A couple of 'island moms' think see a money-making opportunity when it comes to young families traveling to the island. Their new business, Island Baby, is an equipment rental service aimed at the needs of babies and toddlers.
They'll rent you a crib for $125 a week, a car seat for $50, and even beach toys like a bucket and shovel for $10/week. The inventory list, with pricing, can be seen here.
Previously, Jayme Gottschal and Christy Beaty worked as greeters for villa rental agents. Seeing the travails of young parents wrestling with kids and toys and luggage, they realized solving that problem with rentals might be worth a shot.The Web site is IslandBabyVI.com. It is not without its humor. One of the FAQ questions concerns whether Jayme and Christy will install the rented car seats. No, says the Web site. For that, "You visit our local fire or police department, who can assist you with the installation." Anyone with island experience can only smile at the thought of making that request.
One thing in Island Baby's favor is the annoying, and high, fees luggage airlines are charging. Instead of packing things like strollers and backpacks, renting them might make economic sense.
What do you think? Is this a good business idea? Comment here.