Think Like A Game Designer Jaimie Wolanski — Tough Truths, Retail Realities, and How Games Create Connection (#98)
Jan 15, 2026
Jaimie Wolanski, a games industry veteran with over 20 years of experience, shares her journey from musician to sales rep for major retailers. She discusses the importance of taking risks and building trusting teams. Jaimie critiques the trend of TikTok-driven best-sellers versus classic games, emphasizing the need for products to gestate on shelves. She also highlights how games create community and meaningful connections, and stresses the value of collaboration over competition in the industry.
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From Singer-Songwriter To Sales Rep
- Jaimie left a music career to sell guitars and discovered sales by chance.
- That unexpected job launched her long path into the games industry and mass retail.
Career By Elimination
- Jaimie follows a 'golden thread' of trying things until life aligns rather than planning one perfect path.
- She treats career moves as experiments to learn what she doesn't want and then pivots.
Use A Rep To Reach Mass Retailers
- Use a rep to broker relationships and manage year-round retailer activity for your product.
- Reps provide sales data, promotional strategy, and buyer contacts that most small vendors can't access alone.
