Big Business – Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers, How do you feel about the BIG brands?

This post was originally published on the Kelly Wels (affiliate link) blog. When I began cloth diapering almost 8 years ago, there were several “big brands” that I thought of as anonymous, faceless corporations like disposable diaper companies. As I’ve become more involved in the industry, I realized how wrong I really was.

We all know that for disposable diaper brands, cash is king. Profits come first. For most cloth diaper brands, people come first. A common theme in the cloth diaper industry is that these brands were born when the family saw a need and sought to fulfill it, usually based on a problem their own child was having. (You can often guess how old a WAHM’s oldest child is based on how old her brand is!)

What you may not realize is that many of the cloth diaper brands that are household names, are still family owned/operated and not necessarily as “big” as you think. Though I don’t claim to know their revenue figures, most are heavily involved in the day to day operations, answer emails, and see what you’re saying about them on social media! When I attended ABC, most of the cloth diaper booths had the company owners there, talking with retailers and media. Many of them know their employees by name and care about them.

Quite a few of the “big” brands started out with a mom at her sewing machine, selling products out of a closet or laundry basket. Yes, many of them now use manufacturing facilities to keep up with demand, but their business is their baby and they care about their customers.

I adore WAHMs, but I also have lots of respect for men & women who have found large-scale success in turning their idea into a profitable business.

What are your feelings on “big” diaper brands?

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