Local inventor creates a "memory time capsule" for parents
A Bournemouth based inventor has created a unique way for parents to keep mementos of their children’s first experiences in the world. Born in 2007, MyBabylog Memory Chest is a few years in the making, having been through tough but essential stages of development and critiquing. Now, the woman behind it is ready to bring this dream product to market.
Barbara Fowler or Bournemouth, Dorset, understands parenting. She put her own dreams on hold whilst supporting her husband David and bringing up their daughter Siobhan, ensuring that she was afforded an excellent education and a great quality of life, but now Barbara plans on turning her dreams into a reality.
The MyBabylog Memory Chest allows parents to keep safe all of baby’s firsts, such as:
My Family Tree
My Treasured Memories - Magnetic Mounted Envelope
My Window of Life - Mounted Picture Frame
My 1St lock of Hair Box
My Baby Teeth Box
My Hospital I.D. Band Box
Baby Poem for Boy or Girl
MyBabylog Gift Card.
Barbara had the product made in China, which presented its own unique set of challenges. But even with the negatives piling up along with the costs and the stress, this never stopped her: "If you believe in what you created and see a gap in the market place for it - even against all the odds – you carry on!" she explained.
To ensure that the product was commercially viable, she eventually took the finished product to Bournemouth University and paid to have a critique, which proved to be a valuable exercise and allowed her to make the necessary tweaks to her product. Commercial activity commenced thereafter, selling on their website and in niche gift shops in Bournemouth.
One of Barbara’s initiatives over the past 3 years has been to donate a MyBabylog to the first Baby born on Christmas day to Bournemouth Maternity Unit and also Poole Maternity Unit – which makes the new mum’s day that little bit extra special, having being in Hospital over the Christmas.
The MyBabylog Chest has been through a redesign process with a young design student from Bournemouth University. Having found a talented graphic Designer from the University, Barbara set about correcting any negatives from the initial critique alongside any problems that they found themselves with the product.
The product has already proved popular with retail industry experts. Last year MyBabylog reached the final four, from over 1000 selected candidates, in the popular BBC Show: Jo Malone’s High Street Dreams – which proved to be an amazing opportunity. Barbara believes that she could have potentially even won the show outright: "What held me back was I knew in my heart that I was already planning to redesign my product and branding. Now, had I had my present MyBabylog Memory Chest in front of Jo Malone and Nick Leslau I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that I would have won hands down… that’s not being ‘Big Headed’ this is having confidence in my new Product – which is on a whole new level."
Now embarking on this next stage in the business, Barbara is inviting keen investors on-board. Barbara has recently taken a stand at the annual Earls Court Baby Show in October and once again tested the market over the very busy three day period. This gave her the pertinent research and results that will allow her to take MyBabylog to the Market Place in which it belongs.
The company has every intention of using MyBabylog to put something back into the right Children’s Charity. Barbara explains: "After all it’s not just about the money – as I genuinely want to help others. A percentage of each MyBabylog sold will go to this chosen charity… it’s just a matter of deciding which one this will be."
Barbara is looking forward to meeting potential partners and investors for MyBabylog and other product ideas. With over 800’000 new births in the UK each year, and the option to take the brand to Europe and America, which initial research has indicated to be highly lucrative, the future looks bright for this fledgling "Baby Boomer".
To find out more, please visit
Barbara Fowler is founder and Managing Director of MyBabylog Ltd.
To arrange an interview, please contact her on 01202- 256356.
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