Wake up babe, new tariff update just dropped! :D
The U.S. released a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, and if you manufacture games in China, congratulations: your profit margin now lives in a shallow grave behind the shipping container yard. You know the one: people bury their hopes, dreams, and pets there.
Cephalofair Games (the company behind Gloomhaven, for those of you who aren't NERDS) are about to eat $4.14 million in import fees just to get 60,000 units across the Pacific. That’s up from $1.2 million. You read that right. A $2.9 million jump because apparently shipping board games now costs the same as launching a small satellite.
The company "Greater Than Games" already got steamrolled. They had to pause operations and lay off staff. Not because their games don’t sell, but because the cost of bringing them into the country now comes with a side of economic annihilation.
And if you think this is just a big-player problem, think again! If you’re a small or mid-sized publisher, these tariffs could be your business's final boss. And no, you don’t have cheat codes (the only cheat codes in life are being born pretty, or being raise by a loving / wealthy family, or living in a modern 1st world country). You just have to eat the cost or find a way around it.
So here's exactly how you find a way around it.
The U.S. Manufacturing Mirage: A Desert of Broken Dreams
"Look at this place. Fifty thousand people used to [manufacture board games] in this city. Now it's a ghost town... I've never seen anything like it..”
You might think, “Let’s just make boardgames in America instead!” Sure. And while you're at it, why not also build your own private monorail system and genetically engineer meeples that can talk?
The sad truth is the U.S. doesn’t really “do” large-scale board game manufacturing. Not that it can’t, it’s just that the country collectively forgot how right after the 1950s and replaced it all with tech startups and failed podcast networks.
Even if you could scrounge up a domestic facility that knows a punchboard from a hole in the ground, the cost would still hurt your budget. Think of it like trying to make artisanal cheese at home, only to discover you need a cow, a barn, and a 4-year supply of patience.
Japan: The Unexpected Hero of Your Board Game Saga
Ever seen the last Samurai? Not switching your manufacturing to Japan is like doing that cavalry charge at the end of the movie, but with less "honor" and no Ken Watanabe.
Here's where Japan comes in. You've heard of this country: it's the nation famous for anime, efficiency, and destruction via Godzilla. Turns out, Japan isn't just good at exporting adorable mascots and delicious snacks (*wink, wink*) --Japan also knows a thing or two about making board games.
Board games are HUGE in Japan.
With Japan’s established manufacturing and shipping infrastructure, and also its reputation for “doing things right the first time,” it’s suddenly the unlikely champion in the great Board Game Production Smackdown. It’s like discovering the quiet kid in class is actually a ninja who also aces calculus (and not a potential school shooter, like everyone assumed). As an added benefit, Japan is a pretty closely allied with the United States, and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Mix-Mix Mail: Your Fulfillment Fairy
We're too humble to call ourselves a "miracle" or "the best thing since sliced bread", but if you insist...!
Alright, so now your beautiful, not-egregiously-tariffed games are made in Japan. Great! But how do they get from Tokyo to your customers without teleportation having been invented yet (or should we say... while teleportation technology is still hoarded in Area 51. Thanks for nothing, deep state!)
That's where we come in. We're Mix-Mix Mail, your logistics partner and friendly fulfillment service. We’ve got warehouses in Tokyo and Los Angeles, and we specialize in getting your stuff from point A to B without it somehow ending up at point C or detained at point D.
We store, pack, and ship your products with the kind of obsessive attention to detail usually reserved for bomb diffusers and cat groomers. You just focus on game design and let us handle the rest. Think of us as your loyal sidekick, but without the tragic backstory or questionable tights.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Tariffs Roll a Critical Fail on Your Business
Maybe the game is broken. Or maybe it's time to flip the table..
The board game world is under siege (or it is if you and your customers are in the USA). But there’s a shining light at the end of the tumultuous tunnel! By shifting your production to Japan and letting Mix-Mix Mail handle your fulfillment, you can dodge the worst of the tariff chaos and keep your game -and your business- alive.
It’s not just a backup plan. It’s the secret level you didn’t know you had access to.
Need help making the move? That's what we're here for. Just contact us!
