Being a cloth nappy agent

[Fritha]

Ok, I've just found out this morning that my main source of income is closing down in three months time (best case scenario!) which is a bit of a problem! (Complicated situation, generally long story!)

We're ok until I get to and finish maternity leave, but I need something new to do after that!

I've been toying with the idea of being a cloth nappy agent for a while anyway (well once I actually had someone in nappies!) but now I've got to make decisions about where my income is going to come from and however many months to information gather about what it is and what it entails. (well, I know the basics but I was expecting to have more time to look into it but now I rather have to be a bit more serious about it!)

Does anyone do this or generally have any advice? Sorry it's a bit vague, I'm just looking for information really to see if it's viable and what it entails :-)

Thanks

[Seren]

Sarah might have some advice or have you spoken to Helen at Babykind?

[Miranda]

Being realistic, you'd have to work like the devil to earn a replacement income from being a nappy agent. Most firms offer at best 20% of turnover, some offer just 15%.
having said that I do have agents that do work really hard at it, with running regular nappuccinos and antenatal classes, nct classes etc (group events will earn you more than one offs) and they do earn a reasonable amount for their time.
(I'm presuming this isn't your first baby and that you've already experience of babies in cloth nappies (of all sizes and shapes), otherwise I think you may find the levels of advice you have to give quite hard to cope with successfully without experience).
All in all being a nappy agent is enjoyable as it's something you can do to get yourself out and about and meet other mums whilst taking baby with you. If you want to drop me an email I can send you information about being an agent.

Having said that, if it's money rather than lifestyle you need then you'll earn more doing other things - what are your current skills and what do you enjoy? eg if you're a bookkeeper you could earn £15-18 an hour in my area, much in demand, and it's flexible enough that you could fit it around naptimes/evenings.

[friendlybaby]

I agree with Miranda in that you won't earn mega-bucks from being a nappy agent unless you really work hard at it. Having said that it wouldn't hurt to contact somewhere like the real nappy lady or lollipop and ask them for more information. It may be that they don't even need nappy agents in your area, if someone else is already covering that area, so you might as well find that out first.

[Fritha]

Thanks chaps, it doesn't have to earn a massive amount (as I wasn't earning that anyway) just some money so we're not completely living hand to mouth.

I'll get in touch the the nappy lady and lollipop and see what they say and see if I can digest enough information for it to be worthwile.

Thanks

[barefoot-jan]

Good luck with whatever you find yourself doing. I'm sure you really don't need news like that at the moment.

[mummyhill]

Hi Fritha.

Essentially most companies do only offer 15 - 20% commission.

I have found that the best way to do it is organise 4 nappuccinos so I go to the local library the first week of the month, a community leisure facility in a local town the second week, A parent and toddler group the third week and another library the fourth week. They are set up as a monthly event.

I have a contact at one of the local childrens centres which runs a new mums network and go in once every six weeks to give a talk about nappies.

I also keep in touch with health visitors and midwives in the area so that they can pass on details to anyone considering cloth as an option.

It is hard work but if you can get the right contacts and are prepared to go out meet new people and work hard it is possible to supplement your income.

[Fritha]

Felt I ought to update this! Luckily the business has been sold and I've gone with it (it seems I was too good to lose!) so the income will continue which is one heck of a weight off my mind! I'm still going to investigate the cloth nappy thing but it can be somewhat more relaxed now!

Thanks again for your help, I'll be continuing to absorb information over the next many months :-)