Squeezable Skylines

Squeezable Skylines was a Chicago-based stuffed-toy company focused on turning recognizable city architecture into soft, collectible objects. Its principal concept was a line of plush skyscraper replicas, combining the familiarity of landmark buildings with the tactile appeal of stuffed toys. The company is described as having been founded by four people who had attended Glenbard West High School together and later became friends; three of the four founders were brothers. Micheal Gordon served as the group’s leader and lead architect, Glenn Robertson handled operations, Brent Robertson worked in sales, and Staurn Robertson led the financial side of the venture. The company’s public development effort centered on a Kickstarter campaign launched on April 8, 2014, and scheduled to conclude on May 8, 2014. The campaign sought at least $25,000 but did not reach that threshold, making it unsuccessful on Kickstarter. Despite the campaign outcome, Squeezable Skylines proceeded with selling its products. Design work for the stuffed-tower collection began on July 18, although the available reference material does not specify the year beyond its placement in the company’s 2014 development history. The documented collection consisted of four architectural plush products: a Willis Tower, a John Hancock Center, an Empire State Building, and a Space Needle. The selection mixed Chicago landmarks with nationally recognizable buildings from New York City and Seattle, reflecting a product strategy based on landmark recognition rather than a single-city-only assortment. The company’s offering appears to have been positioned as novelty merchandise, gifts, and collectibles for people interested in architecture, urban skylines, or city-themed souvenirs. Available information does not establish the company’s exact incorporation date, legal structure, current ownership, continued operating status, distribution footprint, sales performance, or whether the brand remains active. It is also not established whether the full planned collection expanded beyond the four documented towers. The company is therefore best characterized as a small, U.S.-based architectural novelty and plush-toy venture whose best-documented activity occurred around its 2014 crowdfunding attempt and initial product development.

Squeezable Skylines emerged as a small Chicago venture built around the idea of representing famous buildings as stuffed toys. The company was founded by four people who had attended Glenbard West High School together and subsequently became friends. Three of the founders were brothers. Their responsibilities were divided among creative design, operations, sales, and finance: Micheal Gordon was identified as the group leader and lead architect; Glenn Robertson directed operations; Brent Robertson handled sales; and Staurn Robertson took responsibility for financial matters. The brand’s documented public launch effort was a Kickstarter campaign that opened on April 8, 2014, and closed on May 8, 2014. The campaign required $25,000 but did not achieve that threshold. Although the crowdfunding effort failed to meet its target, the company did not abandon the underlying product concept. It continued toward selling its plush creations, indicating that the Kickstarter result did not necessarily end the venture’s commercial activity. Product design for the stuffed-tower collection began on July 18. The documented range comprised four plush interpretations of major skyscrapers: Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center, both associated with Chicago; the Empire State Building in New York City; and the Space Needle in Seattle. This assortment connected the company’s Chicago base with a broader national selection of recognizable landmarks. Rather than reproducing generic toys, Squeezable Skylines used architectural identity as the central differentiator of its products. The available record does not provide a confirmed incorporation year, detailed manufacturing information, retail partners, sales figures, later management, or a verified current website. It also does not document whether the company introduced additional buildings after the initial four. Consequently, the known history is concentrated in the company’s formation, its 2014 crowdfunding campaign, the beginning of product design, and the reported continuation of sales after the unsuccessful campaign. Its long-term operating status remains uncertain.

• 2014

  Kickstarter campaign begins

  [1]Squeezable Skylinesen.wikipedia.org

  Squeezable Skylines launched a Kickstarter campaign on April 8 to support its line of plush skyscraper replicas.

• 2014

  Crowdfunding campaign concludes unsuccessfully

  [1]Squeezable Skylinesen.wikipedia.org

  The Kickstarter campaign ended on May 8 without reaching the $25,000 target, but the company continued with product sales.

• 2014

  Stuffed-tower designs begin

  [1]Squeezable Skylinesen.wikipedia.org

  Design work for the company’s plush skyscraper collection started on July 18.

Novelty and collectible plush merchandise inspired by recognizable skyscrapers and urban landmarks.

• Plush skyscraper replica

  Willis Tower

  A stuffed-toy interpretation of Chicago’s Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. It was part of Squeezable Skylines’ documented collection of architectural plush products.

• Plush skyscraper replica

  John Hancock Center

  A plush representation of Chicago’s John Hancock Center, included in the company’s initial group of landmark-based stuffed towers.

• Plush skyscraper replica

  Empire State Building

  A soft, collectible interpretation of New York City’s Empire State Building. Its inclusion extended the collection beyond the company’s Chicago home market.

• Plush landmark replica

  Space Needle

  A stuffed-toy version of Seattle’s Space Needle, broadening the documented collection from conventional skyscrapers to another highly recognizable urban landmark.

• 2014Squeezable Skylines Kickstarter

  United States

  The company used Kickstarter from April 8 through May 8, 2014, to seek funding for its plush skyscraper concept.

  Outcome. The campaign did not reach its $25,000 target. Squeezable Skylines nevertheless continued toward selling its products.

  Source

• 2014

  Continue product sales after unsuccessful crowdfundingStrategy

  Background

  The company’s Kickstarter campaign ended without reaching its $25,000 funding threshold.

  Action taken

  Squeezable Skylines proceeded with selling its plush products despite the failed crowdfunding campaign.

  Aftermath

  The available material confirms continued sales but does not provide later financial or operational results.

  Kickstarter funding target. $25,000 target not reached (April 8-May 8, 2014)

  Source

1. 1Squeezable Skylinesen.wikipedia.org