| Zuru | |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Toys |
| Founded: | 2003 |
| Founder: | Nick Mowbray |
| Hq Location: | Hong Kong |
| Website: | https://zuru.com/ |
Zuru (stylized as ZURU) is a Hong Kong-based toy company that manufactures multiple brands of toys., the company operates four main divisions: ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge, ZURU Tech, and Rhodes Pet Science.
When Nick 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 attend university. They returned to delivering kits after one year of university.[1]
In 2003, Mowbray moved to Hong Kong from New Zealand and at age 18, with his brother, started their first toy factory in Guangzhou, China. They were financed with a $20,000 loan from their parents, which they used to buy an injection molding machine. Soon after they ran into difficulties due to a lack of managerial and administrivia experience, communication skills and knowledge of intellectual property legislation.[2]
After two 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.
Walmart later expressed interest in Zuru's products and began selling them in their stores.
Zuru created a variety of brands over the years [3] including X-Shot, Bunch O Balloons, 5 Surprise, Mini Brands, X-Shot Water, Rainbocorn, Gumi Yum, and Snackles. They also partnered with The Walt Disney Company,[4] Nickelodeon, Universal Studios, and DreamWorks.[5]
Zuru has been designing their toy products to be more 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.[6]
In 2022, Crazy Bunch O Balloons by Zuru won the Outdoor Toy of the Year award.[7]
In May 2019, Zuru had settled all pending infringement proceedings with Telebrands and Bulbhead.com LLC for making Zuru Bunch o Balloons product similar to their Balloon Bonanza, Battle Balloons and Easy Einstein products. Their settlement issued a full payment of $31 million final judgment, including additional substantial payment for Telebrands' product infringement and agreement that they will not sell any of their accused products.
In 2020, Zuru was blocked by Lego from making its version of minifigures, as the court found Zuru infringed upon Lego's trademark.[8]
Zuru was also sued by Lego for its Zuru Max Build More building sets, for saying that it was compatible with Lego.[9]