When thinking about pram shelters, most people's minds immediately go to nurseries and schools. This is, of course, not wrong. These are some of the most obvious places where installing a buggy shelter would be a wise choice. Parents do daily school runs, and providing them with a place to park their prams safely is a great way to make their mornings more manageable. This makes sense for nurseries where kids are still in prams and for schools where it isn't uncommon for a parent to drop off an older child whilst their younger one is still in a pram.
Even though it may not be immediately apparent, there is a multitude of businesses that would benefit from installing pram shelters on their premises. Many service providers and shops would impress, win over and retain customers if they made themselves more family-friendly.
Let us see look at a few examples.
Retail Stores and Supermarkets
Large shops that aim to attract parents should jump on every opportunity to make their premises more family-friendly. Installing pram shelters in shopping areas would allow parents to navigate the store more comfortably and not worry about their pram, and ultimately, this would lead to more pleasant, stress-free and, more importantly for you, longer shop visits. Catering to parents' needs would also improve customer satisfaction and encourage customer loyalty.
Restaurants and Cafes
Installing pram shelters may not be possible everywhere due to space restrictions; however, if you do have the space as an owner, you should consider it. Parents often feel awkward pushing a big buggy, full of a baby and a load of child-rearing paraphernalia, in thigh spaces. Cafes and restaurants are usually pretty packed, and there's very little space to move with a pram between tables. This can be frustrating and uncomfortable. Some prams fold, of course, but even then, you need to find somewhere near the table to store it folded. Installing a buggy shelter would solve all these issues and provide your customers with a designated safe space to store their prams, enabling them to have a more peaceful and hassle-free meal or a cup of coffee.
Public Buildings
Life doesn't stop just because you have a child. Mums and dads across the country are often faced with the complicated logistics of visiting a public building to do a certain administrative task whilst also carting around a large buggy. Even if the building has provisions like ramps or even spacious elevators, there is a good chance, like in the cafe example above, that moving around with a pram is uncomfortable. Having a pram shelter at public buildings like local councils, community centres and so on is a great way to show your commitment to families and be inclusive.
Healthcare Facilities
GP surgeries and hospitals are prime locations visited by parents. Kids infamously get sick all the time, and visits to the GP aren't uncommon. Crowded waiting rooms and sometimes small spaces are also not unusual, leading to parents wiggling around chairs and tables while trying not to run over anyone's feet. Buildings like that can provide buggy shelters to assist parents during their visits and make their probably already stressful experience a little more comfortable.
Entertainment Venues
Anywhere that tries to attract business from families must also think about the littlest members, who may not yet be walking, and their parents. Your primary target may be older kids, but families often come with children of different ages. Catering to their needs is paramount when it comes to attracting and keeping parents as clients. Anyone who has had to push a heavy pram in a crowded space knows how grateful they would be if there were a place to park their buggy without having to worry it is bothering someone, it is taking up too much space or isn't safe, and someone could go through their belongings. Allowing parents to enjoy a visit without worrying about buggy storage is a great way to be family-friendly.
If you want to discuss your options for pram shelters, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We are always happy to advise our clients on the best solution for them.