Big Play Games in liquidation amid after family business partnership and online growth plans fail

A well-known pop culture business that sold trending toys and games in shopping centres across Queensland has gone into liquidation, leaving staff out of work and a family fractured. Here’s why.

A well-known pop culture business that sold trending toys and games in shopping centres across Queensland has gone into liquidation.

Southport-based Big Play Games had 10 permanent kiosks from Robina to the Sunshine Coast, with as many as 30 pop-up stores during Christmas shopping months.

The colourful kiosks stocked fidget and sensory toys, plushies, anime and pop culture collectibles and their own party and drinking games.

Big Play was also a familiar sight at major pop culture conventions and annual shows including this year’s Ekka in Brisbane.

It was founded seven years ago by Stas and Lizzy Shobolov and her brother Robert Shinnie, who is now the company’s sole director.

Lizzy and Stas Shobolov launching Big Play Games in Brisbane at 2017.

Ms Shobolov said she and her husband had taken a step back from management of the business in 2021 when they started a family, handing control to Mr Shinnie, 33.

The mother of two girls said the business had struggled since.

“It was going well under our management,” she said.

“My advice to others would be don’t do business with family.

“We’re basically not on speaking terms with my brother anymore, it was a hard lesson to learn.”

The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted Mr Shinnie for comment.

Big Play Games has gone into liquidation.

Robert Shinnie.

Ms Shobolov said she was most upset for the loyal staff and customers of the business.

“We started the business because we were passionate nerds and wanted to do something for other passionate nerds who just got it,” she said.

“It’s just a shame.”

The company was stung by a failed expansion into Sydney and other growth plans that didn’t pan out, Ms Shobolov said.

“We had such great intentions,” she said.

“Our staff have been beautiful. Because of the nature of pop culture, it attracted a lot of people who were on the spectrum, a lot of LGBTIQA+ people and those with mental health issues, and it gave everyone a place to belong.

“It’s horrible but I’m choosing to look at it as a blessing in disguise, I’m going to put all those lessons to use – onwards and upwards.”.

Staff of Big Play Games enjoy their Christmas party.

Liquidator Matthew Bookless said the company had progressively closed stores for the past month, shuttering the last of its shopping centre kiosks last week.

“It is early in my investigations but it appears the business just wasn’t profitable,” he said.

“There are some entitlements owed to employees, but I believe wages are all up to date.

“I think there was an intent to close unprofitable stores and focus on the profitable ones, but they had become undercapitalised so that strategy didn’t work.

“The director said they had also attempted to move the business online and that was not successful and ultimately chewed up a lot of the available working capital and that really limited their options.”

Big Play Games has gone into liquidation.

Big Play Games has gone into liquidation.

Mr Bookless said the company still held a considerable amount of stock, which would go to auction in an effort to recover funds for creditors.

“I don’t know what the value of the remaining stock is at this point,” he said.

“It will go to Lloyd’s for auction in due course.”