How storybook start-up, Hooray Heroes, grew worldwide sales with Google

Slovenia-based Hooray Heroes was founded by two friends, Rado Daradan and Mic Melansek. Becoming uncles at the same time gave them an idea: why not turn their love for telling stories into a personalised book business, where the customer’s child is the hero of the tale? Their first book launched around Father’s Day, and featured families with a range of different dynamics and origins. It received amazing feedback, and the duo knew they were onto a winner.

Then the pandemic hit, and everything slowed down. Undeterred, Rado and Mic used Market Finder and Google Trends to research new global opportunities, and quickly identified Spain as a possible growth area. To test the water, they started by promoting their free color books there — and were overjoyed when orders went from 50 a day to several million a week. Since then, the team have continued using Google’s digital tools to help them find more markets to expand into, and the next chapter in their amazing business is underway.

For more information on growing your business abroad, take a look at Google’s free Market Finder tool. You’ll find actionable insights to help identify the right overseas markets for you, plus videos, guides and articles on how to successfully reach new customers.