Wham-O
Wham-O is a privately held American outdoor toy and recreational products company (founded 1948), manufacturing and globally distributing iconic brands including Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Superball, Slip 'N Slide, Boogie Board, Hacky Sack, and Snowboogie to families and outdoor recreation consumers via DTC e-commerce and international distribution partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersWoodland Hills, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wham-O does
Wham-O is a privately held American consumer products company founded in 1948 in Southern California by Arthur "Spud" Melin and Rich Knerr, now operated under Intersport Corp. (DBA Wham-O) from Carson, California. The company manufactures, markets, and distributes branded outdoor recreational toys and sporting goods under a portfolio of trademarked, culturally iconic brands including Frisbee (flying discs, since 1957), Hula Hoop (since 1958), Superball (high-bounce balls made from the proprietary Zectron® compound), Slip 'N Slide (backyard water slides, since 1961), Boogie Board (bodyboards, since 1971), Hacky Sack (footbags, since 1972), and Snowboogie (winter sleds). The portfolio has expanded across seasons and verticals into sub-brands such as Arctic Force (winter toys), Game Time! (lawn games including pickleball), Splash, Giggle 'N Splash, Splash 'N Score (water toys), Stay 'N Play (indoor play), Foam Party Factory, and Locker Board (mini skateboards).
The business is fundamentally a physical consumer goods company with proprietary material technology (Zectron® for Superball) and a registered trademark portfolio spanning multiple play categories. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of branded physical products priced from approximately $7.99 to $399.00 per unit, sold via a direct-to-consumer Shopify-based e-commerce storefront (wham-o.com) with US fulfillment, supplemented by international distribution through a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary (Wham-O Australia Pty Limited) and the Stallion Corporation, which manages distribution across Japan, Canada, Europe, Korea, and South America. Three of Wham-O's products (Superball, Frisbee, Hula Hoop) are inductees of the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Customer concentration is low, with a fragmented base of families with children and individual outdoor enthusiasts purchasing seasonal recreational products through retail and DTC channels. Marketing is concentrated in organic social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram) and content marketing via a company blog covering product heritage. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, operates with a reported 11–50 employees, and has executed at least one acquisition (Sprig Toys, 2010). Recent product innovation includes the LED Superball line and a limited-edition 75th Anniversary Frisbee, indicating ongoing portfolio refresh within the legacy brand framework.
Wham-O firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wham-O
- Legal name
- Intersport Corp. DBA Wham-O
- Website
- https://wham-o.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wham-O is a privately held American outdoor toy and recreational products company (founded 1948), manufacturing and globally distributing iconic brands including Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Superball, Slip 'N Slide, Boogie Board, Hacky Sack, and Snowboogie to families and outdoor recreation consumers via DTC e-commerce and international distribution partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wham-O industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Recreational Toys
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting Goods Retailers (459110), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Adventure Multi-Category Retail (CRAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor & Ride-On Toys Retail (CRALAFAC), Sledding & Snow Play Retail (Sleds, Tubes, Snow Toys) (CRAMAJAI), Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI), Sporting Goods & Outdoor Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAJ)
Keywords
Where Wham-O is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woodland Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wham-O business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Toys and Sporting Goods Sales: Wham-O generates revenue through the manufacture and direct sale of consumer outdoor toys, sporting goods, and recreational products to end consumers. Products include flying discs, water toys, snow sleds, body boards, and various outdoor play equipment sold through e-commerce and retail channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product purchases at fixed retail prices |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Wham-O product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wham-O manufactures and sells consumer outdoor toys and recreational sporting goods under a portfolio of iconic brands including Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Superball, Hacky Sack, Slip 'N Slide, Boogie Board, and Snowboogie. Products are sold directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce website and through retail and distributor channels, spanning categories such as flying discs, bouncy balls, footbags, water slides, bodyboards, snow sleds, foam party products, and outdoor games.
