New website helps parents save a bundle on their bundle of joy

Sept. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- The Nursery Exchange (www.thenurseryexchange.co.uk) lets parents buy and sell second hand maternity, baby and children’s clothes, toys and equipment. Buyers can make huge savings on essentials like buggies and cots, maternity wear and toys, while sellers can clear their house of baby kit their children have outgrown, recouping some of the money they originally spent. The site also offers clothes, furniture and toys for older children, up to the age of 10 – brilliant for getting those first bunk beds or bikes.

Unlike other similar sites, The Nursery Exchange doesn’t charge a listing fee to place an advert on the site. The seller only pays a small commission (9%) once the item is sold, making it safe and easy to sell without any risk. Sellers can either set a fixed price for an item or use the ‘Make an offer’ feature, in which buyers set their minimum price and the system automatically accepts any offer over that price for a quick sale.

The website also has an innovative ‘search by postcode’ feature so buyers can find sellers in their local area to collect goods from, reducing the cost of high postage charges which tend to turn a bargain into a deal breaker. Customers can also register for email alerts to let them know when new items are posted in a certain category or location.

“Most new parents will worry about how expensive having a baby is, particularly in the current economic climate. Yet in the space of a year, those same parents will be wondering where to put all the stuff their baby has outgrown and will be thinking ‘What a waste!’” explains Natalie Lacon, mother of two and founder of The Nursery Exchange. “We’ve created a website that lets parents help each other out by keeping the original costs down and make money down the line.”

“We also know that parents have enough stress in their lives to want to bid in last minute auctions. We’ve designed the site so that it’s a relaxing, pleasant shopping experience that they can visit when it suits them,” she continues.

To become a buyer or seller on the site, register at http://www.thenurseryexchange.co.uk
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Notes for editors
*From a survey conducted by LV= (Liverpool Victoria) and the Centre of Economics on 3,953 adults in February 2010. It showed parents spend on average £9,152 in the first twelve months of a child’s life. The same survey also showed that a third of parents (31%) were buying second-hand items to help make ends meet. 37% were selling unwanted items through online sites, via newspapers or car boot sales to raise extra cash.

About The Nursery Exchange
The Nursery Exchange test site was set up in November 2009 by Natalie Lacon of St Albans, Hertfordshire. Having proven the viability of the site, the new Nursery Exchange went live in August 2010. Natalie is a mother of two (a 5 year old and a 12 month old) and also runs a local activities website for under fives (http://ToddlersDayOut.co.uk). She was previously a network engineer at a global investment bank.

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Online marketplace to help parents buy & sell nearly new maternity, baby and children's goods. Parents can recoup some money and help others grab a bargain. Completely free to advertise and parents set the item price or accept offers, there is no auction.