Do you get free things from businesses to give to your clients?

Tiffany · 08-17-2005, 08:49 PM

Kim's post about giving a free 12 week pass to Gymboree at Postpartum visits got me thinking (see that thread here).

I would like to put together a package for my clients as a postpartum gift. Filled with free things from (perhaps local) businesses that she can actually use. It would be good for the businesses since mom could be a return customer.

Once, I found an internet resource with a listing of all kinds of free things doulas and childbirth educators can get to give to their clients. I don't have that link anymore, but I'm wondering if anyone knows what I'm talking about.

I'm also considering writing a letter to local businesses about it to see what, if anything, they could contribute.

I know Lansinoh will send a bunch of free samples of lanolin cream for you to distribute. If anyone knows of any other resources please list them here! If there's enough stuff, I'll create an alldoulas.com page for it so its organized and accessible to everyone.

Kim Trower · 08-17-2005, 09:36 PM

I won't recreate the list because it's extensive...check proud pregnancies website. If you have gymboree in your area they will give you as many as you like (passes)...it's a national program. I used to get Luna bar samples...a huge box sent every 3 months...now if I see something in mothering mag or a local business and think that would be cool..I just approach them...the worst thing they could say is no...

Tiffany · 08-17-2005, 10:53 PM

What is the link for proud pregnancies website?

A lot of free stuff is usually for U.S. only, so that doesn't help me and my fellow doulas here in we-get-everything-last-or-later Canada.

LOL!

Maybe I will make it my baby to research Canadian specific stuff!

Anyhow, thanks Kim.

raspberrymoondoula · 08-17-2005, 11:23 PM

i get laods of free stuff, traditional medicinals sends me a huge box of mothers milk tea every three onths, i got a big box of baby soap and lotion from burts bees, weleda sent some samples of baby oils, lunapads sent some samples and catalogs, i just write to anyone i can to see what they'll offer me!

Kim Trower · 08-18-2005, 02:55 PM

here is a website to check out
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/free.html..i just tried proud pregnancies and I get an error...www.proudpregnancies.com..???

08-18-2005, 04:59 PM

i did a google search of proud pregnancies and got http://www.proudpregnancies.com/

that one works.

AmberTerhune · 08-18-2005, 05:01 PM

Try this site...they offer a ton of free stuff for midwives, doulas, and cbe's.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/pumpkintwobaby6/

Matrescence · 08-18-2005, 06:37 PM

I get motherwear catalogs, educational materials, and a lot of samples. At one point you could get free luna bars, a free avent breast pump, free nursing pads things like that.

tlcdoula · 08-19-2005, 07:50 PM

I get free magazines and goodies from Lamaze that mothers seem to like - also some of the other things already mentioned.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-15-2005, 11:22 PM

check out www.preggiepops.com
They are giving us free samples for the pregnancy/baby expo that I'm organizing.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-16-2005, 02:58 AM

Tiffany,
Here is a site that gives freebies to our northern neighbors! LOL

www.mother-care.ca/freebies.htm
Hope this is useful!

1stimestar · 10-16-2005, 03:46 AM

I don't normally. Pregnant women get a lot of freebies. Sometime in overwhelming amounts. I don't want my stuff to get thrown on that pile lol.

tlcdoula · 10-16-2005, 12:29 PM

I forgot to mention - please always be careful with the material that you receive in the mail and that you hand out to your mamas. For example, once I got some freebies in the mail that looked really great, but they were send out by formula companies. I am sure if mom sent in the little card she would have had formula coupons pushed down her throat. Always check to see who the material and samples are coming from and be careful because you would hate to give a breastfeeding mama formula coupons and not even realize you were doing it.

1stimestar · 10-16-2005, 09:58 PM

Exactly. I have things like nipple soothies that I show them as an example so they can see what is out there. I have samples of Lansinoh but don't give them out as I do not want to promote the thought that you have to have "stuff" to breastfeed. I will give them to moms who need them post partum.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-16-2005, 11:27 PM

Oh, yeah, great way to think of it! I never would of thought about the nipple cream, but a very good point! I do however, always look to see if the samples or handouts are from a formula company! I had come across an awesome CBE coarse last year, and then saw that is was from one of the formula companies, I backed away from that like it had the black plauge! LOL