A small family home-run business, originally set up as a buy-and-sell website, has taken off and is ready to open a branch in a second Irish airport.
The Stork Exchange, a baby and children’s equipment hire service already running successfully at Dublin Airport, will opens its doors at Shannon Airport from today.
Established and owned by husband and wife team, Olivia Mai and Bartek Typrowicz, the couple began running the business from home in 2012 three months after their daughter was born.
With a premises already operating at Dublin Airport (Terminal 1), demand has grown for equipment rental, both from Irish families travelling abroad and visitors coming to stay in Ireland with small children.
Travellers visit storkexchange.ie where they can browse the items are available including car seats, prams and buggies, travel cots and even baby monitors.
Olivia and Bartek believe being able to hire equipment when you arrive in Shannon will save families on often hefty baggage allowances.
“Almost four years later, the website has metamorphosed, thankfully due to demand, into a baby and children’s equipment hire,” Olivia said.
“The aim of the business is simple – to make travel with children less stressful. The Stork Exchange alleviates the need to transport bulky equipment and offers a range of products including child car seats, strollers, prams, travel cots and highchairs. Items are reserved and paid for online through The Stork Exchange website in advance of travel,” she added.
Olivia and Bartek found however that they were delivering to Dublin airport everyday so in 2014 opened a shop there.
“Thankfully business is good and we’ve grown so are now expanding into Shannon. The (Shannon) airport handled 1.6 million passengers last year and numbers are increasing this year, so for us it’s a market with good potential,” Olivia added..
Commercial Development Manager at Shannon Airport Ms Lorraine Ryan said: “Shannon Airport prides itself on being family friendly so we are delighted to welcome The Stork Exchange to our list of service providers.”
“Located for our passenger’s convenience in the Arrivals Hall, The Stork Exchange offers child and baby equipment required for a hassle-free stay away from home. We are confident that this service will be welcomed by both Irish families and tourists travelling to and from Ireland and we wish The Stork Exchange every success,” Ms Ryan added.