This article breaks down logo evolution, licensing deals, and expansion of X-Concepts LLC's Tech Deck lines from their inception in 1998 until Spin Master bought them in 2006. In late 2006 Spin Master bought out X-Concepts and the Tech Deck toys, so I've decided to only cover their earlier, experimental, and ever-expanding era of eight years. This was also the peak of their sales, diversity in toys, and of the broader extreme sports toy culture.
I consider 1998-2006 to be the growth and peak in popularity of Tech Deck, skateboarding and extreme sports toys, and the final punches of the independent toy companies in the mainstream. Sure, we have tons of collectible lines and art toys now, but how many major toylines (not based on pop culture franchises) do you see in Target or Walmart today without a Spin Master, Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai, or Funko logo on the packaging? Probably very few now that KB Toys and Toys R Us are gone (with K-Mart, SEARS, and JcPenneys shuttering stores across the nation).
The toy industry (excluding smaller indie art toy makers who sell online and at conventions) is an oligopoly run by a few major conglomerates. We may never have another toy company like X-Concepts that makes widely distributed toys like Tech Deck and Tech Deck Dudes without major backing.
So, to celebrate a company that just started independently and made it onto the shelves of every toy shop, department store, pharmacy, and skate shop—Let's document the growth of X-Concepts LLC and their numerous Tech Deck Lines! I think it'll be most organized to do this through year-by-year highlights to show the line's growth over an eight year time span.
1998:
In 1998, X-Concepts LLC started releasing Tech Decks, replica skateboards based on popular deck designs from famous brands.
They first began with their iconic fingerboard, which unfortunately has been remolded in the 2010s-20s.
In their early days, they had the rights to the following brands:
Element, Blind, World Industries, Creature, Toy Machine, Flip, Black Label, Alien Workshop, A-Team, Santa Cruz, New Deal, Chapman Skateboards, ZooYork, Birdhouse, Foundation Skateboards, Zero, HookUps, and Maple.
1999:
Tech Deck gains the rights to produce replica decks of AC City Stars & The Firm:
Tech Deck begins making Tech Deck Snowboards:
Brands included: Palmer, Santa Cruz, LIB technologies, NITRO, SIMS, Gnu, Ride Snowboards, Forum Snowboards, and World Industries:
X-Concepts LLC got the rights to make Mini-Snowboards and Mini-Skateboards based on Pokemon.
However, these boards did not fall under their usual "Tech Deck" brand name.
In 1999, Tech Deck began to experiment with the size of their boards, creating the Tech Deck Mini:
Tech Deck also made Keychains in 1999 based on their early brand partners, but this was the only time they said keychains.
2000:
Tech Deck gained the rights to Dregs, Habitat, and Dynasty
Tech Deck? Nope, this is a Tech Bike, the official ABA Bike System!
X-Concepts LLC also expanded the Tech line into Go-Karting with Tech Karts, replicating Tony Karts.
'
The Tech brands swam into the ocean with Wakeboards and Surfboards:
2001:
Tech Deck gained the rights to Finesse, Aesthetics, REAL, Speed Demons, Darkstar, Status, DECA, Spitfire Wheels, PIG, LIB Technologies, 151, and BONES
Tech Deck made a line of "Classics" which brought back designs from the '80s and early '90s that had been long archived. Some of these were KB toys Exclusives.
Gotta love the checkered Vans on this logo.
Creative Team Expansion:X-Concepts LLC starting working with a UK Creative team called Zip Design for their Tech Deck magazine ads that were printed across Thrasher, Concrete Wave, Transworld, etc. from 2001-2004:
They also designed some unused Tech Deck logos:
The first 6-Packs came in these boxes in stores with the old G1 and Tech Deck logo from 2001-2002:
2002:
Tech Deck became a phenomenon in 2000-2002, gaining more licenses than one can keep track of.
2002 brought them the rights to Girl, DNA, Judah, OBEY, and more...
2003:
Tech Deck expanded further in 2003, introducing boards for DGK, SEEK, and a couple more brands.
In 2003, Tech Deck expanded its Dudes into G2. Each dude figure now came with a pack of 5 random trading cards and static arms that struck a pose.
New Logo:
This ad is from 2003, you can tell by the kick-flipping Rodney logo:
2004:
For the first time, I think 2004 was a year with no new skate brands? Probably because Tech Deck had really cornered the market and owned every major brand.
The Generation 3 Dudes introduced us to Bendy Arms, Series 2 trading cards, Blast Boards, and Magnetic Action Figures.
2005:
Tech Deck stopped making boards for some of the less popular/in-demand brands in 2005.
Although, in hindsight, this stream-lining may be a sign that X-Concepts LLC needed help financially.
Some of X-Concepts LLC's non-Tech Deck lines (Micro Icons, Urban Icons, Water Worms, SKUMM) had failed years prior. There were also no more new Skate Crews, just repackaging in 3-packs.
The Tech Deck Dudes and more popular skate brand Tech Decks (i.e. World Industries and Blind) were keeping them stable enough. But, I wonder if looking at this 2005 card back, the smaller roster of brands was a sign X-Concepts needed help? Hence why Spin Master bought them out in 2006?
2006:
Tech Deck gained the rights to Popwar, Plan B, Cliche, BluePrint, ATM, Bueno, and a few others in 2006.
Later that year, the X-Concepts LLC and Tech Decks were acquired by Spin Master
2007: Now Spin Master, R.I.P X-Concepts
This card back below was the first to have a Spin Master logo at the bottom in place of the X-Concepts.
X-Concepts had a profitable kite making business within the firm that severed off and runs independently to this day called: X-Kites.
But, everything else non-Tech Deck was not bought by Spin Master, so there is no chance of the non-skateboarding X-Concepts toys coming back.
R.I.P Water Worms, Micro Icons, Modifiers, Urban Icons and more.
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