The Beginning of Zip Zap
The story of Zip Zap began when, then 20 year old, founder Bailey Page was on a night out with some friends when his phone suddenly died. He was attempting to order an Uber ride home and wasn't carrying a phone charger with him, leaving him stranded and helpless. The initial idea sparked when he thought to himself; "wouldn't it be convenient if I had a small device, that didn't require a charging cable and that could fit into my pocket whilst simultaneously re-charging his phone."
He thought an idea so simple would have already been developed but was really surprised when he couldn't find a product fitting this description and saw an opportunity 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
Our journey began on August 31st, 2021, with our first Zip Zap sales, shared with family and friends who believed in our vision over those 13 months. From those early days, we've grown together, overcoming challenges and paving the way for an exciting future.
Our First Pop-up Stall
Our first Zip Zap pop-up stall was a tent at the local Sunday farmers' market on the Sunshine Coast, where we proudly introduced our product to the community.
This was the beginning of forging connections with our local market and raising awareness of our new unique product.
Featuring on Sunrise
In just our 5th week on the market, Bailey was fortunate to be featured on Sunrise’s Sam Mac’s Plugapalooza segment, selected among four other businesses during COVID. Although we were initially given just 15 seconds to pitch our business, Bailey's segment aired last, capturing an incredible 2 minutes of national 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 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
After the trade show, a company suggested custom branding our products with their logo for VIP client gifts, upcoming events, staff gifts, and more. This innovative idea, which we hadn't previously considered, quickly became one of our most successful avenues. It opened a lucrative new market, resulting in substantial orders from large companies and a significant boost to our business.
Entering the Retail Market
After gaining exposure through custom branding Zip Zap for IGA’s national conference, we were thrilled to be approached to sell our products in 7 IGA stores. This marked the beginning of our retail journey and led to exciting opportunities, catching the attention of major Australian retailers like Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings, and WH Smith.
Collaborating with Sports Stars
Zip Zap began attracting the attention of sports stars across Australia on social media, leading to exciting collaborations with top names in the industry. We've partnered with Wallaby players Tate McDermott and Liam McWright, NRL superstars David Fifita and Corey Thompson, and many more!
Today Show Segment
Bailey was contacted by a producer on LinkedIn about the possibility of featuring in a segment on ‘young entrepreneurs' success stories’. During a brief phone call, Bailey proposed an idea for an engaging live demo showcasing Zip Zap products. He suggested it would be exciting to have the Couch Crew use the products to highlight their capabilities. The producer was enthusiastic about the concept and asked how soon we could get the products to their Sydney studio, as they wanted to shoot the story in just 2 days. Thinking quickly, Bailey offered to personally fly the products down from the Sunshine Coast. This initiative led to an exhilarating live feature on Channel Nine’s Today Show during Saturday morning prime time, providing Zip Zap with national exposure and showcasing the product’s potential to a broad audience.
International PR Story
After Bailey’s interview and live demonstration of Zip Zap on the Today Show, his story went viral, captivating the attention of all major Australian news publications. The impact quickly extended internationally, with coverage in 9 countries and prominent global outlets including the UK’s The Age, The Sun, and LadBible, among some. In total, 47 news articles highlighted Bailey’s journey, reflecting the widespread excitement and growing recognition of Zip Zap. This newfound visibility resulted in hundreds of international inquiries for our product, which was initially only available in Australia and New Zealand, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion efforts.
Selling Out of Stock Again!
Following an exceptional organic PR run, Zip Zap achieved a record sales month, selling nearly 5,000 units in just 2 months and completely selling out. This exciting milestone underscored the tremendous response to our brand's story. Bailey, with invaluable help from his mum, spent countless late nights packing hundreds of orders from customers across Australia, all from his home.
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!
Awarded Queensland Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Following Bailey’s global PR success and national TV recognition, we’re excited to announce that he was awarded 7News Queensland Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023. This accolade highlights his dedication to innovation and stands as a testament to his relentless hard work as a one-man team.
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 revolutionary design, the Zap Pad was set to redefine convenience and functionality in portable 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 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 & iOS - 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!