Vuly Play

Vuly Play (previously known as Trampolines Australia and Vuly Trampolines) is an Australian company that designs and manufactures recreational trampoline products[1] and other outdoor play equipment. It was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in Brisbane, Australia.[2] The company makes a springless Thunder trampoline, which uses elliptic leaf springs positioned around its base, to provide the trampoline's rebound.[3]

Vuly Play
FormerlyVuly Trampolines
TypePrivate
IndustryOutdoor Play Equipment
Founded2007
FounderJoe Andon
HeadquartersWakerley, Queensland,
Brisbane
,
Australia
Areas served
  • Australia
  • North America
  • Europe
Key people
Joe Andon (CEO)
Products
  • Recreational trampolines
  • Trampoline parks
  • Trampoline accessories
  • Swing sets
  • Basketball hoop systems
Websitewww.vulyplay.com

History

Vuly Play was founded by Joe Andon in 2007, as Trampolines Australia.[4] The company initially launched from Andon's own room, with the help of a personal loan from his parents and his personal savings.[5] Andon, a Palestinian who emigrated from Jerusalem to Australia with his parents when he was three years old and began running a marketing firm at the age of 16 before establishing Trampolines Australia.[5][6]

Vuly Trampolines founder Joe Andon standing next to the Vuly Thunder

With its products delivered locally in Queensland, the company established its headquarters in Wakerley in 2009, with Andon stating that the move was made to appear more plausible to his clients.[5] In 2010, Trampolines Australia changed its name to Vuly Trampolines, after Vulcan the Roman God of smithery and fire, to enhance its export efforts to the United States.[7] As they expanded their product range outside of trampolines, Vuly Trampolines re-branded to Vuly Play, encompassing their current and future outdoor play equipment.

Expansion throughout Australia began in 2011, which involved forming a number of wholesale partnerships, before the company launched into overseas territories the following year.[6] Vuly released the Thunder trampoline in all markets during 2013, which secured them a US distribution contract with retailer, Toys 'R' Us.[8] Competitor Springfree Trampolines filed a complaint in 2013 with the United States International Trade Commission, for alleged patent infringement upon its soft-edge trampolines.[9] The case came to a conclusion in 2015, when an administrative law judge dropped the case, with a finding of no patent violation.[10]

In the 2014 BRW/GE Capital Mid-Market Awards Vuly received the award for Best Mid-Market Innovator,[11] while in November 2015, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the company's offices and laboratories, just two months after he replaced Tony Abbott.[12] In the same year, Vuly also sealed a licensing agreement with Spin Master Ltd.[13] Through the agreement, Spin Master acquired the rights to manufacture, distribute, advertise, promote and sell Vuly products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe; the initial presentation of the products in the European market would take place in the Nuremberg International Toy Fair.[14][15][16]

Products

The company designed its first trampoline in 2008,[17] and it has since manufactured them in its factory in China.[18] Their original trampoline underwent a series of updates and was renamed the "Classic".[7] Thunder, the company's second model, is a trampoline that uses leaf springs instead of coil springs.[19] It is sold with a tent kit,[19][20] and it uses no bolts in its assembly.[3] In 2014, Thunder won a Good Design Award in the Sport and Lifestyle category at the International Good Design Awards.[21][22]

Vuly Trampolines launched Vuly2 in 2015, a redesign of the original Vuly trampoline, which incorporated Thunder's design in the net, net poles, and jump mat.[23] The Vuly Lite model was next and incorporated elements from Thunder and Vuly2.[24] In 2016, Vuly updated their current Thunder model and introduced Thunder Pro as their top of the line trampoline product, while a new trampoline Ultra, became their most accessible in 2018.[25]

Alongside trampoline products, Vuly now expands into a full range of outdoor play equipment. This includes basketball hoop systems and swing sets in the form of 360 Pro, a modular playset that can be customised with a range of different accessories. The 360 Pro Swing Set also won a Good Design Award in the Sport and Lifestyle category in 2017.[26]

Vuly sponsors a number of well-known trampolinists including Olympians Blake Gaudry, Kat Driscoll and Ji Wallace,[27] who act as ambassadors for Vuly Play's, participating in promotional events and publicised media appearances.

Vuly often donates their products to special needs communities such as AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism.[28]

References
  1. Samson, Danny; Gloet, Marianne (2015). Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Creating New Value. Oxford University Press Australia. ISBN 9780190300630.
  2. "About Us". Vuly Trampolines. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  3. Chung, Frank (March 24, 2015). "Australia's great leap forward: Why trampolines are bouncing back". News.com.au. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. "Investor seeks bounce for his buck". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  5. Walsh, Bridie (February 9, 2015). "How Vuly Trampolines' founder went from truant to CEO of a multimillion-dollar business". TheGrowthFaculty.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  6. Burke, Justin (June 15, 2013). "Joe Andon's leap of faith". The Australian. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  7. "Vuly: Bouncing great business". Sportslink. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  8. "Cashed-up Vuly heads to USA with Toys R Us deal". Sportslink. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  9. "In the Matter of Certain Soft-edged Trampolines and Components Thereof" (PDF). United States International Trade Commission. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  10. Schweibenz, Eric; Ricciuti, Chris (May 18, 2015). "ITC Decides To Affirm Final Initial Determination Of No Violation In Certain Soft-Edged Trampolines (337-TA-908)". ITC 337 Law Blog. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  11. Bailey, Michael (August 30, 2014). "Winners of BRW/GE Capital Mid-Market Awards announced". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  12. "PM visits Vuly Trampolines HQ". Toy & Hobby Retailer. November 13, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  13. "Trampoline manufacturer has a spring in his step". Courier Mail. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  14. Burke, Jade (January 11, 2016). "Spin Master snaps up rights to Vuly Trampolines". Toy News. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  15. "Spin Master secures licensing rights for Vuly Trampolines". ToyWorldMag.co.uk. January 11, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  16. "Spin Master jumps on Vuly Trampolines rights". ToysnPlaythings.co.uk. January 11, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  17. Vonow, Brittany (November 13, 2011). "He's full of bounce and tackling the US market". The Courier-Mail.
  18. Bailey, Michael (September 15, 2014). "$100,000 for an 'ABN': Vuly Trampolines shares what it takes to make Chinese manufacturing work". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  19. "Alex James: keeping kids happy in summer? It's easy". James, Alex. The Daily Telegraph. July 7, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  20. Vogel, Charity (July 12, 2014). "7 Ways to Backyard Fun: Try these outdoor toys, games and ideas for a summer with a different spin". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  21. Langsworthy, Billy (June 16, 2014). "Award-winning Thunder Trampoline heads to the US". Toy News. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  22. "Vuly Thunder Trampoline Review". trampolinewa.info. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  23. "Vuly2 Good Design Awards". Good Design Australia. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  24. "Vuly Lite - Visit a Bunnings store to purchase the Vuly Lite". Vuly Trampolines. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  25. "Trampolines | Free Trampoline Delivery + Shade Cover | Vuly Play". Vuly Play Australia. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  26. "360 Swing Set". Good Design. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  27. "Vuly's Olympic Athletes tour Australia". Toy & Hobby Retailer. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  28. www.nbm.com.au, New Business Media-. "Thank you Vuly much! | autism early intervention | AEIOU Foundation". AEIOU Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
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