Wyatt Fowler is hoping to change that image.
Fowler and his business partner, Ashley Gahagan, are the founders of GAMMN, a portable backgammon set made to be played on a boat, the beach, or anywhere else you can carry it. Their mission is to inject a youthful, mobile energy into this classic game, all while delivering their product in a simple, yet aesthetically pleasing, package.
1. For those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Wyatt Fowler, and I am 36 years old. Vermont is home but I’ve moved around a good bit and have always loved getting to know new places and people along the way. A few of my favorite things to do are working on old cars (specifically Volkswagens), working on my farmhouse, and if time allows, surfing and skiing. And, of course, a bit of backgammon. I’ve always been interested in how things work, and equally, why something stopped working, which has led me to a variety of different career paths, and far too many hobbies. From tech to farming, or just living in a van down by the beach, my adult life has been pretty dang fun. My wife and I love to host friends and family, and we end up on-the-go a good amount.
2. Let’s start from the beginning: how did Gammn come into being?
One of my biggest passions is surfing, and at the time, I was living in San Francisco. I had a camper van, so surfing up and down the coast on weekends was the routine. Backgammon, a game I learned as a kid, became our crews go-to when we were waiting for the tide or wind to change, or just kicking it around the campfire. The issue was that space in a campervan is tight, and most boards were bulky or poorly made. Not fit for our adventures. Looking further into what boards were available, the biggest thing I noticed was how snootily backgammon sets were marketed. A board for “real players” with deep pockets was the vibe. So we set out to make a board that could travel, didn’t hurt travel budget, and encouraged new people to learn the game. Several months of design work later and a successful kickstarter, we had a pretty fun little business taking shape.
3. With all the existing games and products out there, why try to reinvent backgammon?
Backgammon has always been a super fun game to play with friends and family, especially for me growing up. What’s great is you can teach someone to play in five minutes, yet it takes a lifetime to master. Games are quick so it’s not a huge commitment and the level of chance and skill makes it highly competitive for a wide range of players. It’s known as one of the oldest board games in the world, so there’s a reason it remained so popular.
4. What is unique about how these boards are made?
Our boards are made via injection molding, making them light and durable with minimal wasted space. We still have a cork rolling surface, which not only looks great, but creates a great surface for rolling dice and moving checkers. We also have a shoulder strap and set up dots which are amazing for those learning the game, as setting up the board is nearly the only thing you need to remember.
5. Do you have any memorable customer anecdotes or feedback that stood out to your team?
We’ve had tons of positive feedback from customers’ travels, whether it’s a honeymoon or various camping adventures. It’s awesome to see our boards all over the world. That said, some of the most memorable feedback has been from kids rekindling their parents’ love of the game or even just hearing that backgammon has become a staple in their family. With all of life and technological distractions, spending some time just playing a simple game and chatting is sometimes the break people need to realize how good they’ve got it.
6. Do you have plans to create more custom boards for colleges, country clubs, etc?
Totally, we’re finally figuring out our manufacturing, which has been challenging for a small business. We’ve done boards for weddings, clubs, events, restaurants, hotels, teams, and hope to continue to expand for more custom options as we grow.
7. Where can people find these boards? Primarily online or do you sell in brick-and-mortar stores?
While we primarily sell online, we are in about twenty-five brick and mortar stores around the US, and even one in the UK. We love supporting other small businesses and spotlighting what they have to offer. We’ve realized that if a store is willing to carry a backgammon board, they are typically pretty cool, so that’s been super fun.
8. Ok, enough serious stuff. If you could bring three things to a deserted island (including GAMMN, of course) what would you bring?
Well you do need two people to play the game, so of course my wife would be on the top of the list. Issue is she’d insist on bringing our dogs so we’d quickly starve and Gammn would get a nice feature when the rescue crew finds what’s left of us.
9. Pick one: Surfing or Skiing?
Tough question but surfing is the source.
10. I know you restore vintage cars in your free time, what has been your favorite project so far?
I had an old ‘76 Land Rover I drove from Costa Rica to California after quitting my job down there. Living out of that car for four months and surfing was really special. If the current owners are out there and reading this, please let me know if Ol’ Bessie is alive and well.
11. What are you the most excited about with GAMMN moving forward?
I’m most excited to keep working with fun people, it’s a game after all, so keeping things light and focused on the experience is always our goal. Huge thanks to all the supporters out there, and if you don’t have a board, or don’t even know what backgammon is, check us out and we’ll get you rolling!
