An interview with Eve Kekeh, Bundlee -reducing baby clothing waste
What have you developed and why?
Bundlee is the UK’s first baby clothing rental service. Think of us like a revolving wardrobe of baby clothes. Parents can rent bundles of baby clothes, curated to keep pace with their baby’s growth and the changing seasons. Each bundle contains 15 clothing pieces. Once their baby has outgrown the clothes, they simply send them back to get the next size up.
Each bundle saves 40,500 litres of water and 105kg of carbon dioxide from being emitted, whilst also providing parents with a more affordable alternative to buying.
When did you first come into contact with Flourish? Where were you at with your venture and how did they help you?
I was at the idea stage when I first got in touch with Flourish. I attended their sound-boarding event, which was an amazing opportunity to get advice – you basically sit at the side of a room, whilst others discuss your business. From this arises new questions, insight and ideas. Flourish also connected me with a mentor who helped me put a plan in place to develop my idea.
Where has your journey taken you? Tell us about the highs and lows of developing your social venture
I first started working on the idea whilst at university. Now Bundlee has launched our baby clothing rental service across the UK. It’s taken a lot of perseverance to get to this point, but I’m so happy to have continued.
Where else have you accessed support?
UnLtd have provided Bundlee with grant funding and access to free workshops. Bundlee won the University of Manchester’s Venture Further competition, with a cash prize that helped kickstart the business.
What has been your proudest achievement so far?
Winning the Venture Further social category was probably my proudest moment. I’d entered the year before and not even made it to the finals, so to win a year later was incredible!
What do you do to keep yourself motivated?
I like to focus on my goals for Bundlee and what I hope to achieve. Having a vision for your social enterprise helps you through the tougher days. Knowing that I am making both a positive environmental impact and a difference to families lives really motivates me.
Any top tips to share with other social enterprise start ups? Things you wish you’d know?
Make a 5 year plan. You don’t necessarily have to stick to this, but it’s good for you to have an idea of where you would like to be – this will help guide decisions you make along your startup journey.
Surround yourself with good people and organisations. They will inspire you during the harder times and celebrate with you during the good times.
Learn as much as you can – you’re not just developing your business, you’re also developing yourself as a social entrepreneur, so never stop learning.
Anything else you’d like to share with the Flourish network
If you have an idea for a social enterprise, you should definitely go for it! It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
Lastly who is inspirational to you when it comes to creating social change and why?
Patagonia, and their founder Yvon Chouinard, are very inspirational to me. Their book “Let My People Go Surfing” is a must read for anyone in sustainable fashion. For the last 50 years, Patagonia has been committed to making a positive environmental difference in everything they do and is not just ‘greenwashing’. They have implemented admirable schemes such as their ‘don’t buy this jacket’ campaign, where they help people repair their current clothes rather than buying new – pretty radical for a clothing retailer.
See more about Eve and Bundlee at www.bundlee.co.uk
