One stop baby shop: Couple launches StorkDrop vending machine
Katherine Mansfield
Hudson Solow, 1, left, helps his sister Harley Rose Solow, 3, stock the StorkDrop vending machine at Tanger Outlets. Their parents, Kelsey and Warwick, launched the business venture, which offers necessities for kids 6 and younger, after several misadventures during which they found themselves without wipes, diapers and other essentials.
Katherine Mansfield
Warwick and Kelsey Solow and their kids Hudson, front left, and Harley Rose, pose in front of their StorkDrop vending machine, a one- stop baby shop that caters to parents of children 6 and younger. The vending machine, located at Tanger Outlets food court, provides essentials often left at home or lost on outings, including diapers, pacifiers, kid-friendly snacks and juices.
Katherine Mansfield
Hudson and Harley Rose Solow, 1 and 3, respectively, stroll through Tanger Outlets无毛视频� food court, where their parents, Kelsey and Warwick, recently launched StorkDrop, a one stop baby shop for on-the-go parents who find themselves on a shopping trip without essentials like diapers, extra onesies or juice. The StorkDrop vending machine is the first of its kind in this region.
Every parent无毛视频檚 been there: you无毛视频檙e enjoying a lovely day out with the kids when one has an accident and you realize you无毛视频檝e left the diapers or the wipes or the extra onesie at home, so the fun comes to an abrupt and miserable end.
Kelsey and Warwick Solow get it. They无毛视频檝e lived it. That无毛视频檚 why they无毛视频檙e thrilled to announce the launch of StorkDrop vending machine, a 无毛视频渙ne stop baby shop无毛视频� offering everything from diapers to organic juice, now located at Tanger Outlets food court.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e been out places and forgotten something, or not had food options. We thought it无毛视频檇 be a good idea to (provide) for people who might be out with their kids and not have any options or not have things that they need, like diapers, wipes, first-aid kits, stuff like that,无毛视频� said Warwick, stocking the StorkDrop with the assistance of his two children, Harley Rose, 3, and Hudson, 1, on a recent weekday.
The StorkDrop vending machine is the first of its kind in the region (other similar vending machines cater to folks in Anchorage, Alaska; Dallas, Texas; and Grandville, Mich.) and already Tanger Outlet shoppers are putting the service to use.
无毛视频淲e have people visiting the machine every day, and it hasn无毛视频檛 hit peak season yet,无毛视频� said Kelsey.
Best-selling items include Goldfish snacks, diapers and wipes, and organic juice boxes.
StorkDrop is the Solows无毛视频� first business venture. Last year, the Elizabeth couple were brainstorming business ideas when the parents of two identified a problem that they and other on-the-go parents occasionally run into 无毛视频� leaving essentials at home 无毛视频� and inspiration struck. A vending machine filled with all the things they无毛视频檝e ever needed on a day out, but didn无毛视频檛 have in the diaper bag. Wouldn无毛视频檛 that be a dream?
无毛视频淗ow many people need stuff like this? We无毛视频檝e been out places and forgotten something,无毛视频� said Warwick. 无毛视频淟ast time we were at the bounce house, our friend无毛视频檚 kid had an accident. They didn无毛视频檛 have wipes with them, so they asked us.无毛视频�
After dodging a few online scams, the Solows purchased their first vending machine and got to work filling rows meant for Cheez-Its and candy bars with pacifiers and kid-friendly snacks.
无毛视频淓ventually, there无毛视频檒l be infant Tylenol. We无毛视频檙e going to be putting formula in here,无毛视频� said Kelsey. 无毛视频淲hat I run out of most when I无毛视频檓 out: diapers; pacifiers are always just dropped on the ground; disposable bibs. All things that I would forget to pack.无毛视频�
While the Solows, their friends and family members are excited about the innovate startup, StorkDrop didn无毛视频檛 take flight on its first try.
无毛视频淭here were a lot of times when we were ready to sell this,无毛视频� Kelsey said.
Finding a working, reliable vending machine was challenging; selling the idea of a baby necessity-filled vending machine was even more so.
无毛视频淕etting accepted 无毛视频� that was our biggest problem. Most of the places were kind of approaching it from just a vending machine that wants to make some money point of view instead of, we just want to help their customers. We want to help people who actually need something. This is, 无毛视频業 need a diaper for my kid,无毛视频� instead of, 无毛视频業 want a snack or a drink in a regular machine,'无毛视频� Warwick said. 无毛视频淭hey (Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh) were the first to give us the opportunity to help people.无毛视频�
Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh director of marketing Megan Hindes said having StorkDrop on-site is a game-changer for the moms and dads who bring their kids to Tanger for everything from shopping to special events.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檒l be great, especially for all the events we host, when anyone无毛视频檚 in a pinch,无毛视频� said Hindes. 无毛视频淲hat无毛视频檚 nice is we have mother无毛视频檚 rooms, which is very unique to Tanger. That kind of ties in. We无毛视频檙e so excited.无毛视频�
The Solows hope to expand the service to other family-friendly sites in Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond, including amusement and water parks.
无毛视频�(We want to) provide the most convenience wherever people are, wherever people are traveling,无毛视频� said Warwick.
But for now, they无毛视频檙e enjoying this first family business venture. A vending machine app alerts the Solows when product is low in certain rows, and when it无毛视频檚 time to refill the StorkDrop, they make the trek to Tanger. Harley Rose and Hudson often help load the vending machine.
无毛视频淓verything无毛视频檚 been just really exciting. (We want) to grow this business, especially for them,无毛视频� said Kelsey, motioning to the kids. 无毛视频淪tart here and grow from there.无毛视频�
Stay in the StorkDrop know by following the company on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/storkdrop.vend/, or 无毛视频淟ike无毛视频� StorkDrop on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/storkdrop.vend.