BubbleBum’s bright idea sits well with families

For parents traveling with young children, one big question often arises: how can we get from point A to point B safely?

Taxis aren’t always the easiest, or most economical, option, especially since regulations require children to use booster seats.

This often means carrying extra bulky gear through the airports - and when you’re aiming to pack light, that can quickly become a major hassle.

It was a problem which was irritating Derry woman Grainne Kelly when she was heading on holidays in 2009.

From that frustration came the idea for a compact, lightweight inflatable booster seat – and so Grainne created BubbleBum.

Kimberley McCallion, the company’s Marketing Executive, revealed that BubbleBum was the first of its kind globally. And as they keep at the forefront of innovation, the local company has just launched a new product to keep pace with changing EU law.

Kimberley said: “It’s just so easy to bring anywhere. It means that
wherever you go in the world, you will always have a booster seat to keep your child
safe.”

The durable sturdy design of the TelePort helps keep kids safe on the move. They love both options, the soft inflatable BubbleBum design also allows them to sit comfortably without compromising on safety. 

“Ensuring families can travel safely has always been the company’s primary focus, with peace of mind for parents firmly at the centre of its mission,” said Kimberley.

In 2025, BubbleBum introduced TelePort in response to updates in EU safety legislation, further strengthening its commitment to child travel safety.

Designed for children aged five to 12, the innovative seat can be installed in moments and neatly folds away into its own compact bag, complete with a shoulder strap for easy carrying and a suitcase strap for hands free, hassle‑free storage.

“Changes to EU legislation meant inflatable booster seats could no longer be used,” Kimberley explained.

“That challenge pushed us to innovate, and that’s how TelePort was developed. It’s telescopic, fully portable and designed to fit seamlessly into family life.

“The response has been incredibly positive. Families love it and, I have to say, as a mum I love it too.”

Making its products affordable for families remains a core priority for BubbleBum, despite the pressures of rising costs across manufacturing, material and logistics. Energy expenses have also been increasing, adding further pressure to day‑to‑day operations, as Kimberley explained.

“We have a lot of offices and a lot of appliances, so we use a significant amount of energy,” she said.

BubbleBum are not alone in being concerned about energy prices. A report from Enterprise Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the British Business Bank, showed that 73% of firms have concerns over increased energy costs. It added that rising energy costs are one of the reasons why the pause button has been pressed by many local enterprises.

At the same time, many businesses are reluctant to switch provider, which could save them money. Last year a survey commissioned by Budget Energy revealed that 42% of firms have never changed electricity provider.

Working with Budget Energy has helped BubbleBum control its energy costs. Budget Energy’s Commercial Sales Manager NI, Hugh Barbour, highlighted that the provider’s competitive rates as a key draw for Northern Irish companies.

“Our rates are very competitive, and our sales team works hard to secure the best prices as soon as they become available. We stay in close contact with BubbleBum to make sure those rates are locked in at the right time,” he explained.

For businesses that do decide to make the switch, strong customer service is often just as important as competitive pricing. Hugh believes it’s this hands‑on, supportive approach that helps Budget Energy stand out and build lasting relationships with companies across Northern Ireland.

“We’re often told that Budget Energy is approachable, friendly and gets things done. Our team is very proactive and takes real pride in building and maintaining strong relationships with our customers,” he said.

For BubbleBum, it’s that friendly, proactive approach that has made all the difference, with Kimberley describing the company’s experience of working with Budget Energy as “amazing”.

“The customer care is brilliant. We've never had to switch because the Budget Energy team makes sure that we have the best deal possible and we just continue our relationship as it is.”

There’s an old saying about leaving work at work, but for Kimberley, BubbleBum’s experience with Budget Energy has been so positive that she’s been happy to bring it home.

“I would definitely recommend Budget Energy because if I was to call them, I'm getting a person and a friendly voice at the end of the phone,” she said.

“I also use Budget in my own home and I think they're fantastic. I would highly recommend them to everybody. I really think that every other company around locally could benefit from Budget.”

To find out more about BubbleBum visit bubblebum.co/en-gb. To learn more about Budget Energy visit budgetenergy.co.uk/