Today we’d like to introduce you to Shadab Kazi.
Hi Shadab, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
What began as a late-night conversation between two sisters in Karachi, has now spread across three countries and four continents. The idea for Crateful Mom came about when we realized there was a great lack of gifts that had sentimental value. As creatives, we knew we could address the gap, so we got to work!
The cratefuls we create can be classified more as experiences, rather than gift baskets. Every element in a crate is tied together with a theme or story that holds great significance to the recipient. Over the years, we have helped tell thousands of stories through our craft.
8 years on, we’re so proud that Crateful Mom is now in the USA, UAE and of course, Pakistan. We strive to continue providing our customers with crates and elements based solely on their vision and requirements. We deliver worldwide and try to ship through the closest possible operations, to ensure efficient shipping.
We put great thought into what we do, which is why even the maroon in our logo also has great significance, as it emulates the vibrant hues of the bougainvillea. A flower best described as resilient, the bougainvillea blooms despite extreme temperatures, adding color wherever it grows. It represents our values, our journey, and most importantly, our growth.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a mom-preneur managing a full time job as a home maker, a care giver for my two boys always has its challenges. When i started Cratefulmom i was a mother to one. As my business grew, so did my family and caring for another baby along with the ups and downs of business, it has been a roller coaster ride. However, resilience has been a significant contributor to the survival of my business and my sanity!. When covid hit in 2020 the whole world paused and so did our operations. However as the saying goes “”If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr. and thats what we did. one order at a time, From creating crateful experiences for friends and families, to our neighbors who truly needed these experiences to help them survive this time. we found purpose in bringing joy and comfort to those who had lost their loved ones, those who were isolated and stuck, our cratefuls helped cope. With every hardship comes ease and that has been our journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Cratefulmom is a creation of a momprenuer, who has always known how to turn the word ‘thoughtful’ into a verb. Finding joy in creating the perfect gifts for people, I decided to create and curate a small business, which I was passionate about, this venture is close to my heart and having an academic background in communicating through design, this was a perfect fit.
This venture gave me an identity, equally fulfilling as being a mother of two.Cause I realized having a happy and creatively fulfilled mother is exactly what MY children needed to grow up around with.
I began passionately creating cratefuls to bring joy and a sense of appreciation, perfectly crafting every detailed element to speak to the person receiving it, evoking their senses and letting them know the sender truly cares.Each crateful is unique, as it expresses love through each element.
I have been pursuing this since 2016 now.That is almost a decade and have been working in the field of communication through design way longer before that. I needed this work to create a space for myself where i could flex her creative muscle and do what I truly know best, that is reaching out to people with my heightened emotional intelligence.i have always been a people’s [erson and interacting with people and reaching out to them comes naturally to me. I love to read people and help people express their emotions through curating personalized gifts and cratefuls.
Like no two individuals are the same, no cratefuls or gift hampers are the same or repeated unless asked for.Each crateful is unique as it expresses with each element and has one liners attached to them, which only those two individuals share between them. No two cratefuls are the same. Your recipient will love their custom gift and will treasure their items for years to come.
Cratefulmom is a highly personalized gift crate service, where we love to put the effort and thoughtfulness in your gift giving for all those special occasions and moments.
All our products are sourced from the land they are shipped from, Cratefulmom creates her own merchandise and ships all USA based products worldwide, in UAE we only use local products, from Australia products from Australia. To the rest of the world we deliver USA based products, all customized merchandise and elements are created in-house, with our own unique designs and skills.
We personalize and create a crateful based on the recipients personality and likes. We take pride in the process of understanding and expressing the art of gifting.
Every piece is lovingly curated and carefully crafted to ensure a gift of the highest quality that truly reflects the recipient’s personality. Each gift crateful | gift crate, is carefully curated especially for your recipient, easily customized to your requirements, each crate is guaranteed to be unique, bearing the stamp of the individual receiving it.
This is not just a gift crate, its your emotions expressed and thoughtfulness presented
Our Customised order process is simple:
Step 1: Message us on Facebook or Instagram/ whatsapp us.
Step 2: We ask you questions and based on the answers, we conceptualise and suggest gifts that reflect the message the sender wants to convey through the art of our gifts, we start brainstorming for the theme and elements and curate magical masterpieces that are guaranteed to bring delight.
Step 3: Element and theme finalized.
Step 4 : We share designs
Step 5: Crateful is complete and shipped it to your loved one.
final step: Your loved one receives the crateful of love | guaranteed 100% joy.
Our crates are unique and beautiful and can be customized for any person and/or occasion. From Valentine’s Day, to birthdays and Christmas, to ‘just because’ cratefuls, Cratefulmoms have you covered!
Our cratefuls of love and joy are carefully conceptualized, designed, compiled with hand-picked elements, packed with care and made with love. Our cratefuls stand out by reflecting on the term ‘it is truly the thought that counts’!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned over 9 years of working as a small business owner is gifting is an art and requires thoughtfulness. Unique and meaningful gifts are a niche and can never be compared to something that is mass produced. It is an art, not only in creating it, but also understanding what the relationship reflects through the gift we create between the sender and th recipient. In the gifting industry, customers are looking for more than just a product—they’re seeking a meaningful experience that matches their emotions, milestones, and personal connections.
We do not create gifts, we create experiences and moments that become part of the recipients and senders core memory. Here are a few key things i learned and i continue to learn as a small business owner each day
Adding a personal touch makes a world of difference. Personalisation , be it time consuming, creates a unique experience for the recipient. Customer Experience is Everything: It’s not just about the gift, but how it is delivered.. Creating memorable, personalized experiences keeps our customers coming back. We understand the importance of How we communicate, express emotions and feelings through our gifts, to surprise and delight our customers and create lasting loyalty.
Innovation and personalisation is at the heart of our crateful experience. Trends in gifting can change quickly, and the market is always evolving. Being able to adapt to new customer needs, finding unique products, and staying current with what’s trending is crucial.
Our gifts are not just gifts. They are memories and moments through the art of storytelling. How we communicate with your customers can deeply impact your success. Whether it’s explaining the thought process behind a curated gift box or sharing the brand’s story, authenticity and clear communication fosters trust and connection.
Quality Over Quantity: In a world of mass-produced items, focusing on the quality and uniqueness of your gifts has likely been a key differentiator. Customers are more likely to appreciate and remember a gift that feels personal and high quality.
The Power of Referrals and Word of Mouth: In small business, especially in gifting, word-of-mouth and referrals are golden. Offering excellent service, creating wow moments, and encouraging customers to share their experiences has likely contributed to sustainable growth.
Financial Management & Patience: Owning a small business comes with the need for good financial practices and patience. Building a sustainable business means keeping an eye on cash flow, managing inventory carefully, and being patient during slower growth phases.
Pricing:
- 40$
- 60$
- 100$
- 200$
- 500$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cratefulmomerch.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cratefulmom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cratefulmom
Image Credits
PC: Cratefulmom
PC: Shadab Kazi
