Zibra’s first breakout product was not a paintbrush. It was a universal package opener that sold 110,000 units in five weeks after Mike Sherman and a small group of former colleagues spent six months working nights and weekends on a company that still had no product. In Part 2 of Behind the Brushes, Mike and his daughter Brie trace Zibra from a virtual business model and an idea bank to television appearances, Home Depot shelves, and the Square, Round, and Triangle brushes that still anchor the collection today. Mike explains why he entered a paintbrush category his industry friends warned him to avoid, how Zibra proved its value to major retailers without relying on old relationships, and why creative painters became such an important part of the company’s growth. He also shares what it has taken to pass leadership to his daughters, survive the higher highs and lower lows of owning a business, and accept that an interview on Brush & Banter occasionally feels like an appointment with a shrink.
Mike Sherman founded Zibra in 2004 after selling a power-tool accessory business and deciding his next company needed to be faster, leaner, and more adaptable. His approach to product development, retail strategy, and paint application helped move Zibra from a universal package opener to an innovative paintbrush brand carried by major retailers.
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Shop the full collection at enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off!
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In this episode, we discuss:
- How Mike assembled a team with complementary skills and spent six months testing ideas during nights and weekends before asking anyone to leave their job
- Why an offhand complaint about impossible-to-open Christmas packaging became a product that sold 110,000 units in five weeks
- How an idea bank helped the founding team filter scattered concepts into products that could support a standalone business
- Why Mike pursued paint applicators after industry colleagues told him the category was too competitive to enter
- How the Square, Round, and Triangle brushes helped Zibra earn its first Home Depot launch in 2007
- Why Zibra has an “i” – and what Brie and Zia have to do with the company name
- Why proving customer demand and better paint application mattered more than Mike’s previous retail relationships
- How Mike is passing leadership to Brie and Zia while staying close enough to help when the proverbial crap hits the fan
The 1" angled brush is finally here! Designed in collaboration with Marilena Madio of WallWear, this brush is the versatile tool artists have been waiting for. Grab yours today at https://www.enjoyzibra.com/products/set-of-3-1-angled-brushes.
Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.
Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio.
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