Let’s recap our biggest milestones throughout our first full year in business as Caliber Games. Our 2022 review includes new game releases, retail partnerships, and friends in our community.
]]>It’s hard to believe 2022 was our first full year in business. And man did we get after it. We brought TowerBall to its first retail stores, launched new products, and created TONS of content. Let’s recap our biggest milestones throughout the past year.
In the spring, only a few months after launching our first successful product, TowerBall, we re-introduced ourselves as Caliber Games. We put lots of heart, soul, and time into the message, values, and community we wanted to share with the world. It’s been amazing to watch people respond and join us in our mission to bring more relaxed play into our families and friendships.
We selected DICK’S Sporting Goods are our first in-store retailer, and partnered with them for a successful pilot release of TowerBall in select stores.
We launched these two original games this year and saw them get played by hundreds of families around the country. Island Shot is a premium, weatherproof, ultra-portable, kid-friendly take on Cornhole, and HOKU is a more portable, stylish riff on horseshoes. Check out the links below to learn more.
We also introduced the Caliber Games brand of the classic lawn game faves: Cornhole, Ladder Toss, and Timber Tower XL. These premium game bundles sport the Caliber Games branding and include all the components you need for classic backyard fun.
We added 10 new products from other trusted brands in the social game world, and we’re nearly sold out of all them! You can still order crowd favorites PutterBall and Bottle Bash while supplies last. In the first few weeks of 2023, we’ll be making decisions about which of these brands to restock. If you have suggestions of games you’d like to see available in our store, let us know here.
Caliber Games delivered play to thousands of families across the country, with our five top sellers being:
Between our TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, we posted HUNDREDS of videos with game reviews, tips and tricks, and how to play content. We also built out our Caliber Games Blog with over 40 articles offering helpful resources for game lovers.
If you read any of the above, it’s probably plain to see we worked HARD in 2022. Everything we accomplished was done with our little team that ranged from 2-4 people. We’re really proud of our progress, but to be honest it left with very little margin to relax and enjoy the people we love.
In 2023, we want to get better at taking our own advice to work a little less, and play a lot more. This year, instead of focusing on continued growth, we want to drill deeper into what we’ve already created while leaving room to practice what we preach and enjoy life. Here are a few things to look for from Caliber Games in the coming year.
After our successful pilot release of TowerBall at DICK’S Sporting Goods, we’re expanding into nationwide stores! We’re proud to be partnering with an industry leader that understands the value of premium game products like TowerBall that families can enjoy for years. Look for TowerBall on shelves at your local DICK’S starting in Spring 2023.
We took the upcoming expansion into nationwide retail as an opportunity to revamp the TowerBall packaging. We’re excited to present this new and improved box that reflects the energetic fun and premium quality of our flagship product.
Last year we had to focus on setting up structures and systems we could rely on for years. This was important, but not the most fun work. We like to analogize it to setting up a soccer field. Before you can play, you have to mow the grass, draw the lines on the field, and build the goals. It takes some work to set everything up, but once everything is ready there’s lots of fun to be had.
We look forward to participating in more events, meeting more of our community, and creating more fun content in 2023. If you have ideas on how we can collaborate or support the play in your life, please reach out here anytime!
Starting a business is really hard work. We can’t overstate the patience and perserverance it takes to start and grow a new product company. But hearing stories, reading reviews and social media comments, seeing some of your faces when you play one of our games really does motivate us to keep up the good work. It was pretty amazing on Christmas morning thinking of the thousands of families opening a Caliber Games box and bonding with people they love over a game.
If you haven’t yet, pretty please do just one of these things that give us the little boosts
Thanks again for keeping up with our journey and making us part of yours. We wish you all the best in 2023.
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The Caliber Games Team
As the holiday season approaches, we want to make sure that our customers can get their orders in time for Christmas. Please reference the table below to know what to expect when you order games close to Christmas.
Order Date | Expected Delivery |
---|---|
December 16 (or earlier) | December 20-23 |
December 17-20 | December 21-26 |
December 21 | December 24-27 |
December 22 or later | December 26 or later |
To guarantee delivery by December 25th, we recommend that you place your order by December 16th.
If you can't make it by the 16th, don't worry. Orders placed by December 20th are likely to arrive in time for Christmas, but we can't make any guarantees. If you really want to take a chance, you can place your order by December 21st, but be aware that there may be delays due to the high volume of holiday shipments.
