Jazwares Acquires Australian Toy Distributor, Big Balloon

Jazwares, a global toy company, has announced it has expanded with the acquisition of Big Balloon, an Australian full-service toy distributor.

“Jazwares has worked with Big Balloon for eight years now,” says Arthur Ferreira, senior vice president, international sales and marketing, Jazwares. “We will build on that foundation to further strengthen local relationships with established global licensing partners, providing a closer connection to the end consumer. And we will continue to work closely with our third-party distribution partners around the world to deliver results consistently.”

Big Balloon has been a key player in the Australian toy industry for over 12 years, championing big and small brands to retail success via an extensive network of partnerships with major and independent players. 

“The company’s leadership, combined with the cultural alignment and our mutual passion for brands, made this the natural evolution for both our businesses,” says Chris Loverso, co-founder, Big Balloon. “As team members, not just partners, we will be able to add our extensive experience and expertise in the Australian marketplace to add value and continue to grow the market-leading Jazwares brands and the long-serving partners we proudly represent in Australia.”

Through this acquisition, Loverso will serve as managing director, Jazwares Australia.

“The Australian toy market is a $1.7 billion industry,” says Judd Zebersky, founder, chief executive officer, Jazwares. “The acquisition of Big Balloon is an investment in our future global growth with a solid partner in the Australian market. Chris Loverso is an excellent manager, and we are fortunate to have him and his entire team become a part of the Jazwares family. Jazwares Australia will have a major impact on the toy industry in the long term, with the team’s laser focus on Jazwares’ brands and business, adding value to all retail partners and consumers.”