THEIR luxury prams and high-tech baby carriers are beloved by celebrities, fashion-conscious parents and royalty alike.
Princess Eugenie’s first-born son August was nestled safely in a Cloud Z i-Size car seat, made by the German brand Cybex, as she was driven home from London’s Portland Hospital by husband Jack.
Now parents in Scotland will be the first to test drive products by the award-winning brand, which collaborated with Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott on a three-in-one pram that costs upwards of £2000.
Cybex, which has received more than 400 awards for design, safety and innovation, has chosen a family-run Glasgow firm which had its modest beginnings in the famous Barras market to be its first UK outlet.
A warehouse owned by the Glasgow Pram Centre has been transformed and will reopen today, alongside other non-essential retailers.
The high-profile acquisition has already led to 800 pre-booked appointments from eager parents.
The 45-year-old business has undergone a six-figure refurbishment during lockdown, with a new-look showroom and car-seat fitting centre incorporating a real Mini car.
Owner Keith Stark said the aim was to create a specialist store, offering products consumers can’t buy online, to help the business flourish post-lockdown.
Mr Stark, who runs the business with his wife Nadia, said: “We host the Glasgow Baby Show and the way we do it is we sell suppliers a space. We thought to ourselves that this is the way we should do the new shop and have proper designated areas for suppliers.”
Mr Stark was delighted when Cybex expressed an interest in a unit that had been used for spares and repairs.
“I sent them pictures and they came back and said they were going to go for it,” he revealed. “It’s absolutely brilliant for us, as Cybex are the leading brand at the moment. They are so forward-thinking, they collaborate with designers and do things that are so different from anyone else.”
The Pram Centre was launched by Mr Stark’s mother at the Barras market 45 years ago and now boasts the biggest nursery display in the UK, attracting customers from all over Scotland and the north of England.
The firm has also launched a dedicated car-seat showroom, after identifying a gap in the market.
Mr Stark said: “It’s a really important purchase and you do need to try them in the car. Often families will buy two or three for both parents or grandparents. It’s a big market.
“Parents can park the car right at the door and try the seat. We also have half a Mini in the showroom. We got one from a dealer’s yard.”
Mr Stark said the past year had been tough for the business but online sales helped and the refurbishment project had given the firm a focus.
He added: “It’s been a huge investment for us but it’s kept us busy during lockdown.
“Retail is tough and we thought we either mope about or we take the bull by the horns and try to go for it.
“We’re trying to create a really specialist store with products you can’t get online.
“It’s more about an experience.”
Luke Burns, UK general manager at Cybex, who has family in Glasgow, said: “It’s an important time for retail as stores start to reopen post lockdown and a wise investment for our brand to have this dedicated high street presence.”
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