From Niche to Norm
After 14 years of being a mom to an only child, I now have an 8-month-old baby. This miracle baby is a blessing, and with two children, our family feels complete. This time around, I didn’t want to just buy new baby stuff, only to give or sell it secondhand later. I sought less hassle, more convenience, and a more mindful approach to purchasing baby products. After all, the “Earth” has a waste problem, and if I can contribute to a positive impact, I’m all in.
Initially, I thought about browsing Marktplaats, a Dutch secondhand platform, but then I discovered Tiny Library, a rental platform for baby and kids products. Why buy when you can lease and return items once you’re done with them? Babies grow so fast, and many baby items are used for only a few months.
Almost a year into renting from Tiny Library, I’m thrilled with the service and products. Everything I have is from premium brands like Bugaboo, Joolz, and Maxi-Cosi, and it all looks brand new. Even my friends and family are amazed.
Enthusiastic about this concept, I decided to interview Julie Munneke-Tromp, the CEO of Tiny Library, for Gazetta. I wanted to inspire readers not just as parents but also from a business perspective, highlighting a promising offer for (future) parents.
I asked Julie what motivated her to start Tiny Library. “When I was pregnant with my second child, I was looking for an alternative to buying premium baby products. Marktplaats was an option, but you can’t always be sure of the product’s condition. So, I decided to start my own company. But an important condition for me was that my extra time, as a working mom, was invested into something meaningful—a sustainable environment for my children. And thus, Tiny Library was born.”
I shared with Julie that my primary reason for renting baby products from Tiny Library is convenience. I can rent premium items and return them when I’m done. “That’s exactly what we see from parents who live in the city,” she said. “They seek convenience and luxury that’s also sustainable. But we have different types of parents. Those in the country want to spend their money wisely and sometimes prefer renting over buying. A popular item to rent is a baby stroller, which is expensive. We also have parents with limited incomes who find renting more affordable, especially for short-term needs.”
What Goes Behind “Tiny Library”
In my search for renting baby products, I discovered other companies similar to Tiny Library, indicating a growing trend. I asked Julie how her company stands out. “Our product range sets us apart. We focus on high-end baby and children’s items like strollers, high chairs, and playpens. Our partnerships allow us to rent the latest products from premium brands, giving parents the luxury of having the newest items for as long as they need them.”
Looking to the future, Julie’s vision is clear. “Now we’re a niche service, but in five years, we’ll be the norm. Parents will see renting as a viable option alongside buying, whether new or secondhand. We’ll be like Prénatal, but for rentals.”
The future looks bright for Tiny Library. For now, Julie wants new parents to know that renting is an option. Her advice? Make a list of all the items you need and how long you’ll need them. Then decide if buying or renting is better for you, or perhaps a mix of both.
For me, discovering the solution of renting was like receiving a big present—from a Tiny Library.
Follow Julie Munneke-Tromp http://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemunneke
