Biz Buzz

     Although only 1-year-old, Mother Earth Baby has already outgrown its store at 188 Water St., in Oswego. The store specializes in cloth diapers and alternative natural baby products, such as natural cleaning supplies and supplements for moms and babies, to name a few.

     Owner, Lisa Emmons, said business has grown so much, in fact, that she had to quit her job as administrator for a nonprofit agency in Syracuse in March, 2012 to devote herself full time to the store.
     "It was an easy decision to make for the business, but it was very hard to leave a career of 14 years," she said. "But business was picking up so we needed to make a decision and now I couldn't be happier."
     When they had their grand opening in Oswego Dec. 1, 2011, Emmons said a majority of their business was parents seeking them out.
     "We were a destination shop previously," she said. "Recently, however, we put a road sign up at state route 104, at the end of Water Street, and a lot more people have been coming to our store."
     Mother Earth Baby officially opened for business at its new location, at 70 W. Bridge St., formerly Your House Your Home, March 5 and Emmons is confident the move will drive even more business to the store.
     She said they also expect to have to hire employers and plan to expand their product line to include a baby clothing line, accessories, strollers and toys.
     "People are generally very excited and all of our customers are asking us to get more (items)," Emmons added. "We are starting to be that go to place where someone says 'let's go to Mother Earth Baby and see if they have it.'"
     Emmons announced Mother Earth Baby will reveal all of its new product lines at their grand reopening, Friday, March 8. The Open House will include a ribbon cutting, followed by a reception and extended shopping hours until 7 p.m. There will be many promotions and giveaways for the grand opening event held for the entire month of March.
     "We're also lining up some great giveaways for the big Grand Opening of our new place," she said. "We just made our first Hape order. Hape manufactures a beautiful line of wooden toys developed to enhance children's developmental skills. During the Grand Opening Week, we will be raffling off a beautiful wood kitchen set...a $129.00 value. All customers during the grand opening week will be eligible to win this and many other prizes."
     Mother Earth Baby originally opened as a division of Mother Earth Health Foods, in North Syracuse, which was founded by her grandmother in 1969 and today is operated by her mother, Susan Hutchinson.
     The idea for Mother Earth Baby actually started in 2000, after the birth of her first child, when she began her search for the perfect cloth diaper. Now, 13 years and four children later, she is the one helping other moms with the quest.
     "It was an interesting process," Emmons said. "We tested the waters at Pumpkinfest and the feedback was positive so we opened the store."
     She pointed out that the cloth diapers of today are nothing like the cloth diapers of previous generations.
     "Now it is possible to not only find diapers that fit well, but because they now come with snaps, Velcro and liners, one single-sized diaper can be used on newborn babies right up through the potty training process."
     And, using cloth diapers is better for the environment. According to Emmons, by the time a baby potty trains, he or she will go through more than 6,000 diapers.
"That's a lot of disposable/single use diapers from one little baby going into landfills," she said. "What's more, it is believed that it takes up to 500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose."
     Currently, Emmons offers delivery and in-home consultations and a diaper cleaning and delivery service.
     "We have a standing cloth diaper class once a month and we are also doing monthly Mommy Meet-ups," she said. "We are also looking into baby sign language and stroller-fit classes to bring more opportunities for socialization and mommy networking."
     Mother Earth Baby is also looking to expand its diaper service and hopes to offer more and more opportunities to Oswego.
     "We also offer a baby registry in the store and on line," she said. "Since we opened our store in Oswego, we put a lot of energy into building a new website, which has the baby registry so that mothers all over the world can sign up for a it and anyone can purchase something for an expectant mother."
     Emmons pointed out that the registry brings a lot of people to to them who may have never heard about them.
     One thing she said that is big right now is cloth diaper raffles at baby showers where everyone brings one cloth diaper for the expectant mother. In no time she will have all the diapers she needs for the baby for the next 3 years.
     "One invitation suggested everyone attending the baby shower buy one cloth diaper and I had individuals coming in to buy one diaper," Emmons said.
     For now, the new location will also serve as the Emmons' home.
     "We see grand visions of the business and we decided that for now it made sense to live there as well because we are devoting so much time to the business," Emmons explained. "Our two-year plan is to grow into the whole place in the future and then move (the residence) out."
     To find all that Mother Earth Baby has to offer, go to mebabyshop.com; or call 216-4622. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.