Top 5 Takeaways from GAMA Expo 2025: The Future of Board Game Fulfillment Logistics

The GAMA Expo 2025 brought together board game publishers, retailers, and industry professionals to discuss key trends shaping the future of the board game industry. Among the many insights shared, one of the most critical discussions revolved around fulfillment logistics—a crucial factor in ensuring games reach consumers efficiently and cost-effectively. 

Here are the top five insights from this year’s expo shaping the future of board game fulfillment.

1. The Need for Standardized Pricing Models in Fulfillment

One of the biggest challenges publishers face is comparing fulfillment costs across different 3PL providers. Unlike other industries with clear cost structures, board game fulfillment pricing often lacks transparency, making it difficult to determine the best value. 

Common pricing pain points include: 

• Hidden fees disguised in "free storage" promotions, with costs buried in material fees, labor charges, or other line items. 

• Flat-rate nationwide shipping vs. zone-based pricing—While flat rates simplify shipping costs for publishers, zone-based pricing can unlock significant savings when managed strategically. 

At Ziing, we prioritize clear, standardized pricing models, helping publishers make data-driven decisions to maximize cost-efficiency without sacrificing quality. 
 

2. Canada is an Untapped Growth Opportunity

Despite Canada being a key market for board games, many publishers still treat it as an international shipping destination, leading to unnecessary costs and delays. The reality? Canada should be considered a domestic market.  

With Canada’s e-commerce sector expanding—Shopify alone reported a 26% revenue increase, reflecting a surge in online retail—there’s a clear need for streamlined fulfillment operations. Establishing localized solutions would reduce friction, improve delivery efficiency, and unlock the full potential of this thriving market.

Key considerations include:

• Location matters—while Toronto and Quebec are major population centers, Vancouver is often the better gateway for imported goods, reducing cross-country transit costs. 

• Storage costs and labor—Ontario has high overhead costs, making Western Canada a more cost-effective fulfillment hub in many cases. 

At Ziing, we offer strategic fulfillment solutions across North America, ensuring cost-efficient, reliable delivery for publishers looking to scale in Canada and the U.S.. 

3. Board Game Logistics Must Evolve with eCommerce Trends

Traditional board game fulfillment providers focus on Kickstarter and direct-to-consumer shipping, but the broader eCommerce industry is evolving fast. To stay competitive, fulfillment companies must: 

• Leverage warehouse automation to reduce costs and increase speed. 

• Expand distribution networks to ensure faster delivery. 

• Invest in software integrations to optimize fulfillment workflows. 

Meanwhile, Amazon has emerged as both a sales channel and fulfillment partner, offering low-cost services through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). While FBA provides fast shipping, it comes at the cost of customization and quality control—key factors for Kickstarter campaigns and premium board game products. 

Ziing offers a hybrid approach—the speed and efficiency of modern eCommerce logistics while maintaining customization and quality control tailored to board game publishers. 

4. Retail & Distribution Alone Won’t Sustain Growth

GAMA Expo has historically focused on connecting publishers with retailers, distributors, and consolidators, but these channels only capture a fraction of the board game market. The future lies in direct-to-consumer (DTC) growth through platforms like: 

• Kickstarter & Gamefound (for crowdfunding campaigns) 

• Shopify & WooCommerce (for owned eCommerce stores) 

• Amazon & other marketplaces (for scalable distribution) 

For publishers to succeed, they need fulfillment partners that seamlessly integrate across multiple sales channels. Ziing enables multi-channel fulfillment solutions, ensuring publishers reach customers wherever they shop—without logistical headaches. 

5. The Industry Must Scale Beyond Small Print Runs

Despite the board game industry’s growth, many publishers still struggle with small production runs, which limits economies of scale. While other eCommerce industries (such as apparel) work with minimum order quantities (MOQs) of 500-1000 units, many board game publishers still struggle to surpass 500-unit orders, even after a successful Kickstarter campaign. 

For fulfillment companies, this means adapting scalable solutions that support both small independent publishers and larger established brands. Without evolution, board game logistics companies risk being outpaced by generalist 3PLs that are aggressively expanding services, technology, and infrastructure. 

At Ziing, our scalable warehousing and fulfillment solutions are designed to support publishers at every stage of growth, ensuring they have the flexibility to scale efficiently and cost-effectively. 

 
The Future of Board Game Fulfillment is Here 

The GAMA Expo 2025 made one thing clear—board game fulfillment must evolve to match the pace of modern eCommerce. From pricing transparency and market expansion to DTC sales growth and scalable logistics, the industry is at a turning point. 

At Ziing, we’re here to help board game publishers and Kickstarter creators future-proof their fulfillment strategies. With tailored solutions, advanced technology, and a commitment to efficiency, we empower publishers to deliver games faster, smarter, and with happier customers. 

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