The Beginning of Zip Zap
The story of Zip Zap was born from a real-life experience. In 2019, at just 19 years old, founder Bailey Page found himself stranded after a night out when his phone died as he was trying to order an Uber home. With no phone charger and no way to reach out to anyone for help, he faced a 15-kilometre walk home in the early hours of the morning. The next day, frustration turned into an idea, he asked himself "Wouldn’t it be convenient to have a small, pocket-sized device that doesn’t require a charging cable, yet is powerful enough to recharge my phone quickly?"
He assumed such a simple and practical idea would have already existed, but was surprised to find nothing on the market that truly met that need. Recognising the gap, he saw an opportunity and set out to create Zip Zap.
Official Launch of Zip Zap
Bailey Page embarked on a 13-month journey to bring Zip Zap to life, driven by a vision to revolutionise portable charging. It all began in a small bedroom, where Bailey tirelessly worked on creating the first prototype. To build his knowledge, Bailey educated himself about power banks through YouTube tutorials and Google searches, delving into every detail necessary to perfect his design. The initial prototype was promising but fell short of the high standards Bailey had set. Undeterred, he developed a second prototype, showcasing significant improvements yet still needing refinement.
After months of late nights, countless revisions, and a relentless pursuit of perfection, the third prototype was finally ready. This version captured the essence of Bailey’s vision - a sleek, powerful, and reliable portable charger. In August 2021, Zip Zap was launched to the market, marking the culmination of Bailey’s dedication and innovation.
Our First Sale
On August 31st, 2021, we made our very first Zip Zap sales - shared with family and friends who had supported Bailey throughout the 13-month journey from idea to product. Their support meant more than just a purchase; it was belief in a vision that had once only existed in his head. Watching those first orders come through was incredibly emotional. That early encouragement gave him the confidence to push harder, work longer, and fully commit to building Zip Zap into something much bigger.
Our First Pop-up Stall
Our first Zip Zap pop-up event was a simple tent at the local Sunday farmers’ market on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Where we proudly introduced our product to our community for the very first time. It marked the beginning of building genuine connections at a grassroots level and creating awareness around a new, unique solution we truly believed in!
Featuring on Sunrise
In just his fifth week on the market, Bailey was fortunate to be selected to go on Australia’s National Morning Television Program Sunrise, appearing on Sam Mac’s Plugapalooza segment as one of only four small businesses selected during the beginning of COVID. He was told he only had 15 seconds to pitch his business to Australians tuning in across the country, which would be selected in random order. Unexpectedly, Bailey happened to be the final business of the morning and the segment extended to nearly two full minutes of airtime.
The results that followed were nothing short of extraordinary.
1500 Units Sold in 2 Days!
Following the brief 2-minute spotlight on Sunrise, the results exceeded all our expectations. This feature proved to be a game-changer, driving over 1,500 units sold all across Australia. It was a pivotal moment that not only put Zip Zap on the map, but also revealed a demand for our product far greater than we had anticipated.
Scaling Up Quickly
After selling out our initial 2,000-unit order in just 2 months - far ahead of our 1-year goal, we knew we had something exceptional. To keep up with the soaring demand, especially with the holiday season approaching, we increased our second order to 7,000 units. Taking a leap of faith, we reinvested every penny of profit to fuel Zip Zap's growth, ensuring we could maintain our momentum and continue delivering top-quality products to our customers.
Taking Zip Zap to a National Stage
At just 21 years old, Bailey took a bold step by showcasing Zip Zap at his first national trade show, the Australasian Hospitality and Gaming Expo (AGE). With a family friend’s advice who attends the show, we went all out to spread awareness and hoped to connect with major companies, aiming to secure our first big order and marking a pivotal milestone in our journey.
Introducing a New Feature
At the trade show, a company approached us with the idea of custom branding our products with their logo for VIP client gifts. It was a concept we hadn’t previously considered, but it immediately resonated. What began as a simple request quickly evolved into one of our most successful growth channels, opening an entirely new and highly lucrative market. Large corporate orders followed, significantly accelerating our momentum and expanding the business beyond what we had initially imagined.
Entering the Retail Market
After being fortunate to be selected as the official gift choice for IGA Australia’s National Conference, we gained valuable national exposure that quickly translated into our first retail opportunity. This marked the beginning of our retail journey and paved the way for further opportunities, attracting interest from major Australian retailers including Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings, WHSmith and more!
