Lifestyle

hey baby

Local small businesses set to shine at Wollongong’s newest ‘mums and bubs’ event

 

CHRISTMAS-5.jpg

Are you pregnant, looking after a new baby or juggling toddler chaos? Wish there was a single place you could go to find high-quality local products and knowledgeable service professionals? A place where you could ask questions, touch and feel products before you purchase, and meet other local families in the same life season as you? And find the perfect Christmas gift for the little people in your life?

Words Erin Huckle Images Poppy Peterson Photography

Local mum and award-winning family photographer Rachel Lee from Scribbly Gum Photography felt the same when she had her first baby four years ago. “I was a new mum, feeling overwhelmed. Not sure where to go for great products and helpful advice, and looking for my ‘village’,” said Rachel. So this year, Rachel’s taken the leap and decided to launch the Illawarra’s only boutique high-quality event for local parents and families, the Coal Coast Pregnancy & Baby Expo, taking place at University Hall, University of Wollongong on Saturday 12 December.

Originally scheduled for July 2020, the event had to be postponed due to the pandemic, but Rachel and the event team were determined it should go ahead. “It’s definitely been an interesting year to be launching a live event. There were points where we didn’t know if it would happen, so we’re thrilled to have a date to look forward to and so many fantastic exhibitors confirmed.”

CHRISTMAS-2.jpg

The event has a focus on local small businesses, carefully selected for their quality products and services. There’s also been an effort to keep it to one of each type of business – rather than having lots of exhibitors with the same kind of offer. “We’re keeping things simple, with a selection of high-quality Australian businesses in each specialty area, from a baby and toddler sleep consultant and physiotherapy, to educational toys and must-have prams,” said Rachel. “It’s the event we wish we’d all had when we had our babies.”

Jess DeAngelis, co-founder of designer nappy change clutch business Ben & Ellie, said although their business serves a global market, it’s exciting to have an opportunity to exhibit in their hometown.

“Being an online retailer, we love the opportunity to show people our products in real life, and to chat with other mums about how we can help make their lives easier. Rachel has created a valuable local network, and the in-person aspect means there’s also no worry about delivery in time for Christmas. We’ll have our products available for mums to buy and take home on the day,” said Jess.

With more than 30 exhibitors confirmed for the event, there are also plenty of service providers taking part, to offer advice and answer questions from local families.

Maddie Beevers from Village Physio in Shellharbour, said taking part in the event is part of their mission to help as many women as possible. “Our pre and post-natal physio services are focused on education for new and expectant mothers. Helping them learn what’s normal, what’s not, and what to look out for as their bodies change. We haven’t been to an event like this before, so it’s an exciting opportunity for us to chat to mums, and help them feel empowered on their pregnancy and new baby journey,” said Maddie.

The Coal Coast Pregnancy & Baby Expo is all about connection, support and access to relevant information and quality products, under one roof. “In this online age and this time of social distancing, expectant and new families need all the help they can get accessing the information, services and products they need,” said Rachel Lee, Coal Coast Pregnancy & Baby Expo. “I can’t wait to bring this helpful and high-quality event to the parents and families of our region.”


Tickets booked in advance are FREE.
Tickets on the door are $20.

The event will also be giving back, with a raffle raising funds for the Miracle Babies Foundation and Gunawirra.

Find out more here.

 

More Lifestyle related articles:

A woman with dark dreadlocks and tattoos crouches beside a young boy wearing a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and boots. They are exploring a rocky creek bed, using a pan and a small container to examine pebbles and water. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a natural, serene setting with blurred figures in the background near the water.
In a busy world, we all need ways to stop and reset our bodies. So how can we practice mindfulness with our kids?
Sand dunes at Port Kembla
The rolling sand dunes were once an iconic part of the Illawarra coastline. So where have they gone?
the port Kembla billy cart derby was a fan favourite for decades, with many homemade carts racing down the Wentworth Street hill and straight into the record books
Meet multidisciplinary artist and Bulli local, Samantha Arnull will present a workshop in tiny sculpture at Woodfest 2024
Direct from its world premiere season at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, The Queen’s Nanny is set to enthrall audiences in Wollongong. We spoke to playwright Melanie Tait to find out about her connection to the Illawarra and what makes this play so captivating.
Red Room Poetry and Wollongong City Council have partnered this year to plant a ‘POEM FOREST’ in Wollongong.
A historic black-and-white photo of the Commercial Hotel in Jamberoo, featuring a two-story building with ornate ironwork on the balcony and several men standing outside.
Over 160 years young, Jamberoo Pub continues to be an iconic part of the historic village and its community
A man and a woman performing Pilates exercises using reformer machines in a bright, airy studio with wooden floors and large mirrors.
Discover the best local experiences and unique buys in the Illawarra with Coal Coast. Dive into invigorating yoga sessions at Kai Yoga & Pilates, enhance your digital presence with We Think Digital, pamper your pets at VIP Dog Club, and manage your finances with GRJ Accounting.
Two men, one older and one younger, smiling and giving thumbs up in front of large stainless steel beer vats at Stoic Brewing.
Co-owner of Gerringong’s Stoic Brewing, Andrew Prosser, talks with us about how his father and him combined their passion, hometown and an ancient philosophy to create one of the most successful breweries on the south coast.
Kangaroo Valley Hampden Bridge
No matter which way you travel, the journey to Kangaroo Valley requires a drive over a windy mountain pass through lush forests and tunnels of trees, before descending into what’s commonly called ‘Australia’s most beautiful valley’.
The amazing beaches, the picturesque escarpment and the coastal lifestyle are amongst the reasons why we love calling the Illawarra region home. Add in a thriving cafe culture, emerging food scene and that we’re only a stone’s throw from Sydney it makes sense why the Illawarra is highly sought after as a place to buy a home.

Jessica Clark of Earth Worthy Bags has founded a visionary enterprise and is on a mission to redefine the way we approach consumption, championing ethical practices and sustainability.

Meet Sarah from Retro Roast, your local coffee hub in Mount Kembla, where quirky meets community, and every brew is crafted to perfection with the Gusto blend from Seven Miles Coffee Roasters.

Explore the heart and soul of Illawarra through our local business spotlight, where we dive into the stories, passions, and community spirit of the region's most inspiring enterprises.

The first all-women's surf comp on the south coast is riding the huge wave of young women now joining the sport, marking the Sunday 5 May event at Woonona Beach as a milestone, decades in the making.

World-renowned stencil artist Luke Cornish, a.k.a. ELK, has found his home – and his peace – in the Illawarra. And now he’s bringing global acclaim to a local canvas.

Like many northern suburbs of the Illawarra, Balgownie was transformed by the discovery of coal.

There is nothing as Aussie as the magical echo of a group of kookaburras laughing in the gum trees. But did you know the laughing is actually their way of marking the boundaries of their territory? To drive off interlopers, kookaburras gather together and out laugh them.

Let’s Be Friends

We’d love to send you occassional news and updates of happenings along the Coal Coast to your inbox!

Let’s be friends

We’d love to send updates of happenings along our Coal Coast to your inbox!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Privacy(Required)