Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Allen.
Hi Casey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into Mahjong started with my mom. She had been playing for years and kept trying to convince me to learn, but I resisted for the longest time. I think part of me assumed it wasn’t really “my thing.”
But then one day, my neighbors — who are also some of my best friends — decided we should all step out of our comfort zones together and take a beginner class. It felt less scary doing it as a group, so I said yes.
After one lesson, we were completely flummoxed. We walked out wondering what in the world we had just signed up for. But somehow, instead of giving up, we kept showing up. Slowly, piece by piece, things started making sense.
Before long, a weekly Mahjong afternoon was permanently placed on the books.
Between the four of us, we have nine kids, and most of our time together had always revolved around school schedules, sports practices, pickups, drop-offs, and everything that comes with motherhood. Mahjong became something that was finally just for us — a reason to slow down, laugh, connect, and spend intentional time together as friends.
Of course, we quickly fell in love with the beautiful tile sets, colorful tablescapes, and the creativity surrounding the game. But as we started shopping for tiles ourselves, we noticed something — the prices were steep.
I felt like there was a huge hole in the Mahjong tile market for people who wanted a set that felt elevated, stylish, and unique without the exorbitant price tag. I also wanted our tiles to feel approachable and easy to play with. Some sets were gorgeous, but difficult for beginners or guests to recognize quickly during a game.
That became incredibly important to me.
I wanted to create tiles that were beautiful enough to feel special sitting on your table, but still clear, recognizable, and functional so that anyone could comfortably sit down and play without confusion.
We believe great design shouldn’t come at an inflated price. Our tiles are affordable without sacrificing style, because Mahjong should be accessible—and beautiful—for everyone who loves the game.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a Mahjong tile company as someone with no background in manufacturing was overwhelming at times. I found myself navigating overseas production, late-night emails to factories in China, language barriers, massive time differences, shipping logistics, color matching, and quality control — all while raising a family and managing everyday life.
There were moments when it felt like every step forward came with two new problems to solve.
I obsessed over every detail because I cared deeply about creating something beautiful and high quality. I spent countless hours reviewing samples, adjusting colors, changing designs, and trying to communicate exactly what I envisioned through emails, photos, and translated messages.
And of course… mistakes happened.
But every obstacle taught me something.
It forced me to become more patient, more detail-oriented, more resilient, and honestly, more grateful for the final product I was building. Nothing about this process was “easy” or overnight. It was built slowly through trial and error, persistence, and a genuine love for the Mahjong community.
And maybe that’s part of why these tiles mean so much to me now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Soap Tile Studio?
Soap Tile Studio was created with one simple belief: Mahjong tiles should be beautiful, easy to play, and reasonably priced. Wild concept, we know.
Our tiles are crafted for ease of play, designed to be instantly readable and comfortable in your hands from the very first game. Each set features bold, modern artwork, engraved and UV printed on both sides for clarity, durability, and longevity.
We lean into a modern yet timeless design philosophy—clean lines, an appealing color palette, and thoughtful details that never distract from the game itself. The result is a tile set that feels current without chasing trends, and classic without feeling dated.
Soap Tile Studio tiles are intentionally sized to appeal to beginners, teachers, and traditionalists alike. Easy for new players to learn with. Clear enough for instructors to teach confidently. Familiar and satisfying for seasoned Mahjong players who value function as much as form.
No fuss.
No frills.
No markups.
Just Mahjong.
Pricing:
- 199
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soaptilestudio.com
- Instagram: @soaptilestudio
