Graco (baby products)

Graco
Subsidiary
Founded 1942 (1942)
Founder Russell Gray
Robert Cone
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Products Baby Products
Parent Newell Brands
Website www.gracobaby.com
Previous logo variant

Graco (pronounced gray-co) is an American baby products company based in High Point, North Carolina.[1] It is owned and operated by Newell Brands. Graco was founded in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Russell Gray and Robert Cone (hence the name) as Graco Metal Products, a company that fabricated machine and car parts. Rex Thomas (one of two engineers hired to come up with a sustainable product) watched his wife sitting on the porch, rocking their baby in a swing with a string tied to it, while she read a book. Rex went into work the next day and said "why don't we make an automatic baby swing." After 18 months of research and development, the Swyngnomatic - the world's first wind-up, automatic baby swing—was born in 1955, designed by company engineer Dave Saint.[2] In 1987 the company pioneered the invention of the Pack N' Play Portable Playard, the world's first portable playard (designed by Nate Saint, Dave Saint's son).

In 1998, Graco acquired Century, a car seat manufacturer and introduced the SnugRide infant car seat, which has become America's top-selling infant car seat line. Century actually introduced the travel system where a car seat could fit on a stroller for easy transportation. That same year, Graco was acquired by Rubbermaid (the company became Newell Rubbermaid in 1999 and Newell Brands in 2016). In 2002, Graco launched the TurboBooster, a booster seat designed to help parents stay in compliance with many states' passage of laws requiring children to stay in a car seat longer. In 2007, the company purchased established German baby product brand, Teutonia. The same year, the Nautilus® 3-in-1car seat debuted, earning the "Best Bet" designation from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Then, in 2008, Graco acquired Aprica Kassai®, the number one selling baby brand in Japan. In 2014, Newell Rubbermaid acquired American baby brand, Baby Jogger.

Graco offers products including car seats, travel systems, strollers, high chairs, playards and baby swings.

References

  1. ↑ "Company Overview of Graco Children's Products Inc". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  2. ↑ "About Graco - Graco". www.gracobaby.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
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