Yogibo
 | |
 A Yogibo retail location in Midosuji, Japan | |
| Company type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home furnishings and lifestyle |
| Founded | 2009 in Nashua, New Hampshire United States |
| Founder | Eyal Levy |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 130 storefronts (2022) |
Area served | Global |
| Website | yogibo |
Yogibo operates as a lifestyle furniture brand, focusing primarily on bean bag chairs and related products. Their inventory also includes dog beds and the Jogoball, an audio-based gaming device.
By March 2023, Yogibo transitioned from generating retail sales exceeding US$60 million and maintaining over 130 physical stores worldwide to functioning exclusively as an online retailer.[1]
History
The inception of Yogibo dates back to the early 2000s, initiated by Eyal Levy when his wife sought comfort solutions during her pregnancy. The business officially launched in 2009 in Nashua, New Hampshire, and its inaugural store opened in Natick, Massachusetts in 2010. While headquartered in the United States, Yogibo expanded its retail presence into Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and additional countries through distribution partnerships.[2][3][4][5] The company’s production operations are based in Nashua, New Hampshire.[6]
Yogibo distinguished itself as the first sensory-inclusive retail chain certified through a partnership with KultureCity, an organization that provides certification and training services. Together, they have developed sensory-friendly rooms within arenas for major sports leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB across the United States.[7]
In 2016, Yogibo earned recognition from the Guinness world record for creating the largest bean bag chair globally.[8] That same year marked the establishment of its Korean subsidiary, Yogibo Korea, Inc., co-founded by David Park—a longtime associate of Levy. The brand name "Yogibo" is phonetically identical to "여기보" in Korean, which translates to 'Look Here.' Levy commented at the time: "We believe this will be an excellent match."[9]
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In partnership with Lucasfilm and Disney, Yogibo unveiled a themed furniture line inspired by Star Wars in 2019.[10][11] November 2020 saw the launch of Jogoball—a screen-free interactive ball game utilizing six-axis motion sensing technology coupled with advanced smart audio features integrated with a mobile app.[12][13]
On December 30, 2021, ownership of Yogibo LLC transferred to its Japanese distributor Webshark.[14] Subsequently, on August 1, 2022, Webshark rebranded itself as Yogibo Inc.[15]
Reception
The feedback regarding the company's bean bag chairs has largely been favorable. The Gadgeteer highlights the Yogi Max bean bag from Yogibo as highly adaptable, enabling users to "shape the bean bag into various forms depending on their preferred relaxation style." According to The Parent Spot, Yogibo fills their bean bags with foam pellets rather than shredded foam pieces, resulting in enhanced comfort as the pellets conform to the user's body.
Yogibo has also earned recognition for its sensory-friendly design, with Autism Parenting magazine describing their bean bag chairs as essential for children on the autism spectrum.
Their larger-sized products convert easily into beds and sofas. Additionally, these items are favored by homemakers due to their lightweight nature and portability.
Dispute
In November 2019, Yogibo issued a cease-and-desist letter to John Fiorentino’s Kickstarter campaign for the Moon Pod product, alleging infringement on Yogibo’s patented bean bag design. Fiorentino clarified that he never claimed to have invented the design and mentioned that his company was pursuing a patent.
Scandals
On January 3, 2022, a lawsuit was initiated by a former employee and whistleblower in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint accused Yogibo, under CEO Eyal Levy and COO Brett Heppler, of evading customs duties between February 2016 and December 2022 by withholding invoices from their customs broker.
Consequently, Yogibo is obligated to pay $217,832.41 plus interest at an annual rate of 5.25%, accruing from May 2023.
Withdrawal from Super GT Racing
Yogibo Inc’s Japan branch, previously known as Webshark, was involved in Super GT racing. As of February 2024, the company has ceased participation, attributing this decision to a "change in corporate strategy."
References
- ↑ "Yogibo Website".
- ↑ Genovese, Daniella (13 July 2020). "What is Yogibo?". FOX Business.
- ↑ Buchanan, Leigh (22 March 2019). "Yogibo Founder Says Moon Pod's $1.3 Million Kickstarter Project Ripped Off Its Idea". Inc.com.
- ↑ Staff (November 29, 2016). "Retailer Yogibo Celebrates Its Arrival in South Korea". PR Web.
- ↑ Stories, Local (June 5, 2017). "Meet Eyal Levy of Yogibo". Boston Voyager.
- ↑ Staff (August 26, 2012). "Yogibo, a startup that sells beanbag furniture, takes the hands-on route". Nashua Telegraph.
- ↑ Wilson, Marianne (December 13, 2019). "Modular furniture retailer Yogibo makes history". Chain Store Age.
- ↑ Records, Guinness World (15 November 2016). Guinness World Records 2017. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-910561-66-9.
- ↑ "Yogibo bean bags to launch in Korea". Inside Retail. 11 December 2016.
- ↑ Houghton, Kimberly (November 1, 2019). "New Star Wars collection released by Nashua's Yogibo". Union Leader.
- ↑ Damewood, Cassie (November 15, 2019). "Yogibo's New Star Wars-Inspired Furniture Collection Puts Comfort First". Yahoo! News.
- ↑ Solorzano, Sergio (11 November 2020). "Yogibo, Yes The Bean Bag Company, Has A Gaming Console". TheGamer.
- ↑ "Yogibo Introduces a New Spin on Family Game Night". Press Release. November 6, 2020.
- ↑ 米国「Yogibo」本体、Yogibo LLC 社の買収について - 株式会社Yogibo
- ↑ 【株式会社Yogibo】へ社名変更のお知らせ - 株式会社Yogibo