Meet Nia Crooks | Custom Coaster Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nia Crooks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nia, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m a Brooklyn girl. Growing up, I was surrounded by family members who always had small businesses, so I understood the importance of being the boss of yourself. Even while in the workforce, I observed family members having side hustles for additional income. So not only was I inspired, I was pretty much destined to be bitten by the hustle bug. In high school, I sold candy out of my locker to buy clothing. Being a New Yorker alone, we are known for a fast-paced lifestyle, and you either sink or swim. But, I have the advantage of being a hustling New Yorker and a Pisces, so of course I learned how to swim! Once I survived the lessons of my twenties and embraced the journey into womanhood in my 30s, I decided to join my older sister in Texas. To sum it all up, all of my experiences, starting from early childhood molded me into the driven, well-rounded woman I am today and I am grateful that they afforded me the ability to not only survive but thrive pretty much anywhere. I’ve lived in a lot of places, but Houston is where I wanted to plant my roots and become the businesswoman that I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I have always been a creative. I’ve been writing poetry since I was in kindergarten, and the arts as a whole has always captured my eye. From fashion, interior decorating, styling, to taking endless photographs, I knew there was something business-wise that I could eventually contribute to the world. I stumbled upon the idea of creating custom coasters after my father passed away from cancer in 2015. In his honor, I wanted to volunteer at MD Anderson to give back to kids with cancer and to also understand the disease more.

My original concept for the coaster designs was to have kids create artwork on post-its, that I would laminate onto a coaster, calling it “Post-it on a Coast-it.” However, I tabled that idea for years after being turned down to volunteer. A woman at MD Anderson said I needed to heal more because I had just lost my dad. I didn’t understand how she came to that determination via email correspondence, but I accepted it and allowed my idea to wither away. It wasn’t until late 2020 that the idea started to resurface, and with the state of the world during COVID-19, I was laid off, and the idea began brewing again.

I went back and forth with names for my company and landed on Crooksy’s Coasters. I had no idea about materials or how I was going to get this business started, but I was determined to figure it out. I watched countless hours of YouTube, researched materials to use, and identified the tools I needed to get started. After putting in my 10,000 hours, my brainchild was born. I launched my business on 7/18/2021, and it has been thriving ever since.

It was not easy at first during the trial-and-error phase. Testing out various materials to achieve the clarity of image transfers I wanted, but once I stumbled upon slate coasters, I knew I had struck gold. The slate coasters are a hit, and my business has been booming ever since.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a host at heart. I throw events and I love to host family and friends more than often. I am also somewhat of a creature of habit so I take my guest to the same places. My go-to brunch spots are: Homestead Kitchen and Bar or Piggy’s Kitchen and Bar. The food is amazing at both places but if you’re looking for a Sunday Funday vibe- on the patio with a DJ, Piggy’s will get you in the mood to kick-off your Sunday Funday. As you may know, Sunday Funday is a huge part of the Houstonian lifestyle. Sunday’s are pretty much on steroids here. After brunch I’d make my rounds to either Urban Social, The Spot Eado, 5015 or Faces. For dinner, I usefully end up at Hillstone. They have the most consistent dinner choices I’ve ever had – it is never a miss there. Lately, I’ve also been in love with the crab-cake at Balboa Surf Club and Willie G’s is another consisent favorite of mine. For night life, my go-to is either Urban Social, Urban Smoke or Five Central. I know the owners, so I patronize their businesses. I love to support who supports me! Also, I usually have little dinner parties at my apartment so the fun pretty much follows me anywhere I go. I’ve been crowned a socialite, but I don’t think I wear that hat. I am simply pretty well known from me just being me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to credit my Crooks Family. My company is named after my Grandmother’s nickname, “Crooksy”. I am the only remaining Crooks after surviving my grandmother and father so I wanted to carry our legacy on. Hence the name Crooksy’s Coasters.

Website: crooksyscoasters.com

Instagram: @crooksyscoasters, @niacrooks

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nia-crooks/,

Twitter: @crooksyscoaster

Facebook: Crooksy’s Coasters, Nią Crooks