Product overview
Wham-O is a consumer toy and sporting goods company founded in 1948, manufacturing and marketing iconic outdoor play brands. The portfolio includes core brands across multiple play categories: flying discs (Frisbee), hoop toys (Hula Hoop), bouncy balls (Superball with proprietary Zectron compound), footbags (Hacky Sack), water slides (Slip 'N Slide), bodyboards (Boogie Board), winter sleds (Snowboogie), and foam party products (Foam Party Factory). Additional brands cover outdoor games (Game Time!), water toys (Splash, Giggle 'N Splash, Splash 'N Score), indoor party games (Stay 'N Play), mini skateboards (Wheelz Locker Board), and winter toys (Arctic Force). The company also produces limited edition commemorative products like the 75th Anniversary Frisbee and merchandise such as the Wham-O Super Book. Products are sold primarily in the United States with global presence through subsidiaries in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea, and South America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Frisbee: Iconic flying disc brand since 1957, the original frisbee manufacturer
- Hula Hoop
- Superball
- Hacky Sack
- Slip 'N Slide
- Boogie Board
- Snowboogie
- Arctic Force
- Game Time
- Stay 'N Play
- Giggle 'N Splash
- Splash
- Foam Party Factory
- Locker Board
Products and services
- Frisbee Iconic flying discs available in various styles including Classic, Ultimate, Heavyweight, Freestyle, Pro Classic, World Class, and specialty discs for disc golf, dogs, and beach play. Targeted at families, recreational users, and disc sport players.
- Hula Hoop The original hula hoop, designed for kids to adults and all skill levels, with various styles including Flexi-Skipper and jump ropes. Targeted at families and individual recreational users.
- Superball High-bounce bouncy balls made with proprietary Zectron compound, available in Classic, Color, and LED variants with motion-activated lights. Targeted at families and recreational users.
- Hacky Sack The original footbag invented in 1972, elevating footwork skills for friendly matches and freestyle play. Targeted at individual recreational users and sport enthusiasts.
- Slip 'N Slide Inflatable backyard water slides in various lengths with bodyboards, sprayers, and splash features. Targeted at families with children for summer outdoor water play.
- Boogie Board Bodyboards for wave riding available in various sizes (33" to 41.5") and styles including Sport Trainer, Plasma, Malibu, Kahala Pro, and Wiki Pro. Targeted at water sports enthusiasts and beachgoers.
- Snowboogie Winter sleds and snow tubes including Alpine Rocket, Animal Sled, Air Thunder, Racer Tube, Hot Dog Tube, Delta Air Tube, Super Tube, Fantom-X, Snowboard, and Air Sled. Targeted at families and outdoor enthusiasts for winter recreation.
- Arctic Force Winter snow toys including Snowball Blaster, Snow Trac Ball, Snow Bow, Snow Strike, Mega Snow Bow, Snow Slingshot, and Snowball Maker. Targeted at families and children for winter outdoor play.
- Foam Party Factory Foam party machines and accessories including e-Foam Party, Super Foam Party, Refill Solution, Foam Party Bucket, and Kiddie Pool kits. Targeted at party organizers and families for events.
- Game Time! Outdoor bat and ball games including Trac-Ball, Pickle Ball sets, Ultimate Paddle Ball, Ring Toss, Birdie Golf, NASA Rocket Launcher, and 4-in-1 Paddle Ball sets. Targeted at families and outdoor game enthusiasts.
- Giggle 'N Splash Water sprinklers and splash play products including Deep Sea Pool Pals, Shaky Tree Sprinkler, Ladybug Splash Mat, Rainbow Arch Sprinkler, and Classic Water Wiggle. Targeted at families with children for backyard water play.
- Splash Pool floats and water toys including Strawberry Donut, Chocolate Donut, Unicorn, Flamingo, Watermelon, and Pizza floats. Targeted at families and individuals for pool and water recreation.
- Splash 'N Score Pool and backyard ball games including the Splash 'N Score Smash Ball target game. Targeted at families for outdoor water-based play.
- Stay 'N Play Indoor party and active play games including Wiggle Box, 3D Zombie Hunt, Mini Frisbee Launcher, Pong Shoes, and Pong Man. Targeted at families and children for indoor entertainment.
- Wheelz Locker Board
Companies that use Wham-O
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wham-O technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Wham-O partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stallion CorporationcoreStallion Corporation serves as the regional distributor and contact point for Wham-O products in Japan, Canada, Europe, Korea, and South America. Located in Tokyo, Japan, they manage sales, customer service, and distribution for these regions.
- Intersport Corp.coreIntersport Corp. operates as the US-based DBA Wham-O, handling US headquarters operations, customer service, and North American sales and distribution.
- Morey®coreWham-O manufactures and markets Morey body boards as part of its outdoor brands portfolio, extending the company's presence in water sports and bodyboarding.
