Dear Abby, You Need a New Website. Love, IBB Shopper

Did you know? IBB never started out intending to be an online store. True story. I initially saw us (translation – me, myself and I) as a local consulting company, with the intention to host in-home parties for those ready to learn more about cloth. But it quickly became evident we needed a website – people look for an online presence to use for additional research (and late-night fluff-fulfillment!), manufacturers require evidence of a store presence, and, well, if we already had the inventory it would have been silly to just stare at it in our dining room.

Quite quickly the website grew – from five brands to ten to 20 and now we have an exciting 65 in store (soon to be 66, with the addition of Lunette menstrual cups arriving later today). We knew the website had a few hiccups and shall we say, ‘quirks,’ but we were able to work-around them. Unfortunately though, I didn’t realize just how makeshift our day-to-day invoicing and other workarounds had become until late 2011. You might know that feeling, where you don’t quite realize something is about to break until you find yourself looking around for the duct-tape and band-aids. Well that is kind of where our current website has taken us. I love her dearly, as she represents just how far we’ve come, but it is time she be put out to pasture to enjoy her last days trolling the fields for daisies.

So what’s next? In the coming weeks, we will roll out a brand new sparkly website, with several amazing bells and whistles - 

• affiliate links to reward those who love to share the IBB-love
• automated Bitsy Bucks (I can hear your cheers from here!)
• automated registries
• easy-to-peruse navigation complete with search capabilities, breadcrumbs and ‘related items’
• automatic bulk discounts
• coupon code capabilities (double hooray for brand sales and flash parties)
• email addresses specific to inquiry type
• and more (yup!)

Back on the Ranch As I build the new website, please forgive if it takes a bit longer to reply to emails (more on emails in a minute) or respond on Facebook. I’m aiming for the new site to be up late-April, but so far it seems everything takes twice as long as planned.

The store will need to close for a day or two as we transition inventory from one site to another. Once we know these dates we will shout notice from the rooftops, so hopefully any last-minute diaper needs can be ordered pre-closure.

I know what some of you are probably thinking – what about Bitsy Bucks? No, they are not going away, and there isn’t a freeze period for accrual. But there is a temporary freeze on calculations. In other words, effective immediately, all Bitsy Bucks calculation requests should be shelved on ice (exception - any requests already received and pending in my inbox will be tallied as soon as I can). Once the new website opens, and accruals will tally automatically, it will just be a matter of going back and retroactively adding outstanding BB to your customer account.  Closer to the new site release we will announce specifics on how this will all shake out. 

On Emails We learned over the last few days that several customer emails are going MIA – both emails coming in as well as replies sent. The worst part of it all, no one is receiving error messages, so we have no way of knowing what is lost en route. If you have sent me an email and have not received a reply within two business days (business days = Mon-Fri) please resend. Depending on volume sometimes we do get behind and your nudge, and patience, is appreciated. If you still do not receive a reply feel free to post on Facebook that you’ve emailed. Hopefully we can connect on that medium if email is proving unsuccessful. As I’ve always said, I answer every email I receive (sans spamming/solicitations), bar none. 

Thank you! We really appreciate all of the kind words and support our customers have offered over the last twenty-one months. Your patience with our current site's 'quirks' has been much appreciated, and we look forward to serving you at the new IBB online store in the very near future!

Be sure to stay tuned. After all, what is a new website without a party! 

xoxo -

Mini Party: 4,100 fans!

Party! 

When? Tonight 7pm ct through 7pm Sunday evening ct

Up for grabs! Limit one of the following per order 

• Orders $59-$98.99 two Planet Wise food bags (value $15.98)
• Orders $99-$148.99 one-size diaper (min. value $17.95) 
• Orders $149+ Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag or Blueberry Wet/Dry Hobo (min. value $28.95)

Buy Something, Get Something! No limit per order. Can be combined with the above.

• For every dozen OsoCozy prefolds or flats purchased, get a free Snappi ($3.95 value)
• Spend $99 on AppleCheeks products and get a free AppleCheeks size 1 storage sac ($12.95+ value)
• For every Fuzzibunz, Rumparooz or Charlie Banana One-Size Pocket purchased, get a free hemp doubler (min. value $4.75)
• Spend $45+ on GroVia items and get a free GroVia wet bag
• Thirsties Bakers Dozen! Buy Twelve Thirsties All-in-Ones (any combination of sizes, closures and solids/prints) and get a thirteenth free to order this, please drop me an email rather than going through the website

Fine Print

• Preloved items do not qualify towards 'Buy Something, Get Something' totals - they do count towards your overall order total on 'Up for Grabs.'
• Newborn diaper rentals, gift certificates, trial packages, and newborn diaper rental store credit bumps do not count towards order totals. 
• Due to expect order volume, Bitsy Bucks will not be applied any party order. Yes, still cranking away with the BB calculations so if you are waiting on that amount rest assured you are still on my to-do list. 
• IBB loves you XOXO

welcome to IBB: ones&twos

Announcing the arrival of ones&twos. In diaper speak - a one-size aplix all-in-one diaper with a stay-dry inner. 

