. I am sure we will see more seats willing to undergo the extra crash testing to show that they are safe to 40 pounds. In the meantime, general safety and options for car seat safety are improving!
But can 40 pound kids really still ride rear facing? Won't they be uncomfortable? For that information, I will leave you with this gallery of pictures of children over 1 year who are still rear facing happily. And here is CPSafety's explanation of why rear facing provides unparalleled protection for your children.
I didn't think I could stand to keep my kids rear facing longer than the one year required by law, but after viewing a forward facing crash test and a rear facing crash test, I knew I could find a way to make it work. And so far, at nearly 2 years old, Lily is still rear facing without complaint. She has a great view out the window and keeps herself busy in the car listening to music and talking.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Donate $5.00 or more to Miracle Diapers & receive a $5.00 off coupon to Earth Angels Diaper Co.!
Earth Angels Diaper Co. proudly supports Miracle Diapers and their continuing efforts to provide needy families with cloth diapering and natural parenting items. Currently, the gals at Miracle Diapers are trying to make the move into a more comfortable 
Earth Angels Diaper Co. will be providing a $5.00 Coupon Code to anyone who donates $5.00 or more to Miracle Diapers as a THANK YOU for your generosity and support. The coupon code will be automatically sent upon completing the donation through PayPal.
Please donate through one of the links at Earth Angels Diaper Co. to take advantage of this offer.
And, as always, Miracle Diapers is also accepting donations of cloth diapers, accessories, and other natural parenting items.
Thanks for reading!
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