Welcome to our series spotlighting our Featured Vendors from our Vendor Guide. The guide includes carefully curated vendors from the baby and children’s industry in design, retail, special services and much more.
I am so excited to introduce you to a company whose products are not only super functional but also incredibly adorable. We checked in with Katie Sotor from Crane to discuss their fun nursery options as well as what is on the horizon for this year.
What about Crane makes you most proud?
I have to say what makes me the most proud of Crane is that we’ve created a new sub category in the humidifier market. When we introduced the Crane animal shaped humidifiers—the Adorable Animals—in 2005 at the International Home and Housewares Show, no one had thought that humidifiers needed to be seen. We brought whimsy and design to an ordinary home appliance that has been around for years. Within one day of exhibiting our Crane Frog and Penguin Humidifiers at the show, we got Target Pharmacy and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was the bloggers and word of mouth marketing—along with a great humidifier, of course—that brought the visibility of Crane to market. In January 2015, Consumer Reports ranked our Adorable Animals Humidifiers #1 and our Drop Shape Humidifiers #4!
Do you have a signature product or design element?
First the Crane Frog was our signature design. Now the Crane Drop has become an iconic design. This year at the International Home and Houseware Show, the Drop design was the image chosen for the show’s directory, folder, banners and printed material. We were surprised and thrilled!
What can we expect from you this year?
Crane developed two Wi-Fi items this year—the smartDrop and the smartHeater. These two items proved to be successful within our target market, so we will be expanding our Wi-Fi offerings to include a smartAir Purifier and a smartTower Heater.
What is your biggest piece of advice for new parents?
Always continue to treat each other like you did when you were dating. For a new mom, having a child can be very consuming. Your role now is to be the best mom you can be and raise an incredible child (or even children!)—that’s a lot of pressure. Dating seems so selfish and exhausting, but fix yourself up, get a sitter for a few hours and meet your husband or significant other somewhere for a date. It is the act of getting ready on your own and meeting at a location other than home that can make you feel attractive and make you feel like a “date” again—even if it is just a few drinks or a cup of coffee. Happy marriage, happy home.
What advice do you have for parents when curating their nurseries? Any nursery must-haves?
Well, I would have to say a Crane humidifier! Having a humidifier on at a medium setting while your child sleeps helps soothe dry skin, nasal congestion and dry cough, which can help your child sleep and breathe easier.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Right now, it comes from magazines like Fast Company and Inc. I love reading them. I also love TED Talks.
Tell us your motto.
My personal motto is, do not over think every opportunity or you will never take a risk.
The Crane motto is, “Design for Better Living.” Simply put, it’s great design and products at an affordable price.
To learn more about Crane, be sure to check out their listing in our Vendor Guide.
If you are interested in applying to become a Project Nursery Vendor, please click here.
