Nick Mowbray was just 18 years old when he dropped out of university with his older brother Mat to start an adventure their family thought was crazy: a toy company in China. Without language skills, without contacts, and with just $12,000 - a loan from their parents - the brothers moved to Guangzhou, a booming port city in southern China.
We lived on a dollar a day," recalls Nick Mowbray.
The Triumphant Advance of Water Balloons
The breakthrough came with products that couldn't be simpler: water balloons and dart blasters. Zuru relied on low prices and clever marketing. The water balloon sets, which promised to make summer parties easier and cheaper, became a viral success. The rest is history: Today, Zuru sells in over 30 countries, with sales expected to reach 1.72 billion dollars in 2024.
But it wasn't just luck. Zuru is pursuing a strategy that amazes industry experts: Established markets like toys, diapers, and shampoo are being specifically targeted. Everything is produced in its own factories in China – efficiently, cheaply, and scalable.
Criticism and Competition
But not everyone is thrilled about Zuru's success. Industry giants like Lego have sued Zuru for trademark infringement. Lego won an initial round in court, but the Mowbray brothers did not give up and filed an appeal.
UBS analyst Arpine Kocharyan sums it up aptly: "Their recipe for success is simple: cheaper toys with acceptable quality.
The Next Coup: Automated Living
Nick Mowbray no longer sees the future solely in toys. With an innovative software called "DreamCatcher," Zuru wants to revolutionize the way houses are built. Customers can design their dream homes with a click of the mouse, while automated factories replicate them precisely.
This will overshadow everything we've ever done," says Nick. Zuru is already planning the test run with initial houses in Los Angeles and is thinking big: the goal is to offer housing globally more affordably and efficiently.
From the Garage to the Top of the World
The entrepreneurial spirit of the Mowbrays was evident early on.
Today, over 5,000 people work for Zuru, and the siblings are billionaires. Yet despite their success, the roots remain tangible: hard work, cleverness, and the courage to risk everything.
