UnboxBoardom: Interview with Founder Phil Jacobs

UnboxBoardom is a company that enables subscribers to try out new games every month by delivering one of your choosing directly to your door! Each month, subscribers are presented with three choices of games which come with ratings that indicate complexity, family-friendliness, and ease of play for each game. Moreover, the description of each game features an “insider scoop” from the UnboxBoardom’s team of game gurus. The titles on offer are often new releases in the board game industry; a yearly subscription costs $29.99 per box.

Phil Jacobs, the founder of UnboxBoardom, credits his wife with giving him the idea for this company which he recently discussed via an exclusive interview.

Meagan Meehan (MM): How did you get interested in board games and card games and which are your all-time favorites?

Phil: I enjoyed playing board games from a very young age. My mom never wanted me sitting around playing video games, so I gravitated towards sports and board games. I really got into board games even more in my early twenties. I lived with my cousin and he was always learning about new games from his friends and then teaching them to me. I loved discovering new games, themes, and the strategies that they offered to bring out my competitive spirit. Some of my all-time favorite games are Everdell, Baseball Highlights: 2045, and Wingspan.

MM: You credit your wife with giving you the idea for UnboxBoardom, but did you ever expect the company to become as successful as it is?

Phil: I didn’t really know what to expect. I was actually more surprised that something like it didn’t exist already because I thought it was a great idea and something I would have bought! I started doing it because I was looking for a creative outlet to put my energy into and also loved the feeling of introducing people to new games. I love hearing how much they enjoyed it and thinking about the memories that they make playing the games.

MM: How daunting was it to start your own company and keep it afloat, even during a pandemic?

Phil: It was pretty daunting at first because I didn’t even know where to start. Luckily, I had a couple of friends that had started their own businesses and they guided me on where to start and what books to read to learn more. When the pandemic came around, I was nervous as I thought people would really cut back on spending, and while I might view board games as a “need,” others may consider it just a want and spending would drop as budgets tightened. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the opposite happened, and people were spending so much time at home they needed something else to do besides just binge TV shows!

MM: How did you get game companies on board to work with you?

Phil: I just started by pulling off my favorite games from the shelf and looking at who the publishers were and searching for contact information for them and emailing them. I’ve done a lot of research into who sells what, where and been able to join in the fun.

MM: Out of all the games that you offer, which are the most unique or unusual?

Phil: I try to offer new games that people may not have heard about and never thought that a board game could be more than just roll the dice and move on a board. I really like the “escape rooms in a box, “one-time games where you have to solve the mysteries. You may have to cut pieces, look at the things upside down, or do other fun things you would not think of when you say: “board game”.

MM: What feedback about your game service has been the most memorable?

Phil: My favorite is when people say they discovered a game they never heard of or never thought they would like and it’s their new favorite. I love to hear about friends and families coming together and sharing laughs and memories over a game. It has become increasingly rare these days with all the technology available to us now to spend quality time with one another, which I think is now more important than ever.

MM: To date, what has been the highlight of your career in the toy industry?

Phil: Really, the biggest highlight for me was the first time I had a box delivered. My lovely wife was my first customer, and when the game arrived it was really a cool achievement for me to see my idea of the business actually come to life and I could see the end product. Also, just having people over the years reach out to interview and ask me about my experiences and people seeing the business as a success when I feel like I’m still learning and growing!

MM: How do you hope UnboxBoardom continues to evolve from here?

Phil: I’d just love to continue to grow the customer base and help people discover their next favorite game!

MM: What are your ultimate goals for the future and is there anything else that you would like to mention?

Phil: My ultimate goals would be to expand internationally and continue to spread my love of board gaming to more people! Also, potentially make a board game subscription box specifically for kids or puzzle lovers if there was enough interest in it!

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To learn more, visit the official website and/or follow @unboxboardom on FB/Twitter/IG.