Yogibo
{{Short description|Japanese-American furniture retailer}}
{{Distinguish|Yogi Bear|Yogi Berra}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Yogibo LLC.
| logo = Yogibo Logo.png
| logo_caption =
| image = Yogibo Store Midosuji Hommachi store.jpg
| image_caption = An Yogibo Store in Midosuji, Japan
| type = Private
| industry = Home furnishings and lifestyle
| founded = {{start date and age|2009}} in Nashua, New Hampshire United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| founder = Eyal Levy
| locations = 130 stores (2022)
| hq_location_city = Nashua, New Hampshire
| hq_location_country = United States
| parent =
| website = {{URL|Yogibo.jp}} Japan
{{URL|yogibo.com}} USA
}}
Yogibo is a lifestyle furniture retailer, specializing in bean bag chairs and accessories. It also sells dog beds and Jogoball, an audio gaming console.
File:Yogibo 2009 - 2010 Logo.jpg
As of March 2023, Yogibo has reduced from over US$60 million in retail sales and over 130 retail outlets worldwide to an online only retailer.{{Cite web |title=Yogibo Website |url=https://yogibo.com/}}
History
Yogibo was created in early 2000s by Eyal Levy, when his wife was trying to find a way to make her pregnancy comfortable. In 2009, the company started operating in Nashua, New Hampshire and opened its first store in Natick, Massachusetts in 2010. The company has retail stores in the United States and has expanded in Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and more through distribution in those countries.{{cite news |last1=Genovese |first1=Daniella |title=What is Yogibo? |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/what-is-yogibo |work=FOX Business |date=13 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Buchanan |first1=Leigh |date=22 March 2019 |title=Yogibo Founder Says Moon Pod's $1.3 Million Kickstarter Project Ripped Off Its Idea |url=https://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/yogibo-moon-pod-bean-bag-patent-dispute.html |work=Inc.com |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Retailer Yogibo Celebrates Its Arrival in South Korea |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/retailer_yogibo_celebrates_its_arrival_in_south_korea/prweb13883418.htm |work=PR Web |date=November 29, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Stories |first1=Local |title=Meet Eyal Levy of Yogibo |url=http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-eyal-levy-yogibo-hq-nashua-nh-locations-braintree-natick-peabody-burlington/ |work=Boston Voyager |date=June 5, 2017}} Yogibo's manufacturing facility is located in Nashua, New Hampshire.{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Yogibo, a startup that sells beanbag furniture, takes the hands-on route |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/business/2012/08/26/yogibo-a-startup-that-sells-beanbag-furniture-takes-the-hands-on-route/ |work=Nashua Telegraph |date=August 26, 2012}}
Yogibo was the first certified sensory-inclusive retail chain in collaboration with KultureCity, a company which certifies and provides training to organizations. The two companies have collaboratively built sensory rooms in NBA, NFL, and MLB arenas in the country.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Marianne |title=Modular furniture retailer Yogibo makes history |url=https://chainstoreage.com/modular-furniture-retailer-yogibo-makes-history |work=Chain Store Age |date=December 13, 2019 |language=en}}
In 2016, Yogibo held the Guinness world record for the world's largest bean bag chair.{{cite book |title=Guinness World Records 2017 |isbn=978-1-910561-66-9 |page=98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCJoDQAAQBAJ&q=yogibo+guinness+record&pg=PR42 |language=en|last1=Records |first1=Guinness World |date=15 November 2016 }} In the same year, Yogibo established a subsidiary in Korea, Yogibo Korea, Inc. David Park of the co-founding company is a close friend of Levy. The name "Yogibo" is pronounced the same as "여기보" in Korean. Its meaning is 'Look Here'. "We think it'll be a great fit" Levy said at time.{{cite news |title=Yogibo bean bags to launch in Korea |url=https://insideretail.asia/2016/12/01/yogibo-bean-bags-to-launch-in-korea/ |work=Inside Retail |date=11 December 2016 |language=en}}
File:Yogibo Canada in Coquitlam Centre (23783073753).jpg