We want to make sure that you have the best experience possible when shopping with Caliber Games, and that includes having your orders arrive on time. So please keep these dates in mind when ordering for the holidays.
Local Dallas/Fort Worth area customers can also pick up from our headquarters in Farmers Branch until December 23 - no need to worry about shipping delays! Just select "Pick up" as your Delivery Method at checkout.
We hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday season, and thank you for choosing Caliber Games for your gaming needs.
]]>Are you on the hunt for the perfect gift for your friends and family this holiday season? Caliber Games has you covered! Right now, when you spend $250 or more on any order at calibergames.com, you get to add on a Ladder Toss, or Timber Tower absolutely free.
It's so valuable to have fun and stay active with your family, especially during the colder months. That's why we offer a wide range of premium yard games that can be played indoor or out. These games are perfect for getting everyone moving, competing, and having a blast. And with our special offer, you can score even more value for your money.
To unlock your free gift, just add at least $250 of games to your cart. If you need help deciding, here are a few suggestions of ideal game combinations:
You can also unlock the free gift offer by adding our Caliber Originals Bundle to your bag. The Caliber Originals Bundle includes all three of our premium flagship products: TowerBall, Island Shot, and HOKU. Save on each individual game, plus add your bonus Ladder Toss or Timber Tower for FREE.
Altogether that's $400 worth of games for only $260 - an amazing way to cross multiple items off your list...
Our flagship game, TowerBall, includes 8 hackey-balls (4 blue, 4 green). This is ideal for two players, but most customers prefer to add extra sets of red and yellow balls to allow for 4 player games (you can add even more sets beyond that too if you prefer).
Similarly, our best-selling new game, Island Shot, has 6 mini cornhole bags (great for 2 players). But you customers can add extra bean bags for bigger games. Right now, if you buy TowerBall with 2 extra sets of balls, and Island Shot with 2 extra sets of bags, you'll unlock a bonus FREE Bonus Gift!
Another great idea for a gift combo is Cornhole and TowerBall. While TowerBall is the top-selling new yard game, it's undeniable Cornhole is the most well-known classic. The Cornhole boards bundle has everything you need to start playing with your family after Christmas morning: two regulation sized boards, eight bags (4 green, 4 indigo), a convenient full-size carrying case, and a slick bean bag tote.
When you spend over $250, you'll get to choose one of the following games:
The Ladder Toss Bundle is perfect for a classic Ladder Toss experience. All-wood frames are crafted with varnished wood that's lightweight, sturdy, and weather-resistant. Bundle includes 2 standard frame pieces, 6 all-weather golf bolas (3 green, 3 indigo), push-in scoring markers, zip-up carrying case, and official game guide.
The Timber Tower Bundle from Caliber Games is a giant-sized version of the classic childhood game. A guaranteed hit at backyard parties, tailgates, park days, or weddings, feel the pressure as you stack the tower until it takes a big fall! Bundle includes 54 stacking blocks, a house rules board, and zip-up carrying case.
Don't miss out on this limited time offer. Spend $250 or more on our awesome yard games and get a free gift plus free shipping. Click below to built your perfect yard game gift bundle - your friends and family will thank you!
]]>As we approach the holiday this Thursday, we wanted to share some thoughts with our Caliber Games family, friends, and followers…
Whether it’s heavy-handed political conversations, overly personal questions, or weird casseroles, Thanksgiving is a less than relaxing holiday for some. As much as you love your family, it can be tough to get along with everyone (even for just one meal).
But that’s the beauty of family… Even with the challenge of different personalities, opinions, and generations, our love and shared history bring us back together around the dinner table.
This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to find places of connection and gratitude for the people you gather with. We live in a divisive world that seems to put the spotlight on our anger and disagreements. But we hope among our loved ones this Thursday, we can set those things aside and focus on the things that bring us together, whether that means a game of TowerBall or grandma’s mashed potatoes.
That’s why we founded Caliber Games and work at the mission of strengthening families and friendships through play… Because as we deepen our bonds through positive, playful experiences, we can work through the harder stuff with love and mutual respect.
This holiday can also be challenging for some of us who aren’t able to be with the people we love. If that’s you, we feel for you and hope you can find some way to connect with yourself and others in a positive way, even through a simple phone call or FaceTime with someone you’re thankful for.
