It is impossible not to think about the economy right now. The tariffs and trade wars are the hot topic in the board game world and something we here at Cherry Picked Games are extremely aware of, given the imminent manufacturing of Far Away: Corporate Espionage. But those fees are a single (large) cost in a long and pricey process. There are so many other market considerations that go beyond pure production prices. Inspired by Carla Lalli Music’s excellent Substack piece on the true costs of YouTube videos, I want to share the other real financial concerns I have running a board game business: externalities, inflation, and labor.