- BZ® Pro BoardsminorBZ Pro Boards are marketed under the Wham-O umbrella brand portfolio, representing an extension of the company's outdoor sporting goods offerings.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Wham-O competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hasbro: Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global toy and game company whose NERF brand directly competes with Wham-O's outdoor active play portfolio (Slip 'N Slide, water blasters, ball games). Comparable because Hasbro operates a multi-brand consumer toy and game portfolio with global distribution, although Hasbro is materially larger and broader than Wham-O.
- Mattel: Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) owns iconic toy brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price and sells globally across multiple play categories. It is comparable to Wham-O as a large, multi-brand toy incumbent with established retail and international distribution, although Mattel's portfolio skews more toward dolls and vehicle play.
- Crayola: Crayola (owned by Hallmark) is an iconic, multi-generational consumer brand company focused on children's creative products. It is comparable to Wham-O as a heritage-driven, brand-led consumer toy company with strong name recognition and seasonal/lifestyle demand, though Crayola's category focus is arts and crafts rather than outdoor play.
- Wilson Sporting Goods: Wilson Sporting Goods (owned by Amer Sports) is a heritage sporting goods brand operating across multiple sports categories (football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf). It is comparable to Wham-O's sporting goods-adjacent brands (Boogie Board, Game Time) as a brand-led, multi-category sporting goods company, though Wilson is much larger and focused on team sports equipment.
Direct peers
- Spin Master: Spin Master (TSX: TOY) is a publicly traded multi-category toy company with innovative, brand-led products (Kinetic Sand, Air Hogs, PAW Patrol). It is directly comparable to Wham-O in business model — multiple proprietary toy brands, similar mid-market scale, and global distribution through both retail partners and DTC.
- MGA Entertainment: MGA Entertainment is a privately held, founder-led toy maker behind brands such as Bratz, Little Tikes and L.O.L. Surprise. It is directly comparable to Wham-O in operating model — multi-brand consumer toys, privately held, mid-sized, brand-led strategy with seasonal and outdoor play categories.
- Step2: Step2 is a US manufacturer of durable outdoor and indoor play products for children, including climbers, ride-ons and water tables. It is directly comparable to Wham-O's outdoor family play categories (Slip 'N Slide, Splash, Giggle 'N Splash) and serves the same family-with-children segment through similar retail and DTC channels.
- Intex Recreation: Intex Recreation is a global manufacturer of above-ground pools, inflatable water toys and air mattresses sold through mass-market retail. It is directly comparable to Wham-O's water and outdoor play lines (Slip 'N Slide, Splash, Giggle 'N Splash) and serves similar family and pool-owner customer segments through big-box and online channels.
Emerging players
- Waboba: Waboba is a smaller, niche outdoor and water toy brand best known for its bouncing water balls. It is comparable to Wham-O's Boogie Board, Splash and Giggle 'N Splash categories as a focused emerging player in outdoor water play, though it operates at a much smaller scale and narrower product line.
- Yomega: Yomega is a niche, brand-led toy company specializing in yo-yos and skill toys. It is comparable to Wham-O as a smaller brand-driven toy company with iconic product franchises and similar nostalgic appeal, though Yomega operates at a meaningfully smaller scale and narrower category focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wham-O social profiles
Digital presenceWham-O financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wham-O leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Wham-O subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Wham-O funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wham-O M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wham-O
What does Wham-O do?
Wham-O manufactures and sells consumer outdoor toys and recreational sporting goods under a portfolio of iconic brands including Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Superball, Hacky Sack, Slip 'N Slide, Boogie Board, and Snowboogie. Products are sold directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce website and through retail and distributor channels, spanning categories such as flying discs, bouncy balls, footbags, water slides, bodyboards, snow sleds, foam party products, and outdoor games.
Is Wham-O a public or private company?
Wham-O is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wham-O founded?
Wham-O was founded in 1948. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wham-O based?
Wham-O is headquartered in Woodland Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wham-O make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Toys and Sporting Goods Sales.
Who are Wham-O's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hasbro, Mattel, Crayola and Wilson Sporting Goods. Direct peers are Spin Master, MGA Entertainment, Step2 and Intex Recreation. Emerging players are Waboba and Yomega.
Does Wham-O have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wham-O.
What industry is Wham-O in?
Wham-O's product category is Outdoor Recreational Toys. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAB, Outdoor & Adventure Multi-Category Retail, with a secondary code of CRALAFAC, Outdoor & Ride-On Toys Retail. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 3944.