I don’t write about these topics. Typically, I try to avoid political thinking in the digital space. I may share my thoughts in person, but I find the internet to be the last place to talk about politics.
That being said, I love writing about boardgames, and this whole tarrif thing is starting to mess with the things I love, and the U.S. citizens that make and rely on them. So, let’s get into this.
I was so nervous to tell my now-wife that I loved her that I decided to stress-shop with her. I took her to Target, I bought Wingspan, and I told her I loved her.
Wingspan is engrained in my boardgame and personal history.
That’s why I’m sharing you all this article:
Stonemaier games is not a small name in the world of boardgames. They’re significantly impactful in the community and make some beautifully designed and produced games.
They currently only have 8 employees, each of whom is a U.S. citizen. However, due to the tariffs, this small business may need to pay $1.5 million in tariff payments. How can a small business be expected to pay that while also providing decent jobs to their employees?
In the article above, Jamey Stegmaier lays out the numbers and their response and it looks grim. With incoming tariffs, they’ll need to spend $14.50 for every $10 they spend on production. At this point, their products will no longer be shipping to the US.
Not only does this hurt boardgame enthusiasts, but it hurts U.S. game stores and the people that work there.
The affects that tariffs have had on the US board game industry is shocking to me. My little corner of cozy interest is being shaken up like crazy. Greater Than Games, a company with multiple top-100 ranking games has lost most of it’s staff. I don’t know all the details, but from Tweets it seems like all but 1-2 people are still hired there.
I care about the people that make the things I love, and it’s sad to see them scared for their financial safety.
