Teething toy Mizzie the Kangaroo, which was born in 2015 after two years of research and development, launched to a trade audience at Life Instyle Sydney recently.
Mizzie’s journey began in 2013, when Sandra Ebbott and three other parents of young children were looking for something to soothe their daughters’ sore gums.
“We were thinking, ‘there is nothing Australian out in the market that really ticks all the boxes’,” says Ebbott. “And so Mizzie was born in Brisbane, named after baby Isabella and her friend Madeline.”
After successfully launching the 100 per cent natural rubber kangaroo, Ebbott began to expand the range of Mizzie products, sticking to her aim of soothing babies and helping with their development.
The Mizzie range currently includes cool packs for bumps and bruises or lunchboxes, and puzzle boxes that contain three different puzzles which increase in difficulty.
From May the brand will add interactive baby board books featuring different materials and textures to its collection.
“Babies and toddlers love discovering more, and parents will love the lessons the books will teach,” says Ebbott.
“The first two are about fun and safety at the beach, and the fun in being active indoors and outdoors.”
With so many children’s products on the market, Ebbott says Mizzie stands out because of her heritage.
“We try to incorporate Australia and an Australian feel in a subtle and stylish manor,” she explains. “Our products have proven to be good sellers and have a good price point, so they are quite attractive to retailers and customers alike.
“Mizzie often seems to become babies’ favourite toy from their teething age, and when we hear this feedback from stores, customers and people from abroad, it makes us extremely happy.”
The Australian design also appeals to tourists, and Ebbott says that along with continuing to introduce new products, she hopes to establish global distribution beginning with the US and Canada.
By Ruth Cooper
