#WIB - Q&A With Amanda Rogaly Founder Of Baby YumYum -

1. Can you please tell us more about your business?

A. As a true entrepreneur I have many businesses interests, but the focus of this interview will be on my real passion – BabyYumYum.co.za

BabyYumYum’s foundation is built on delivering expert parenting content, building community, and creating connectivity through relevance and it is through these 3 fundamentals that we have evolved into a business that comprises of:

*BabyYumYum.co.za– SA’s #1Parenting Portal -A full-service digital media house, which powers the fastest-growing parenting community,

*BabyYumYum Health– A wellness division which focuses on the administration of very unique and customised maternity benefits to some of SA’s leading medical aids, such as Momentum health and Profmed (including our award-winning content delivery and CRM system, designer mommy swag bags, and home care nursing benefits) as well as offering a specialised family-focused wholeness benefit to corporates.

*BabyYumYum Tech – a high-tech division which develops technology, including specialised apps, in the parenting and family ecosystem wellness space. A recent highlight includes partnering with Vodacom Financial Services to deliver our Book-a-Nurse app on the VodaPay Platform.

BabyYumYum.co.za has become the preferred interactive sharing and networking community of parents hungry for credible information, both factual and product, trustworthy expert advice, and useful resources to assist them with their lifestyle choices and purchasing decisions.

Brands understand that we are the market leaders in understanding and communicating with parents and therefore use our portal to convey messages to them as well as conduct research. Our online portal is also supported with virtual experiences and other activations.

We aim to understand our unique audience in an effort to form meaningful connections between brands and people that will enhance brand loyalty and interaction.

2. When, how and why did you start your business?

A. In a past life, I had a large-scale event management company and I was always going to be one of those women who gave birth at their desk and started work the next day. But as soon as my baby was born, strange things happened ( as they do when your hormones kick in ) and literally, overnight I decided to shut down my business. Throughout my pregnancy, I had been so overwhelmed with information on being pregnant and Dr google that didn’t know what I could trust.

So I started writing my own articles and every article I published was fact-checked and had credible expert input and so my blog began. I developed a following very quickly and soon I was approached by brands to start advertising with me eventually in 2018 I shut down my other businesses( which I had subsequently been running in between 2 children) and moved all my resources from my other businesses to purely focus on BabyYumYum.co.za and scale it from a blog which empowers and supports other mommies to a multi-dimensional online platform for all parents and caregivers regardless of demographics and income status.

The covid pandemic was a huge positive growth instigator for us, with us taking on the now defunct print competitors advertisers, readers, and staff members and allowed us to expand our team, move into new offices and exponentially increase our bottom line and offerings to our community.

3. What is your role in the business?

A. My official title is Chief Mommy and Founder and I am responsible for the development and growth of the business units through creative and strategic vision. ( although I battle to separate myself from the operation elements L)

4. Where did you study and what did you study?

A. I studied at the International Hotel School and Graduated Cum Laude in Hospitality Management with various specialisations. I also hold a Licentiate Degree from The Trinity College of London in Speech and Drama Teaching.

I have never done a formal marketing degree, yet believe that honest values, common sense, charm, and micro-awareness of others and oneself have allowed me to make a success of everything I venture into.

5. How did you finance your business?

A. This business initially required little capital, but when I was ready to scale up I was very fortunate to have a past client who believed in my vision and was prepared to invest in me. Always keep doors open and remember that relationships are priceless.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

A. On a GOOD day,

05h30-07h45 wake up, get my family up, make lunches, drop at school, get to work

08h00-15h00 be a boss

15h30-17h30 be a mom

17h30-18h30 gym time

19h00-20h00 dinner, family time and put kids to sleep time

20h30-23h30 big people talk time, work time, and then sleep time

7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?

A. It is a daily challenge and as a mother, we generally do take on more than our male counterparts as it’s just expected of us. I certainly do have an amazing support structure with grandparents and helper assistance, yet I think with all the support in the world as a working mom we never have enough time to fit everything in. One of my reasons for starting my own business was so that I would have the freedom to spend time with my children and yet whilst I am able to come and go as I wish, I have so much more pressure to work harder when I can grab those productive moments in the evenings and on weekends. I used to be obsessed with which way the toilet roll faced on the holder, now I’m just happy if there’s a toilet roll in the house!

8. What drives you and inspires you?

A. I am an exceptionally motivated and enthusiastic person and my passion for life and life experiences are what drive me. I believe in being the very best version of me that I can be and using that to inspire others, which in turn inspires me. Everything that I do is with intent and focus and creating an environment that allows me to give various resources to others, including my family and community, contributes to the bigger picture of being a net positive contributor to society.

9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

A. Gosh, my mind does not stop. I am a very big visionary and every time I walk into the office and tell my team my “new idea” they roll their eyes or stare in fear. Yet each idea becomes a successful reality by surrounding myself with a team of super super smart people. I am also super competitive and that just really brings out my creativity.

10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?

A. “Out of sight =Out of mind” I am a big one for BIGGGG brand exposure. My car is practically a moving billboard covered in giant teddy bears. Apart from personal networking, relationship building, and exposure on various mediums including “old-fashioned mediums”, I have a dedicated sales team to drive business income. My entire staff compliment knows that no matter their position in the company they need to create an “ALWAYS ON” visibility status.

11. What is next for your business?

A. Every day we look to expand and grow our business as well as grow our advertisers and partner brands ROI with new offerings and first to market developments.

There are many sought-after opportunities that we have been approached on and one that we are currently seriously considering is with a multinational media conglomerate which will allow us to amplify (x a million) our operations globally and extend my belief that everyone has the right to top-quality content and parenting education and information and not just have access to basic information through freemium content and then have to pay for better, detailed and practical information.