In 2019, Yogibo partnered with Lucasfilm and Disney to introduce a Star Wars furniture collection.{{cite news |last1=Houghton |first1=Kimberly |title=New Star Wars collection released by Nashua's Yogibo |url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/new-star-wars-collection-released-by-nashua-s-yogibo/article_cc31c62e-56d4-5948-b14b-a41bb3054d86.html |work=Union Leader |date=November 1, 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Damewood |first1=Cassie |title=Yogibo's New Star Wars-Inspired Furniture Collection Puts Comfort First |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/yogibo-star-wars-inspired-furniture-140029780.html |work=Yahoo! News |date=November 15, 2019}} In November 2020, the company introduced Jogoball, a screen-less interactive game ball. It uses a six-axis motion detection technology and smart audio technology that pairs with a mobile application.{{cite news |last1=Solorzano |first1=Sergio |title=Yogibo, Yes The Bean Bag Company, Has A Gaming Console |url=https://www.thegamer.com/yogibo-gaming-console-jogoball/ |work=TheGamer |date=11 November 2020}}{{cite news |title=Yogibo Introduces a New Spin on Family Game Night |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yogibo-introduces-a-new-spin-on-family-game-night-301167959.html |work=Press Release |date=November 6, 2020 |language=en}}
On December 30, 2021, Yogibo LLC was acquired by its Japanese distributor, Webshark.[https://yogibo.inc/press-release/others/2022/01/14637/ 米国「Yogibo」本体、Yogibo LLC 社の買収について - 株式会社Yogibo] On August 1, 2022, Webshark changed its name to Yogibo Inc.[https://yogibo.inc/press-release/others/2022/07/16318/ 【株式会社Yogibo】へ社名変更のお知らせ - 株式会社Yogibo]
Reception
Reception to the company's bean bag chairs has been mostly positive. According to The Gadgeteer, the Yogi Max bean bag offered by Yogibo is flexible, allowing the user to "contort the bean bag into all sorts of shapes depending on how [they] want to relax in it."{{cite news |last1=Strietelmeier |first1=Julie |title=Yogibo Yogi Max Bean Bag Chair review |url=https://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/07/08/yogibo-yogi-max-bean-bag-chair-review/ |work=The Gadgeteer |date=July 8, 2013}} As per The Parent Spot magazine, Yogibo uses foam pellets to fill their bags as opposed to ripped up foam material, leading to a more comfortable experience as the pellets mold around your body.{{cite news |last1=Charles |title=Yogibo Max Review - Comfort in a Giant BeanBag You'll Love |url=https://www.theparentspot.com/reviews/yogibo-max-review-comfort-big-beanbag/ |work=The Parent Spot |date=9 December 2015}}
File:Yogibo Store Nagoya Sakae - 2.jpg
The company has also received praise for its sensory-inclusive design, with Autism Parenting magazine naming Yogibo bean bag chairs "a must have" for children with autism.{{cite news |last1=Tobik |first1=Amy |title=Review: Yogibo – Using Bean Bags for Sensory Soothing |url=https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/review-yogibo-beanbags-sensory-soothing/ |work=Autism Parenting Magazine |date=9 July 2014}}
The company's products turn into beds and sofas when used in large sizes. It is also popular with housewives because it is light in weight and easy to carry.{{cite news |last1=oimo |title=Yogibo Midi Functional Review |url=https://beaded-sofa.com/yogibo/comparison/midi/ |work=bead sofa |date=9 May 2022}}
Dispute
File:Yogibo Lalaport Kadoma.jpg
A Kickstarter project for a product called the Moon Pod, started by John Fiorentino, was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Yogibo in November 2019 for using a similar design to Yogibo's patented bean bag chairs. Fiortentino states he never claimed "invention" of the design and that his company was working on a patent.
Scandals
On January 3, 2022, a lawsuit was filed by former employee and whistleblower with the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts stating that under the direction of CEO Eyal Levy and COO Brett Heppler, between February 2016 and December 2022, Yogibo avoided customs fees by withholding invoices from their customs broker.
As a result, Yogibo must pay $217,832.41 plus interest accruing annually at a rate of 5.25% starting from May, 2023{{Cite web |title=US vs Yogibo |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/file/1307606/dl?inline}}
Withdrawal from Super GT Racing
The Japan Branch of Yogibo Inc, formerly Webshark, participated in Super GT racing. As of February 2024, the company has withdrawn citing "Change in corporate strategy."{{Cite web |title=Yogibo Racing Suspends SUPER GT Participation |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/02/09/yogibo-racing-suspends-super-gt-participation.html |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Jamie |date=2024-02-08 |title=Honda GT300 Team Yogibo Racing Announces Withdrawal – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/super-gt/honda-gt300-team-yogibo-racing-announces-withdrawal/ |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}