Why these make a fantastic addition to the IBB-lineup (and perhaps to your stash as well) - many folks who snagged the sized bumGenius 3.0 aplix All-in-Ones last year are finding their little one is outgrowing their current size. With the 3.0 AIO discounted, there is a definite shortage of stay-dry, truly one-piece AIOs out there, and this diaper fills that void nicely. True, it is a one-size instead of a sized diaper. But, many, many testers are reporting the fit is so trim that this difference can be overlooked. And just $16.95 per diaper! 

What a local customer (and huge BG sized AIO fan) had to say about ones&twos - 

One of the main things I wanted in a diaper was a slim fit, narrow between the legs, more like a sized diaper. I adore the fit of the one and two aio! It is a one size with the trim fit of a sized diaper! It is very narrow which does make it a little difficult to stuff [in additional doublers] but the shape is my favorite feature so I can over look that. I am able to stuff it but my husband can't fit his hand.

The doubler it comes with is microfiber that is [topped with suedecloth], so could be laid inside the diaper also. It is very absorbant and has lasted through some pretty heavily spoiling episodes by my son without a single leak.

I really wanted a diaper that was comparable to the bum genius 3.0 sized diapers that are now discontinued and found it in this brand! The velcro is also great quality! It is the aplix that won't scratch baby's skin but holds as well as any other industrial kind that I have seen. It has laundry tabs to prevent a diaper chain in the laundry.

I have tried several brands trying to find the perfect diaper...this one comes pretty close to meeting all my requirements. The sewn-in soaker is as wide as back of the diaper instead of being a rectangle shape. That little bit of added absorbancy makes a big difference for my heavy wetter. I have tried a few wahm diapers, blueberry simplex, bg's, blueberry pockets, applecheeks, tots bots and rar's. Out of all of these, One and two aio fit is the best for my 4 month old with his chubby legs and slim waist.  It is a close second favorite behind bg sized!

Ready to shop ones&twos? Check out the product page here. 

You're Invited! Mid-March Fever

As a thank you to our amazing 4,000-strong Facebook fan page, we want to PARTY!

Party Details

when

7pm ct tonight - 7pm ct Tuesday

where

www.itsybitsybums.com

what's the swag? 

orders $59-$98.99 pair of BabyLegs + Planet Wise Food Bag 

orders $99+ diaper (min. value $17.95 - you pick sized, one-size or two-size*)  

AND

all orders $59+ go in the hat for a grand prize goodie bag (a $100+ value)! 

grand prize goodie bag includes a bunch of the new stuff freshly-arrived at IBB: 

EcoSprout Bamboo Liners, EcoSprout Bottom Spray Concentrate, ones&twos one-size All-in-One, Charlie Banana One-Size Pocket, Tots Bots Bamboozle Fitted (size 2), two new-to-IBB 4oz CJ's BUTTer scents - Bamboo & Lotus Blossom and Green Irish Tweed and a Day-Glo Snappi!

Fine Print

• *IBB picks closure, brand and specific color/print. Please do not email me that you only like bright yellow aplix diapers from X brand or otherwise your dog will cry when the package is opened, as I usually cannot accommodate these requests and then am consumed with the guilt of letting my customers down.  
• Limit one goodie per order. Limit two goodies per household. 
• We have a limited number of BabyLegs. If we do happen to run out before the party ends, they will be traded out for a second Planet Wise Food Bag.
• Newborn Rental packages, Gift Certificates and Trial Packages and 'store credit value' newborn Rental deposit refunds ineligible. 
• Cannot be applied to pending or prior orders and cannot be combined with any other discounts or coupons. 
• Due to anticipated order volume, Bitsy Bucks not eligible towards any goodie orders. 
• Any orders canceled may be subject to a 15% restocking fee. 
• Because the grand prize goodie bag winner will be drawn Tuesday evening, orders will begin shipping Wednesday and continue shipping through the weekend. 

ps. This kills me - LOL! 

Sized versus One-Size, How Do I Choose?

When people visit our local store, usually the very first question when they walk in - 'how on earth do I decide?' Fair question, certainly, as we have more than 40 brands staring back at them. I do what I like to call a 'diaper diagnosis,' asking questions about budget, washing frequency, convenience-factor and so on. Once I know a family's priorities, it is then fairly easy to pull down a few options from the shelf that match all of their metrics.  

