The decision that launched Jazwares was made at home, not in a boardroom. Judd Zebersky looked at his wife and said he wanted to make toys. She told him to follow his dreams. He did, and the company he built became one of the most recognized names in the toy industry.

Zebersky had already built a law practice after earning his JD from the University of Miami School of Law. The pull toward consumer products proved stronger, and in 1997 he traded courtrooms for factory floors in southern China.

Learning the Craft

He arrived without manufacturing experience and compensated through immersion. Zebersky spent months learning injection molding, blow molding, and rotocasting. He studied how hair rooting worked, how designs moved from concept to production, and how engineering decisions affected final cost and quality. That foundation informed how Jazwares built its teams.

Jazwares first competed through licensed products, working with franchises like Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. The company expanded through two pivotal acquisitions: Wicked Cool Toys in 2019, which added Pokémon, and Kellytoy in 2020, which brought in Squishmallows.

Squishmallows and the Viral Moment

Squishmallows are ultrasoft plush toys with names, bios, squishdays, and backstories. They became a cultural phenomenon driven by TikTok, fan communities, and celebrity endorsements from figures like Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. More than 100 million units sold in a single year, with prices ranging from $5 to $30. The brand gave Jazwares its most visible chapter, landing the company on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and earning Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators recognition.

Zebersky established Jazwares Cares at the company’s founding. It has donated millions of toys through partnerships with Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. He and his wife also contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, handing leadership to longtime COO David Neustein. Jazwares now operates in over 100 countries with approximately 1,400 employees. See related link for additional information.

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