Wood Expressions, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1977 with a belief that quality games have an enduring place in people’s lives. For 50 years, the company has built its business around games that bring families, friends, students, and communities together through shared experiences, learning, competition, and play.
From its earliest years, Wood Expressions focused on classic and traditional games with lasting appeal. Chess, backgammon, cribbage, dominoes, and other time-honored games became an important part of the company’s identity. Many of these games have been played for hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years, carrying traditions of strategy, mathematics, problem solving, history, culture, and social interaction from one generation to the next.
That appreciation for the educational, historical, and social value of games remains central to Wood Expressions today. Games can teach patience, planning, critical thinking, sportsmanship, and decision-making, but just as importantly, they provide a reason for people to sit across from one another, interact, and connect. In an increasingly digital world, Wood Expressions continues to believe strongly in the value of meaningful, screen-free play.
Built by People
Throughout its history, one of Wood Expressions’ greatest strengths has been its people. The company believes that knowledgeable, committed employees and a strong team culture are essential to serving customers well and building a sustainable business.
Wood Expressions has long emphasized employee development, open communication, teamwork, trust, respect, and personal accountability. The experience and dedication of its team have allowed the company to adapt to changing markets, develop new products and capabilities, solve problems for customers, and build relationships that have lasted for many years.
The company’s equipment, technology, brands, and distribution systems are important assets, but it is the people behind them who make those capabilities work.
A Commitment to Service and Quality
Customer service has been equally important to the company’s success. From independent specialty retailers to major accounts, distributors, corporate customers, and individual consumers, Wood Expressions has built its reputation by listening to customers, responding to their needs, and working to deliver dependable solutions.
That commitment is closely tied to product quality. Wood Expressions has always believed that products should offer quality, value, thoughtful design, and price integrity consistent with the company’s brands and reputation. The goal is not simply to sell a game, but to provide a product and experience that customers are proud to purchase, give, sell, and enjoy.
These principles, great people, strong service, and quality products, have remained constant even as the company itself has changed significantly.
Growing the Wood Expressions Family of Brands
Over the years, Wood Expressions expanded its portfolio to serve different areas of the game market. WE Games® became the company’s primary brand for classic and traditional games. TDC Games® and TDC Puzzles® brought innovative games, puzzles, and distinctive humor to the portfolio. American Chess Equipment® strengthened the company’s commitment to scholastic, club, and tournament chess, while the Bobby Fischer® brand further expanded its connection to the history and culture of chess.
Together with other established game properties, these brands allow Wood Expressions to serve families, collectors, schools, chess organizations, retailers, distributors, and businesses across a broad range of interests and price points.
Expanding into Customization
Another important chapter in Wood Expressions’ development came through its expansion into the customized poker chip business and customized products. That experience introduced the company to a broader market for personalization, branded merchandise, and corporate programs and helped establish the foundation for what would become a significant area of expertise.
Over time, Wood Expressions invested in equipment, technology, and employee expertise to bring many customization capabilities in-house.
Today, those capabilities include laser engraving, UV full-color printing, silk screening, foil stamping, embroidery, custom packaging, and other decorating methods. The company can support everything from individually personalized gifts to corporate programs, promotional products, private-label projects, and larger-volume production.
Keeping these capabilities in-house provides greater control over quality, service, flexibility, and turnaround time.
50 Years of Growth
Wood Expressions has grown from a traditional wholesale game distributor into a multi-brand, multi-channel company with extensive experience in product development, global sourcing, importing, customization, distribution, fulfillment, and e-commerce.
Today, the company serves more than 4,000 retailers worldwide, including specialty stores, national accounts, online marketplaces, distributors, schools, museums, and other organizations. Its experience spans retail, wholesale, e-commerce, corporate gifting, promotional products, and custom-branded programs.
While the business has evolved considerably since 1977, the principles behind it have remained remarkably consistent: take care of customers, develop and support good people, provide quality products, operate with integrity, and continue finding better ways to serve.
Fifty years after its founding, Wood Expressions continues to create, develop, customize, and distribute products designed to have lasting value. Whether a game is played around a family table, used in a classroom, competed over at a chess tournament, given as a corporate gift, or passed from one generation to another, the purpose remains the same:
Connecting people through play.
People. Games. Fun. Bringing them together since 1977.
