THE IDEA

I have been working in the high level restaurants for over 30 years, travel a lot and walk around the world with open eyes. I traveled to Peking with a befriended couple from Stuttgart in the autumn of 2005, and had my first encounter with rubber ducks. In a shop we discovered a rubber duck, which on contact with water started to glow and change color.

I was totally fascinated by the duck, but missed the opportunity to buy one. Two months later, on my 40th birthday, I received the very duck from Beatrix and Udo as a present – and a passion was born. Today, five years on, my collection of rubber ducks consists of 55 different models from all over the world.

In January 2010 I was invited to the wedding of the couple, and decorated the present with a rubber duck couple. It was on that day, sitting in the bath tub, that I started contemplating whether anyone had designed their own rubber duck.

A short while later I told a young lady, whom I cherish and some friends about my plans. Their response was enormous, and it gave me the strength to push this project forward.

Much of the creation of the Mozart Duck and the company Austroducks went hand in hand. Thanks to all my great friends, who stood by me even in difficult situations.