An Aussie mum has redirected customers to a “dupe” of her own failed travel business while owing thousands to creditors and facing liquidation.
Australian travel accessories business Kooshy Kids was ordered into liquidation in the Supreme Court last week after Ireland-based lenders Wayflyer Finance successfully applied to wind up the company.
The Gold Coast-based company gained a loyal following for its inflatable in-flight sleep devices and travel activity sets marketed for children and families.
Gold Coast mother and founder Louisa “Lou” Lee Williams was the sole director and shareholder of Kooshy Kids, which began trading in 2017.
A statement on the Kooshy Kids website claims the business was “taking a break” and “paused … indefinitely”; however, it directed potential customers to Travel X Store.
ASIC records show a business of the same name was registered in February 2026 under a Jyeden Williams, although the ABN was cancelled on May 6 this year.
The Travel X Store website appears to sell similar inflatable in-flight travel accessories.
On its website, Ms Williams credits herself as the Travel X Store founder, claiming she created the business in 2024 as a “dupe” alternative to Kooshy Kids.
“I kept seeing and hearing about cheap knock-offs everywhere and what a disaster they have been for families that have attempted to use them,” the website about page reads.
“Instead of hearing about families feel like they had no choice but to gamble on random alternatives … I built the safe alternative myself.
“I basically duped my own brand (Kooshy Kids).”
The Courier Mail reported, based off statistics from credit reporting agency CreditorWatch, Kooshy Kids defaulted on two payments of about $4500 to DHL Express courier service and about $15,000 to Slumbertrek Australia – a manufacturer specialising in outdoor lifestyle products.
Court records show Slumbertrek Australia appeared at the Supreme Court matter on May 14 but played no role in the proceedings.
Ms Williams shared a joint video post to her personal Instagram page and Kooshy Kids page on May 6, telling followers she would be closing down the business.
“After nine years I have decided to take a step back from Kooshy Kids,” she said in an emotional statement.
“Whether this is permanent I don’t know.”
Ms Williams took ultimate ownership over the business’s downfall.
“Lots of things contributed to it, I could go on … but I am going to take accountability,” she said.
“I am the one who made the choice to invest in stock, and hire extra staff, and the wages and make the biggest financial commitment of my life in the airport store.”
Ms Williams opened their Kooshy Kids retail store at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport in October last year.
She also claimed impacts of the Iran War and rising airfare prices affected sales at the business but claimed her main reason for stepping away was to spend time with family and focus on her mental health.
“There’s the war at the moment. Travel is low, airlines’ pricing is ridiculous, so I dare say a lot of people won’t be travelling as planned.”
“But the biggest reason is my kids.
“I feel like I sacrificed a lot of my time, that I should have probably been spending with them, on running the business … and they deserve more.
“I’m doing this for the kids and for me.”
Ms Williams assured customers with a registered lifetime warranty that it would be “honoured”.
Despite the business closure, both the Kooshy Kids Instagram and Facebook pages continued to post new content as of Wednesday morning.
Appointed liquidator Rodgers Reidy director Nick Lancaster said investigations into the company’s affairs were ongoing.
“Any creditors of the company are encouraged to contact my office to register their debt in the liquidation,” he told the Courier Mail.
