Bounty (parenting club)

Bounty is a promotions company,[1] pregnancy and parenting club. The pregnancy club gives advice in the areas of pregnancy, baby names and baby products.[2] The company provides a range of informational material, product samples and access to an internet forum.

The organization is headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, the United Kingdom. On November 29, 2007, Bounty was acquired by Kaboose, Inc. (TSX: KAB)[3]

Bounty’s parenting club offers information, support and products for families from the pre-birth to the pre-school period.

Bounty claim to have 2.5 million members[4] and over 50,000 members joining each month.

History

Founded in 1959 by Bill Hopewell-Smith, the company was initially based in London and counted 6 employees and launched its first sample offering - The New Mother Pack. The company provides payments to the trusts which operate hospitals, and has access to new mothers. They provide "goodie bags" to new mothers and take pictures of newborn babies in many hospitals across England and Wales.

Controversy

The Telegraph in 2009 reported several complaints about hard selling techniques used to obtain new photograph contracts. Bounty stated that it operates "...purely on a basis of choice with mums and hospitals and we take our responsibilities very seriously."[5] These complaints resurfaced in 2013 following a Mumsnet internet survey that indicated similar experiences.[6]

Media References

Products were featured in the television series Holby City when Patsy Kensit gave a Bounty pack to a colleague.

Awards

From October - December, 2007, www.bounty.com was ranked #4 in the Hitwise[7] United Kingdom 'Lifestyle - Family' industry based on number of visits.

This ranking relates to UK based users visiting UK websites.

References

  1. ↑ McCartney, M. (2013). "Profits from pregnancy: How trusted organisations sell out women to commercial interests". BMJ. 346: f3448. doi:10.1136/bmj.f3448. PMID 23716358.
  2. ↑ http://www.linkedin.com/companies/bounty-uk-ltd
  3. ↑ Business in brief: New home for parents' club," The Times (London)November 16, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2011
  4. ↑ Bounty Statement, 11 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013
  5. ↑ Beckford, Martin "NHS allowing photo sales reps on maternity wards." The Telegraph, 6 July 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ Burns, Judith "Maternity ward marketing: Mumsnet calls for ban" BBC News, 12 June 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.hitwise.co.uk/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.bounty.com&iDate=200704&iCatnum=294&Cal=
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