I thought it’d be interesting to start a thread about yo-yo companies that have come and gone. I saw that someone had done this back in about 2017 but let’s get something new going that talks about past companies.
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Lol
Lets toss one for the homies that ain’t with us
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I been using the last of the @Markmont strings I have until the threads are popping bc his string shop has been on “hiatus” for so long. Cumulus foams are far and away my favorite strings for 3a and absolutely make a difference for that style in particular…the shorter string length has me looking for something very specific and everything else is a let down…lots of bulk works fine enough for like 20 mins but then plays icky for 3a when they break in imo. I love the way cfoams break in and fray, in that they just don’t really fray lol…they play consistently for months and that is amazing. Also that I can use the same strings for so long! Having to change strings a lot has me playing less yoyo bc changing strings is annoying to me. 1a it is w/e but matching lengths exactly for 3a is annoyingly difficult for me sigh…sorry I’m complaining too much.
Just hoping I can get more of the cfoams really lol
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I still check the shop regularly.
Technically, I have a lifetime supply of Markmont Formulas, but Cumulus Foam is one that I would stock up on if I could.
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really bummed about markmont too
i bought a sampler pack right before he shut it down. the idea was to find what i liked then buy more. well.. i got the first half and know what i like.. that was a year or so ago… 
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not sure if sochi is still in business but their site has been down for months too
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noooo the pale pink sochi xl has become my go-to. I have like 3 hundred packs right now but maybe I need another pack or two. At least YYE has a bunch in stock still.
I would be surprised if Markmonrlt’s store is permanently shut down. He is of course still very much into yoyos and yoyo design. We talk occasionally discussing hair-brained ideas.
Edit: just had a look and there are some things still there for sale, but yeah, not so much strings.
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Yeah Sochi had a bunch of drama and the owner is not really in the yoyo world anymore. No need to gash that all here but I don’t think Sochi will be coming back based on sentiment overseas about that brand.
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RIP AlphaLine?
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Sometimes it seems that yo-yo companies are like restaurants. Some of the best restaurants for whatever reason end up closing down forever.
And some of the worst restaurants, not only don’t close down… But if there’s still some people, they haven’t poisoned yet, they open new locations.
Since I’ve been around for a minute, I’ve seen so many startups and actual longtime companies that just Tank for one reason or another. And as I mentioned, often it seems to be people that are providing very good products.
Sometimes the reason for their demise is not clear. And I think sometimes it’s not always because they have to shut down. I think as often is not they find out that it’s just not worth the effort. I believe a certain number of smaller boutique companies like some string makers… Actually feel horrible about closing down. I mean, they have to do it for themselves because they have their own life. They choose a different path, but at the same time they feel like they’ve let down the community. And most of you do the same thing I do whether we say it out loud or not… We wish them well in their next adventure.
But it can be somewhat upsetting if you’ve grown to love a certain companies, product or products and for some reason in your mind, you see a bright future based on their track record up to a certain date… And then right about the time you’re waiting to find out what they’re gonna release next, you find out they’re not gonna release anything… They’ve thrown in the towel.
We can always be optimistic, though, and think that some of the makers will get a second wind and jump back in to the yo-yo situation. Some of the best string makers made their mark and impressed a good number of people. And now they’re gone and those people are out of string.
Fortunately, there always seems to be somebody that will step in and at least try to fill the void created by whoever dropped out. If we stay throwing yo-yo‘s long enough, we just have to keep getting used to looking forward to that new product that pops up that just maybe will reload your boat
Remember, the end is often just the beginning. Life is a book that we turn one page at a time. And if you’ve never read that book before, you don’t know anything about the next page until you turn it.
You see what I did there? I tried to sound like I was smart or something.<lol.
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The best restaurants often aren’t profitable because offering high quality food and service is expensive.
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I may need to go stock up on ZS.Air in case Zipline throws in the towel
Thankfully yoyo string keeps better than spinach fettuccine alfredo
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I have a feeling they’ll be around for a while longer. I hope they’re not going to throw in the towel .-.
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Do not put that into the ether!!!
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Brokenyoyos, DeathByYoyo, Big Brother Yoyo co, SPYY
runnerup:
YoyoJam, yoyonation, theyo,
(please sell/trade to me BrokenYoyos Sumo + DBYY EKG, I have look for many year for this yoyos)
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woa woa woa! such cursed words! 
but honestly Jeremy seems way more driven by passion than profit so that helps the long term
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Big Bang Bangalores know not many people liked their yoyos but I did
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Also ‘gone out of business’ implies that they ran out of money or something. I think most yoyoing stuff never makes much money to begin with and when you quit it’d be the same reason family restraunts usually close: it’s hard work and it’s not making you a fortune.
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Yes 100% there is not allot of money in this hobby and the few that do make a living off it are the exception not the rule. I always preach most folks in this hobby selling cool stuff are doing it for the love of the hobby as they could make more doing something else with their time and talent. It’s why fallen44 fell out. Functional glass sells like way more than wood or even glass yoyo…
It’s also a passion thing some folks their passion changes or drive shifts and they no longer have it in them to do the hobby. At that point selling the product is just a thing they are doing and not enjoyable and then we are back to point 1 they could be doing something they have passion for or make more off of instead…
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