Well, one of the questions we discuss - do they prefer a sized or one-size diaper? We then review the pros and cons of each - 

Sized

Pros: Sized diapers will always be the trimmest option, sized diapers tend to last through multiple children as the diapers are not used as long

Cons: require two or three purchases from birth to potty training

One-Size

Pros: An economical choice as one-size diapers grow with your baby and ensure you do not need to buy more diapers as baby grows from an infant to a toddler to potty

Cons: thanks to daily wear and tear over two or three years - one-size diapers may not last well through multiple children, most one-size diapers start to fit around 9 or 10lbs - thus necessitating a newborn diaper solution, one-size diapers are bulkier on small babies

As you see, you trade off trimness with a one-size diaper, but you also have a diaper that is going to work from 9- or 10lbs through potty. But with a one-size diaper, what do you do for that newborn period? Sure, there are newborn diaper solutions (enter newborn diaper rental!). But what if you could use a diaper that always was decently trim, started to fit from birth and accommodated even those chart-topping toddlers? Enter a third style of diaper - the two-size diaper.

Two-Size

Pros: trim-fitting, start to fit a smaller weight range than one-size diapers and will go to a larger weight range than one-size diapers (oftentimes at least 35lbs, if not closer to 40lbs)

Cons: when you initially switch from size one to size two - the shift in fit can be shocking (suddenly you go from a diaper that is almost outgrown to a diaper that completely envelops the bum) 

Want to check out some Two-Size diapers? Thirsties and AppleCheeks are two brands that excel with the Two-Size diaper system. Thirsties Duo All-in-One, Duo Wrap and Duo Fab Fitted are all examples of Two-Size diapers, and AppleCheeks entire line is built around the Two-Size fit premise. 

When you think about it, keeping your baby in cloth diapers from birth through potty means you will inevitably be sizing up, even if you go with a one-size diaper. 

One-Size Diapers

1. Newborn Diapers

2. One-Size Diapers

Sized Diapers

1. Newborn Diapers

2. Medium-Size

(3. some larger toddlers will need to go through)

Two-Size Diapers

1. Size One

2. Size Two

One final advantage to a Two-Size diaper system is the overall economic advantage - the less wear and tear your diapers experience, the longer they will last and the higher the resale value. As Two-Size diapers cover a more equitable range (Size One usually going until somewhere around 15lbs, with Size Two picking up wherever One leaves off), your diapers are likely to wear better and show less age. 

With that, IBB-folks, I present you with a third diaper option to consider - the Two-Size Diaper.

All You Need is [Stash] Love: Photo Contest

Photo contest time!!

IBB might be away, but there is still plenty of fun to be had! The last photo contest was so darn much fun, and I cannot wait to see what you have up your stash-sleeves. 

This time the theme is - LOVE. Yup, that's it. No further guidance, hints or suggestions. The only rule - your photo must feature at least 50% of your stash. 

Prizes 

• Grand Prize - $100 in IBB favorites
• First Prize - $40 in IBB favorites
• Second Prize - $20 in IBB favorites
• Honorable Mention(s) - $10 in IBB favorites

To Enter 

1. Submit a photo! Post your stash shot on IBB's Facebook page, or email me your entry instead. (Emailing your photo? Be sure to put 'Stash Shot Contest' in the subject line.)
2. Comment below once you have submitted your photo. Be sure to include your name and email address in your comment. *You must comment - this is how I keep track of all the fabulous entries - if you don't comment you risk being missed in final judging.*

looking for a sale? details here

looking for a giveaway? enter here 

Fine Print

• All photos must be submitted by Feb 27th at 23:59 ct.  
• Limit one entry per household. 
• If you don't want to post your photo to Facebook, feel free to email me your entry instead (itsybitsybums @ aol dot com). Please note, if you are one of the four winners I will post your winning photo to Facebook, identified by your first name only. 
• Winners will be contacted via email. IBB picks the items in the prize packs. 
• Winners are selected by a panel of highly-qualified judges - aka - me, my shipping clerk and my #1 diaper inspector. 
• Open to all IBB customers. 
• Facebook promotion fine print: By participating you agree to release Facebook of any involvement, and that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associate with, Facebook. Your winning provides Itsy Bitsy Bums with your name and shipping details, and Facebook does not receive any notice of your personal information.

Leaving on a Jet Plane!!!

IBB is headed off, off and away!

Having taken one day off in the last 99, I'm super-duper^10 excited to report that our family is taking a bit of time away. 

Do not fear, we have lots of ideas so the mice can play while the cat is away. Watch Facebook and Bitsy Buzz over the next day or two for more details. 

Some important tidbits - 

• We will be closed for shipping and emails Monday night through Feb 27th. 
• All orders placed by Monday evening and all newborn rentals with EDDs pre-3/18 will be shipped before we close. 
• Exception to the 'no-shipping' clause - any items purchased off of registries will still ship while we are gone. 
• We have fabulous folks who will be manning IBB's Facebook page in our absence. They will be able to answer any questions regarding washing, trials, diaper options, or where the heck the usual IBB folks have gone off to. 
• I'm still working through my inbox for all messages received to date and so help me I am going to get them all answered before one of two things happens - the flight attendant takes my computer away or it implodes from all the processing.