Case Study: Little Wiwa

3rd June 2021, 1:01am in Case Studies by Shauna Mulholland

Little Wiwa was created by new mother, Shanti when she went in search to find safe and eco-friendly baby products.

When Australia Post couldn't accommodate Little Wiwa's shipping needs, they turned to Interparcel.

Tell me about your business?

Established in 2018 in Melbourne, Little Wiwa®️ crafts award-winning play mats for minimalists. Every Little Wiwa®️ Play Mat is a premium eco-friendly luxury, sourced and created from 100% sustainable and biodegradable non-toxic TPU foam. Most importantly, it is non-toxic; free from PVC, BPA, and toxic chemicals in order to provide a product that is safe for babies, adults, and the environment.

We are now available in 10 countries and have over 1000 5 Star reviews and featured on Australian Channel 9 Today Show as top baby products.

How did you begin your business?

It all began in 2016 when 4.5-month-old Vinnie showed signs of crawling and before we knew it, he was a little active commando crawler. Within a short time, he developed calluses on his elbows and putting him anywhere besides the hardwood floor or carpet wasn't an option. It wasn't practical nor comfortable and I knew I had to find a safe, plush mat to support his newfound motor development.

After much research, not only could I not find any that suited my minimalist taste, I also learned the dangers of PVC toy products and the risks they could impose on our kids' health. Being a Food Scientist in my earlier career, I understood the biological toxicity this imposes. In particular, the stabiliser additives that are widely used in PVC products are harmful - causing toxic effects primarily on the developing immune system. Since then, there was no turning back - there was absolutely no compromise in my baby's safety. This was the seed of aspirations for Little Wiwa and the rest was history.

What shipping challenges were you facing before Interparcel?

As our playmats are considered bulky items due to their packaging, we are not able to ship via Australia Post as it exceeds the maximum threshold for the largest size that they can handle. This means that it can get very costly to ship to regional areas and interstate locations. It is also very challenging dealing directly with these couriers especially when parcels are delayed or lost in transit.

What have you achieved after Interparcel?

Since we've integrated our Online store with Interparcel, there's not only been a reduction in costs in general, but our processing time has also improved and the best part of Interparcel is the Customer Service team who are Australian-based, and always prompt and helpful. The wait times are less than 2 minutes and every single issue has been handled by the team with professionalism and genuine care. This means we are able to offer affordable shipping costs to our customers and a quick turnaround time in deliveries.

As a small business, shipping costs and/or issues can be very detrimental in our business, and because of this I have used various, countless platforms and shipping options and none of them compare. The products and services at Interparcel are unparalleled and I personally cannot recommend them highly enough.

What are your future goals for your business?

To create and execute seamless new product lines by end of 2021 and revamp productivity in the business. There's always something new to learn and improve every day!