How Stork Exchange Is Changing Baby Gear Shopping for Parents
What actually happens to returned baby gear?
Most parents assume it goes right back on the shelf. But according to Ben Norment, founder and CEO of Stork Exchange, that’s usually not the case.
In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with Ben to talk about the hidden world of open-box baby gear, how major brands handle returns, and why recommerce is becoming one of the smartest ways for families to save money without sacrificing quality or safety.
Ben shares how Stork Exchange partners directly with baby gear brands to inspect, grade, and recirculate premium open-box and overstock products — keeping thousands of pounds of perfectly usable gear out of landfills while helping parents access high-end products at lower prices.
The conversation also dives into parenting identity shifts, the mental load of baby gear, building systems that actually work for families, and the emotional reality of raising three kids under five while running a fast-growing company.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What happens to returned strollers, bassinets, and car seats
- The difference between open-box, overstock, and secondhand baby gear
- How Stork Exchange inspects and grades products for safety
- Why baby gear waste is a massive hidden problem
- How recommerce is helping families save money
- The emotional side of parenting and “gear overwhelm”
- Why parents should stop shopping after 9 p.m.
- The reality of raising three kids under five
- The parenting products Ben regrets buying
- The products he would buy again immediately
- Why community and sharing resources may be the future of parenting
Connect with Ben & Stork Exchange
- Website: Stork Exchange
- How It Works: Stork Exchange How It Works
- Instagram: @stork.exchange
Follow Samantha & The Running Wine Mom
- Instagram: The Running Wine Mom Instagram