However this Thanksgiving looks for you, we are grateful to have you as a part of this community. If there’s ever a way we can support your family playtime, let us know at support@calibergames.com.
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Happy Thanksgiving,
Alex & Kelsey
Founders | Caliber Games
In the past six months, we’ve taken TowerBall from our little office in Dallas to nationwide DICK’S Sporting Goods locations. This marks a big moment for our family business. We want to share the journey of how we got here and what’s on the horizon for Caliber Games.
A little over a year ago, we got the idea to invent a new game that could solve some of the problems we found with most backyard game products. The average yard game was cheaply built, clunky to assemble, or difficult to move and store. From our vast game experience through our first startup, Toss Up Events, we knew families and friend groups would enjoy something better.
We started designing TowerBall with our kids in our own backyard using cardboard cutouts. We went through dozens of iterations to hone in the gameplay experience until we’d created a fun, easy to learn game that could be enjoyed by all ages. Next, we embarked on the challenge of engineering and manufacturing.
When figuring how to actually make this thing, the biggest challenge was striking a balance between durability, easy of setup, and affordability. In the end, after several 3d-printed prototypes, we opted for a more premium, heavy duty product that families could trust as a longterm investment. By November 2021, our first shipment of TowerBalls had arrived from the factory, and we officially launched the business.
After this intense upfront investment of time and energy, it was pretty nerve-wracking to put our creation out into the world. By this time, TowerBall had become an everyday part of our lives, but nobody else knew anything about it. It’s hard to overestimate the challenge of convincing the world to try a new game they’ve never heard of (especially with a $189 price tag).
We hosted a big party in Dallas with all our friends and family to introduce TowerBall to the world. Then it was off to the races. Months of shooting videos, posting to TikTok and Instagram, running (and endlessly tweaking) ad campaigns… several months of very small wins led us to an initial groove of success.
We were still a small startup product without much popularity. But we were selling TowerBalls all over the country and most importantly, people were LOVING the product. Positive messages and five star reviews came pouring in. The choice not to compromise on quality and durability had paid off big. And with that success under our belt, big retailer started to take notice.
After months of developing a relationship with the team at DICK’S Sporting Goods, they picked up TowerBall as their premium yard game product just in time for summer. Going on shelves as DICK’S makes this the biggest week in Caliber Games history so far, for a few reasons.
Eventually, Caliber Games will become a known and trusted name in the outdoor leisure space, but for now, we’re still the new kid on the block. Gaining the trust of a successful company like DICK’S offers us a new level of trust from customers. Some customers would otherwise be hesitant to take a chance on a new game product without seeing it in a reliable retail store like DICK'S. It’s also a big encouragement to our team that we’re on the right track.
While e-commerce will always be a core part of our business, in-store retail adds huge benefit for our customers. Realistically, when people are hosting a party, going to a tailgate, or traveling out for a beach day, they want to stop at a store like DICK’S to pick up supplies. The convenience of grabbing TowerBall as part of an impromptu shopping trip instead of waiting for shipping will open a huge opportunity for new customers to enjoy TowerBall.
From the beginning, we saw an opportunity to improve the low expectations of quality, design, and durability for yard games. Yard games can be such a valuable way to bring people together through shared play experiences. But the status quo expectation is cheap, clunky, and uninspired products. We hope having TowerBall on the shelves in a mainstream store will move the dial in expanding how people view yard games and what they should expect from outdoor game brands.
Turning the corner of big box retail adoption will bring Caliber Games into a new season of growth and expansion. People will start seeing TowerBall on more retail shelves, then more backyards, parks, beaches, and tailgate parties. We want to use this increased awareness as an opportunity to develop more products, content, and experiences that fulfill our mission to help families and friends play together.
In the coming year, we plan to develop and launch several more original, premium game products. We'll also be expanding our catalog of other top-notch products in our “Brands You Love” collection. This is all part of our vision to cultivate a world where more families and friends connect through playing outside together instead of siting around staring at screens.
We invite you join in this vision however you can. Consider picking up TowerBall from DICK’S Sporting Goods, or if you’re already a happy customer, help us spread the word! Or do something as simple as making daily time to turn off the phones and TVs to get out in the sun with people you love.
Thanks for all the support you’ve shown this past year. As always, we promise to keep doing our best to bring the magic of play to your community.
Love from our family to yours,
Alex and Kelsey Carroll
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