Inside WS Game Company's Struggle to Manufacture Monopoly in the USA
WS Game Company attempted to produce the first 100% US-made Monopoly amid high tariffs, facing soaring costs, manufacturing hurdles, and severe supply chain challenges.
Jonathan Silva and his team at WS Game Company faced a major challenge last year: manufacturing a unique version of Monopoly that is 100% made in the USA.
The company embarked on its first US-made game after President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imports from China. The goal was to complete production by February, ahead of the US semiquincentennial.
"It was a giant headache. I hope I don't have to go through it again," said Silva, who at one point considered canceling the entire project. "It was by no means profitable for our company."
Overcoming US Manufacturing Hurdles
Silva and his team discovered that domestic production options were extremely limited and costs could be prohibitive. A comparable game produced in China would have been of higher quality, cheaper, and brought to market faster. Nevertheless, the company pushed forward, though it ultimately fell short of full American production.
WS Game sells about one million luxury games a year. Based in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, the firm employs 25 people. Dana Silva, Jonathan's father, and Michael Doyle founded the company in 2000 to design and develop games for Hasbro.
When Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145% last year, Jonathan Silva temporarily halted production in the country. In August, he rushed to import $5 million worth of inventory during a temporary tariff reduction to 30%, but many customers had already canceled orders. The company finished the year with a 35% drop in sales.
"It was a giant headache. I hope I don't have to go through it again," said Silva, noting that the project was not profitable.
Collaborating with Domestic Suppliers
To manufacture the Americana edition, WS Game partnered with Cartamundi Group, which operates a massive plant in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Cartamundi produced the board and assembled the components, while external suppliers handled specialized parts.
A plastic game tray manufactured by Pioneer Packaging nearly derailed the project. The flocked tray, which features compartments for money and tokens, proved exceptionally difficult to produce in the United States. Pioneer invested heavily in new equipment, temperature controls, and custom tooling to solve the manufacturing defects.
Despite the hurdles, WS Game sold out its initial 2,500 units of the Americana edition, priced at $80. While the experiment proved financially grueling, it offered a stark look at the complexities of reshoring manufacturing to the United States.
