Strollers. They’ve come a long way since we were kids with their flimsy frames and small, hard plastic wheels that exaggerated every crack in the sidewalk. Of course they can cost a bunch more than they used to as well. Now, they’re a big investment and you want to get it right the first time around. But with so many different options out there, it can be tricky finding the one that is exactly right for you.
Think about what you have to consider: Do you want something to shop with in the mall? Are you going to jog with it? Does it need to easily fit into your car? If you’re going to walk outside with it - do you have new, smooth sidewalks or do you have to navigate ones that are older and cracked? Do you need a double or even a triple stroller? Relax. We’ve got the answer for you - whatever your situation: Let’s Go Strolling. Shall we?
After meeting at a mom’s group a couple of years ago, Melissa and Jo found a hobby to bond over: strollers. As their friendship developed - and some of their postpartum brains returned - they thought it would be great to create a business helping people understand all the great strollers available and save them the time and effort of doing extensive research to find exactly the right stroller to fit their needs. And Let’s Go Strolling was born.
Let’s Go Strolling is an online boutique specializing in all things stroller with the personalized attention and customer service that you hope to find in local boutiques. With an inventory of single, double, all-terrain and jogging strollers from the best names in the business, Let’s Go Strolling will help you find the stroller that is exactly right for you. What’s more, fill out the online stroller consultation and within a couple of days you’ll get a phone call to discuss their findings and recommendations.
Clever Parents caught up with Melissa and Jo to find out the most common mistake people make when buying a stroller, what first time parents should look for in a stroller, and their take on finding a great jogging stroller.
Clever Parents: What is the most common question that people have when they are shopping for a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: The most common thing people say is “I know I’m crazy for caring this much, but I just can’t decide which stroller is right for me.” The most common question people have is “Which stroller do YOU think would be right for me?”
Clever Parents: What is the most common mistake that people make when buying a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: The most common mistake many people make is to think that they should buy one stroller that meets ALL their needs. This is especially a mistake when their needs range from exercise jogging to quick errands and travel. And, they also want a stroller that can fit a carseat. We often advise people to get a heavier duty stroller for the longer outings and adventures and a lighterweight stroller to keep in the car for quick in and out errands.
Clever Parents: How do you help people select the stroller that is right for them?
Let’s Go Strolling: What we try to do with the stroller consultation is to understand people’s unique lifestyle and needs. We also have to take into consideration their desires and tastes. While two people might have a similar lifestyle, I wouldn’t recommend the same stroller if they have different style preferences or color preferences. The stroller consultation is an intelligent personalized look at your situation. It is not a computer spitting out an algorithm of what seems right for you. We really listen to our customers and try to find the best solution to match their needs, desires and budget. That being said, occasionally we must say to a customer, “nothing is out there that meets your needs in that budget range, but you can think about these other options.” At least it gives them the knowledge to make an informed decision.
Clever Parents: The options to a new parent can seem overwhelming. What are things first time parents should look for in a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: I can understand people’s confusion about which stroller would be the best for their lifestyle and what they will really value as parents, especially when you don’t have any kids yet, or haven’t dealt with more than one child. From my own experience I can tell you a few things that are VERY important:
- How well a stroller pushes. If you are using it day in and day out, having it be easy to push/use is very important.
- How easy a stroller is to use. Does it open and close easily/smoothly? Is it easy to adjust the handle? Can you access the basket even when a child is reclined? Do all the pieces “work well?” Is it easy to recline?
- How happy/comfortable is my child.
I think a lot of people get caught up on convenience features like cupholders/snack trays that in my opinion, are very easy to add as after market products. The bullet points mentioned above, can never be “added” on aftermarket and thus, make them the key features.
Lastly, style can be very important to some and not others, and what your style is can be very individual. So, style is a more personal thing that is really for you to decide where it is on your list of priorities.
Clever Parents: We receive a lot of questions from parents who want to know what type of double stroller they should purchase. In general, for parents who have two children within two or so years of each other, what is the best stroller solution?
Let’s Go Strolling: For double strollers, it often depends on whether the older child likes to nap or needs to nap in the stroller and whether you have a bigger car/smaller car/pedestrian lifestyle/car-based lifestyle. There are so many variables that go into selecting the right stroller that I can’t offer a one-size fits all solution, but we do offer stroller consultations on our website. A big decision for many parents of two is whether to go with a side-by-side double, a tandem, or a single stroller with a toddler seat attachment. Generally, I don’t recommend ride-on boards until toddlers are 3-4 years of age as it take a lot of balance, concentration and coordination.
Clever Parents: What should a hard core runner look for in a jogging stroller as opposed to someone who is more interested in a sporty stroller for walks around the neighborhood?
Let’s Go Strolling: People who are looking for a more sporty stroller to walk around the neighborhood would be better off with an all-terrain stroller. That type of stroller has a swivel front wheel that turns fully for great maneuverability as well as 3 air tires for a smooth push and comfortable ride for baby Plus many of these strollers have newborn recline and nice baskets so you can go on longer outings with babies or toddlers easily with this type of stroller.
Harder core runners should look for a jogging stroller with 16” or 20” wheels (20” are for faster, taller runners). Most of these strollers have fixed wheels in front which make them more awkward to steer but easier to run with since they guide well and track a line more accurately. The only hybrid exception is the BOB Revolution which has a 16” rear wheels and a swivel/fixed wheel in front, so it works well for walks as well as running. Also, for most hard core runners, if you are getting a fixed wheel stroller, look for an easy fold so that you can put it in the car for runs in different locals or going to races with your little one.
By Kris on 07/10/06 in Gear, Parentrepreneur, Featured, Let's Go Strolling, 2006 Business Spotlights
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