Five Minutes with Bonnie Bairn's founder, Deby Rainnie
Bonnie Bairn's founder, Deby Rainnie.
There’s no doubt about it—having a child is one of life’s most precious milestones. The preparation for welcoming your little one into the world, however, can be daunting to say the least. With so many products, brands, and shops for you to choose from, knowing where to start can be a bit of a minefield; particularly if it’s your first. That’s where Bonnie Bairn comes in. Serving as Scotland's premier pregnancy and family fair, Bonnie Bairn is takes place on Sunday 1st March 2020 and is a must for any parents-to-be, with over 80 exhibitors in one place. Ahead of the fair, we caught up with Bonnie Bairn’s founder, Deby Rainnie, to find out more about her passion for early childcare.
When did the idea for Bonnie Bairn first strike you?
When I had my first two daughters, I was living in Sussex, and I attended several pregnancy and family fairs, learning about the services available to me and getting to meet the people behind the businesses. It helped me with my journey into motherhood. I moved back to Scotland when my second daughter was just five months old, and I looked to attend a similar fair as I was getting situated but was surprised to find no such event existed. I knew then it was something I had to create.
What do you think sets Bonnie Bairn apart from other baby fairs across the UK?
We focus on supporting local businesses, crafters, and retailers, keeping the event affordable not just for our visitors but our stallholders as well. We strive to make our events beneficial to the local community, but also give a welcoming atmosphere for expecting parents and local families from Edinburgh and beyond. With so many returning exhibitors year on year, we have created a growing community of businesses that care about each other. We support our exhibitors by hosting exclusive masterclasses in the lead up to each fair to help them prepare for the day. We care that they get the most from our fairs and showcase themselves in a way they feel comfortable.
Was it important to you to bring this sort of thing to Scotland?
Yes, Scotland is such a wonderful country to raise a family in, and we have so many fantastic family-focused businesses, retailers, and crafters. They should have a platform to showcase themselves on, and there is nothing else like this here.
Do you think it’s important to offer new parents support through experiential events?
Of course, the journey to parenthood is unique and specific to individuals, but there’s a need to share similar experiences. New parents are not always aware of what is available, and some will need different services at different times. Our fairs are full of expert talks, workshops, and taster sessions, as well as an abundance of local and national service providers all under one roof.
You’re on the cusp of your fifth fair—is there anything we can expect to be different this year?
We are excited to have a new partnership this year with Edinburgh Baby Co, who is bringing a fantastic selection of prams and nursery furniture along on the day. We also have some new businesses exhibiting this year, including John Lewis & Partners, Future Health Biobank, and Sweaty Mama. Each year we learn from our fairs and try to improve on the next, so you can always expect something different, but the concept and the atmosphere are the same.
What can we expect from the fair next?
Each year our fair has grown in both the number of exhibitors and the volume of visitors, so 2021 is set to be just as special. Following our fair in March 2020, we’ll start our planning for the 2021 show, in which we aim to welcome over 100 exhibitors. It’s going to be an exciting year!
For more information visit Bonnie-bairn.co.uk.