Hannah Porter

Finalist - EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 New Zealand

Bear and Moo

As a new mum, wedding planner and marriage celebrant Hannah Porter found lots of little costs added up – particularly for disposable nappies, which were also going straight to landfill.

“We send 1 million nappies a week to landfill in New Zealand, while disposable nappies from newborn to toilet training can cost up to $4,000,” she says. “Meanwhile, cloth costs around $500 and can be used for multiple children.”

She decided to put her education in communications and marketing to use for a good cause, starting an online business called Bear and Moo to help make reusable nappies more accessible. Over the past five years it’s grown from her spare bedroom in Waikato, selling just nappies, to encompass everything parents need for their children, from baby clothes to books, lunchboxes and bedding.

“I took a risk purchasing 300 nappies with no business background, and firmly threw myself into the world of social media to create a brand and presence online to sell them,” Hannah says. “The business grew organically from revenues of $30,000 in 2018 to $2 million within four years.”

Hannah acknowledges that getting stock and staffing levels right has been a significant learning curve, especially as demand has shifted again post-Covid. However, the business has remained true to its roots as a sustainable brand that puts value ahead of overpriced trends.

Key to this is Hannah’s own brand as a mum.

“We have a strong returning customer rate and are gaining new customers every day, partly due to our relatability. I show up on social media daily to talk about everyday life and to connect with our customers in a meaningful way. They know my husband and kids, they know my house is a mess, and they know I’m someone they can come to with questions,” she explains.

“And I’m constantly upskilling and learning to ensure I’m doing what I can to be the best in the industry.”