Zuru (company): Difference between revisions
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In 2003, Mowbray moved to [[Hong Kong]] from New Zealand and started his first toy factory at age 18 with his brother in [[Guangzhou|Guangzhou, China]] with a $20,000 loan of money from his parents, which they used to buy an [[Injection molding machine|injection molding machine]]. Soon after, they found out they could not start their business because they did not have any experience managing and controlling a business, couldn't communicate with their local area, and did not have knowledge of [[intellectual property]] legislation.<ref name="university dropout">{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Virginia |title=How a university dropout built a toy empire |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50469922 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 December 2019}}</ref> |
In 2003, Mowbray moved to [[Hong Kong]] from New Zealand and started his first toy factory at age 18 with his brother in [[Guangzhou|Guangzhou, China]] with a $20,000 loan of money from his parents, which they used to buy an [[Injection molding machine|injection molding machine]]. Soon after, they found out they could not start their business because they did not have any experience managing and controlling a business, couldn't communicate with their local area, and did not have knowledge of [[intellectual property]] legislation.<ref name="university dropout">{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Virginia |title=How a university dropout built a toy empire |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50469922 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 December 2019}}</ref> |
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After 2 years, their sister [[Anna Mowbray|Anna]] helped them in their business and named it, Zuru. Their original company's [[trade name]] was Guru, but changed to ZURU as Guru had been trademarked by a different company.<ref name=" |
After 2 years, their sister [[Anna Mowbray|Anna]] helped them in their business and named it, Zuru. Their original company's [[trade name]] was Guru, but changed to ZURU as Guru had been trademarked by a different company.<ref name="university dropout" /> |
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Walmart soon later expressed interest in Zuru's products and began selling them in their stores. |
Walmart soon later expressed interest in Zuru's products and began selling them in their stores. |
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Revision as of 22:24, 30 January 2024
 | This article, Zuru (company), has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
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| This article, Zuru (company), has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, Zuru (company), has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
Comment: Please see WP:NCOMPANY and WP:CORPDEPTH and introduce sources accordingly. Hitro talk 10:16, 27 January 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: The first source (BBC) is solid, but the others do not contribute anything towards notability, and one useful source is nowhere near enough. DoubleGrazing (talk) 14:36, 5 January 2024 (UTC)
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
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 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Toys |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Nick Mowbray |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong, China |
| Brands | |
| Website | https://zuru.com/ |
Zuru is a Chinese toy company that manufactures multiple brands of toys. They are currently operating four main divisions: ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge, ZURU Tech, and Rhodes Pet Science.
History
When Mowbray was twelve in 1997, he designed and created a hot air balloon model kit that won first place in a national science fair in New Zealand. Mowbray's kit soon became more popular, and had started his first mini business of delivering hot balloon kits door to door with his brother, Mat. They had sold their kits throughout high school, and eventually decided to take university. However, they return back to delivering kits after spending one year in university.[1]
In 2003, Mowbray moved to Hong Kong from New Zealand and started his first toy factory at age 18 with his brother in Guangzhou, China with a $20,000 loan of money from his parents, which they used to buy an injection molding machine. Soon after, they found out they could not start their business because they did not have any experience managing and controlling a business, couldn't communicate with their local area, and did not have knowledge of intellectual property legislation.[2]
After 2 years, their sister Anna helped them in their business and named it, Zuru. Their original company's trade name was Guru, but changed to ZURU as Guru had been trademarked by a different company.[2]
Walmart soon later expressed interest in Zuru's products and began selling them in their stores.
Brands
Zuru created a variety of brands throughout the years for children of any age education, fun, and interest, including X-Shot, Bunch O Balloons, 5 Surprise Mini brands, X-Shot Water, Rainbocorn, and Snackles. They had also partnered with The Walt Disney Company[3] and other companies.
Sustainability
Zuru has been working hard to find a better way for their toy products to be recyclable and reusable. As of 2019, Bunch O Balloons itself and the stem's rubber material had changed to recyclable natural rubber latex and its packaging is recyclable too. The company also partnered with TerraCycle[4]
Recognition
In 2022, Crazy Bunch O Balloons by Zuru won the Outdoor Toy of the Year award.[5]
Trademark Infringement
In 2020, Zuru was blocked by Lego from making its version of minifigures, as the court found Zuru infringed upon Lego's trademark.[6]
Zuru was also sued by Lego from its Zuru Max Build More building sets, due to its similarity of the plastic bricks and sets.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Mega, Laurie (16 December 2022). "Nick Mowbray Believes Entrepreneurs Can't Lose". Foundr. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Harrison, Virginia (16 December 2019). "How a university dropout built a toy empire". BBC News. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ "Zuru Collaborates with Disney on Mini Brands" License Global, Retrieved December 21, 2023,
- ^ "How Zuru plans to save the future" PR Newswire , Retrieved January 5, 2024
- ^ "2022 Toy of the Year Award Winners" Toy Association, Retrieved December 31, 2023
- ^ "LEGO Blocks Out ZURU in Copyright Dispute Over Minifigures | Incontestable Blog" Finnegan | Leading Intellectual Property Law Firm, Retrieved January 29, 2024