Online Dream into Brick and Mortar Reality: No Pins Required in Ferndale

By, Crystal A. Proxmire

 

Although “cute” seemed to be the word of the day at the grand opening of No Pins Required, there really is more to the idea of Velcro or snapping cloth diapers than just the appeal of having dozens of colors and patterns.  Families from all over Ferndale and the surrounding area came to the new store at 22446 Woodward to check out the diaper varieties and meet other parents who care about the environment, the health of their children, and about saving money.

 

Emily and John Murray started No Pins Required shortly after their son Jack was born 17 months ago.  They had been buying cloth diapers from another website that was going out of business.  They started selling online and built up enough clientele to be able to open a physical store.

 

“We were using cloth diapers ourselves because we had done the research and didn’t want to use plastic ones that have all those chemicals.  It takes 500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose, and they’re a lot more expensive,” said John.  He said that a thrifty person can get through an entire child’s early years with just $300 worth of cloth diapers.  The average user tends to spend about $800-$1,000 – while disposable diapers cost $3,500. 

 

“And because these are so cute people will put them on their registry lists and end up getting what they need as baby shower gifts,” John said.

 

He said that cloth diapers require users to rinse or scrape the bulk of the contents out before putting the diaper in the hamper to be washed, but noted that disposable diaper boxes instruct users to do the same thing before throwing their product in the trash.  "I mean, it's poop.  When you get a diaper off its going to be messy.  This isn't any worse."  He also laughed and said, “I never thought I would be talking so much, and so openly, about poop.”

 

No Pins Required carries a large variety of diapers, as well as natural parenting products like honey soap and organic ointment.   They offer in-store classes and their products are available online at www.nopinsrequired.com.

 

The store was packed for the ribbon cutting ceremony, which was one of four held in the city on that sunny Saturday.  Members of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Authority came out to welcome the new storeowners. 

 

“This is so exciting,” said Chamber Board Member Carol Jackson.  “We’re got ribbon cuttings all day because there are so many new businesses in town.”  Jackson's Five Star Catering at 1111 E Nine Mile, Hilton Cleaners (under new ownership and newly renovated!) at 3251 Hilton, and Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop 163 W. 9 Mile all had grand opening celebrations.  They are four of over a dozen new businesses in the area opening this spring.  (http://www.ferndale115.com/19p13boom.html).  Ribbon Cuttings are organized by the Chamber and are one of the benefits of Chamber membership.  For more information go to http://www.ferndalechamber.com.



Send us your opinion or question! Your response could be in our FERNDALE VIEWS section next issue!