Collaborating with Sports Stars
Zip Zap soon began attracting the attention of elite athletes across Australia through social media, leading to exciting collaborations with some of the country’s top sporting names. We’ve partnered with Wallabies players Tate McDermott and Liam McWright, NRL stars David Fifita and Corey Thompson, and many others - further elevating the brand’s presence nationwide.
Today Show Segment
Bailey was contacted by a producer via LinkedIn about the possibility of featuring in a segment on “young entrepreneur success stories.” During a brief phone call, rather than simply agreeing to an interview, he proposed an engaging live demonstration of the Zip Zap products - suggesting the Today Show’s Couch Crew could use them on-air to showcase their capabilities in real time. The producer loved the idea and asked how quickly the products could be delivered to the Sydney studio, as filming was scheduled just two days later. Thinking quickly, Bailey offered to personally fly the products down from the Sunshine Coast. That initiative led to an exhilarating live feature on Channel Nine’s Today Show during Saturday morning prime time, giving Zip Zap national exposure and demonstrating the product’s real-world value to a national audience.
International PR Story
Following Bailey’s interview and live demonstration on the Today Show, the story quickly gained momentum and went viral, capturing the attention of major Australian news outlets. The coverage soon extended internationally, spanning nine countries and appearing in prominent global publications including the UK’s The Sun, LADbible, and others. In total, 47 news articles featured Bailey’s journey - a powerful reflection of the growing excitement around Zip Zap. The surge in visibility led to hundreds of international product inquiries, despite the brand being available only in Australia and New Zealand at the time, marking a pivotal moment in our global expansion journey.
Selling Out of Stock Again!
After a remarkable organic PR surge, Zip Zap achieved a record sales run - nearly 5,000 units sold in two months, fully selling out. The response validated the brand’s story in a powerful way. Behind the scenes, Bailey and his incredible mother worked late into the night packing orders from home, personally shipping thousands of units across Australia.
A Smile Says It All
After countless late nights packing orders until 4 AM, we proudly achieved our biggest sales day ever! The hard work paid off, showcasing the incredible demand and support for Zip Zap. What a moment this was and a memory i'll have for life.
Awarded Queensland Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Following Bailey’s global PR story and national television recognition, he was honoured to receive 7News Queensland Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Award. The accolade recognised his commitment to innovation and stands as a testament to the relentless hard work and determination behind building Zip Zap as a one-man operation.
New Product Release: The Zap Pad!
Building on the success of our Zip Zap Cableless Portable Charger, Bailey dedicated 8 months behind the scenes to develop his next major innovation: the Zap Pad. This cutting-edge magnetic power bank boasts a unique built-in stand, allowing you to charge your phone upright on any flat surface or in video mode while simultaneously powering up. With its innovative design, the Zap Pad was set to redefine convenience and functionality in portable wireless charging on the go.
Sold Out in 2 Months
After launching the Zap Pad in October 2023, we were thrilled by the incredible demand, which led to the product selling out in just 2 months. The overwhelming response had us racing to reorder as swiftly as possible. We worked tirelessly to restock before the Zap Pad sold out again in early 2024, showcasing its immense success and the excitement it generated. With customers loving its dual stand capability and ultimate convenience for on-the-go charging, the Zap Pad has truly become our best product yet!
To Be the Best, You Have to Work With the Best
An unforeseen supplier breakdown and quality issue forced us back to the drawing board, sending Bailey on a crucial solo trip to China to tackle the issues firsthand. Over several months of intense negotiations and navigating numerous hurdles, there were moments when it felt like our journey might end. We took a significant step back to reflect on our brand, to re-evaluate our purpose. Confronted with a pivotal choice, to give up or forge ahead - we chose to embrace our biggest challenge yet with renewed determination and commitment. By partnering exclusively with the world's leading power bank supplier, we ensured that our latest innovative products would meet the highest standards of quality and performance possible.
Exciting Times Ahead
With our new exclusive partnership with the world’s leading power bank supplier, Zip Zap is excited to unveil 5 groundbreaking new products! Among them is the highly anticipated Zip Zap Plus USB-C & Lightning - a global-first design that took over 18 months and 27 revisions to perfect. We’re also enhancing the Zap Pad with top-quality materials and introducing travel cases along with a new line of products featuring an innovative tracking credit card. We're thrilled to be back with these innovative offerings and look forward to sharing more products soon!