KANGARU…A BRIEF HISTORY
by Dr Ocker Yobbo & Prof. D.L. Schuman November 2019
Kangaru Lou Di Palma seated center circa 1916
Kangaru Toys & Stationery was established in 1916 in the tiny Australian smuggler’s outpost - Dingo’s Rook, by the ace WWI pilot “Kangaru” Lou Di Palma, an adventurer, gambler and jack of all trades.
Kangaru Lou with his first novelty toy line. circa 1918
Kangaru Lou, who originally called his business The Adelaide Toy & Trading Company, quickly established himself as an exporter of exotic treasures, trinkets, and curiosities. He became famous for selling shrunken heads in sizes large and XXL, as well as the famous “pinless” Voodoo doll, among other strange and sublime merchandise.
Pockets the Hobo Doll by Kangaru. circa 1933
Disco Rubber Ducky, 1977
The business expanded, opening a shack in New Zealand, a shanty in Malaysia, and a shed in Hong Kong. As the times changed, so did Kangaru’s products: “Pockets the Hobo Doll” in 1933, the first sock specifically designed for hopping in 1955, and a disco themed line of rubber ducks in 1977.
Parachute Pants for Pets Launched circa 1984
In the eighties, the company created a craze in the USA with its Parachute Pants for Pets, and of course who could forget the Anti-Grunge soap products of the nineties? In 1996 the company changed its name to "Kangaru Brands" in honor of its famous founder.
In advance of its Centennial anniversary in 2016 The Kangaru Toys and Stationery Company announced a “New Innovation Outpost” in North America led by Kangaru Louie’s great grandson…Kangaru Joe.
The Kangaru main outpost is now headquartered in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. Boasting the most talented team of toy marketers, illustrators, product development specialists and package designers this side of Sydney.
Kangaru L.L.C. Is one of the fastest growing toy and stationery companies in the world. Kangaru designs, develops, manufactures and markets creative, branded products for kids in over 150 countries around the globe.
Kangaru’s product categories includes; Toys, Stationery, Scented, Markers, Gel Pens, Colored Pencils, Stickers, Coloring Books, Activity Sets, Creative Coloring Kits, Novelties, Party, Arts & Crafts, Games & Activities, Art Supplies, Art Materials, Artist Kits by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, Scented Slime & Scented Kid Dough Compounds, STEM Builder Sets, Back to School product, Valentines Day exchange Gifts, Easter basket Gifts, Christmas Stocking Stuffers, Halloween Party Favors, Holiday Seasonal product and more!
Kangaru partners with many famous licensed brands including; Care Bears®, Hershey’s®, Kisses®, Twizzlers®, Jolly Ranchers®, Reese’s®, Peeps®, Mike and Ike®, Hot Tamales®, Kellogg’s® Frosted Flakes®, Froot Loops®, Pop Tarts®,
Coco Pops®, Zucaritas®, War Heads®, Air Heads®, Mentos®, Chupa Chups®, Slush Puppies®, ICEE®, The NFLPA, Furomas®,
The National Gallery and more!
Kangaru’s own brands include; Scentimals®, Scenticorns®, STREX™, Scenterrific™, Scentems®, Furzerts®, Cuddle Cups™, Bubble Bellies™, Shmellos®, Twixie®, Twinx™ King Chalk®, Moppits™, Flipzers™, Franken Foodz®, Mechanix®, Zando®, Lava Foam® & More!
Kangaru’s Marketing Gals, Corporate Campus located at Dingo’s Rook, Mamungari Australia
Visit our Dingo’s Rook Corporate Campus and Headquarters in Mamungari, Australia, our Creative and Marking Office in Pennsylvania, Our Showroom in Hong Kong or our Ningbo Offices in China, year ‘round to see all the cool stuff we make.
Written by Dr. Ocker Yobbo & Prof. D.L. Schuman,
Ocker Yobbo is seasoned war correspondent and industry news journalist covering the toy industry. Prof. D.L. Schuman, is a St. Louis novelist living in Adelaide and has written many fictional true stories.
