Before Jazwares became the company behind Squishmallows, before it employed 1,400 people and sold toys in over 100 countries, it was Judd Zebersky spending months in Chinese manufacturing plants, learning how toy parts were made.

Judd Zebersky had left his law practice in 1997. He had a JD from the University of Miami School of Law, experience running his own firm, and a clear sense that he wanted to build something in consumer products. What he lacked was any knowledge of manufacturing. He remedied that by going to the source.

A Different Kind of Education

“I went to remote places in China on dirt roads where entire families get around on a single motorcycle,” Zebersky said in a 2014 interview with Miami Law. “I visited toy factories throughout the south of China and immersed myself in the manufacturing, design, and engineering of toys.”

Judd Zebersky learned injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and hair rooting by working inside the factories himself. He studied engineering specifications and design processes until the operational side of the industry was no longer foreign to him. That knowledge informed how Jazwares built its teams and evaluated suppliers for years afterward, giving the company a foundation that most competitors could not easily replicate.

Licensing, Acquisitions, and a Viral Toy

The company established itself through licensed products, including lines tied to Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Targeted acquisitions followed. Wicked Cool Toys joined in 2019. Kellytoy came aboard in 2020, bringing Pokémon and Squishmallows with it. The plush line sold more than 100 million units in a single year, fueled by TikTok momentum and celebrity endorsement from figures including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Individual units ranged from $5 to $30.

Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026. David Neustein, his Chief Operating Officer of 14 years, took over on March 23. The factory education that started it all ended with a company recognized by TIME, Fast Company, and Fortune for its influence and workplace culture. Visit this page for additional information.

Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Judd+Zebersky/462554