Is it time to stop manufacturing overseas? Or are these tariffs just temporary chaos?

In this episode we're talking about the massive new tariffs shaking up the toy industry and what they mean for your bottom line. With import costs from China jumping up to 54% April 2nd, and a potential 104% threat looming over the horizon, toy creators everywhere are wondering what to do next. Should you absorb the cost? Raise prices? Cancel a launch? Shift production? I’ll walk you through what’s really happening, what’s coming next, and how to make a smart move without panicking.

On April 4th, I held a Tariff Toy Talk for Toy & Game Creators where we could get together and discuss what to do in light of the Trump administration's tariffs that are decimating our economy, and threatening the life of the toy industry. 

Since so many of you reached out wanting to hear the recording, I thought it would be best to make this talk readily available on this podcast.

Tune in to hear from other toy people just like you—creators, inventors, and business owners—who joined me to share their questions, insights, and real-life experiences going through this rollercoaster. From surprise $9K tariff bills to last-minute Kickstarter cancellations and creative shipping workarounds, you’ll get insights from the front lines.

Listen For These Important Moments!

• [00:01:16] — A quick look back at how the 2025 tariff news hit the toy industry starting right after Toy Fair wrapped. 
• [00:04:27] — Several indie toy brands start to feel the heat. From canceled Kickstarters to massive clearance sales, the early ripple effects are real and painful.
• [00:08:11] — A few creators share the gut-punch of getting charged thousands of dollars on orders they thought were already squared away.
• [00:28:03] — Innovative responses begin to surface. 3D printing, fulfillment shifts, and DTC models come up as small brands brainstorm ways to stay afloat.
• [00:43:20] — The big manufacturing question gets unpacked. Can U.S. factories really step up for toy makers or is that just a hopeful dream for now?

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Have I ever told you that I’m allergic to cats? Well, lucky for me I recently met Katharine Burke, the creator of PurryFuls, a purring plush cat that is designed for on demand comfort that only a purring cat can provide.

Katharine left a high-stress tech job to build Purryfuls, and in today’s episode she shares exactly how she went from zero toy product experience to debuting her brand at New York Toy Fair and getting featured in Forbes!

In this episode we go into detail about the skills that Katharine had to develop to create her first prototype, and why those skills likely saved her thousands of dollars. If you’re interested in hearing a case study of a fellow startup toy entrepreneur taking a leap of faith on their toy product, give this episode a listen.

Listen for These Important Moments:

• [02:23] – Burned out from a high-pressure tech job, Katharine made a bold decision that completely changed her life. She walked away to follow her toy dream.
• [05:21] – When she couldn’t find a plush that mimicked a cat’s purr, she realized something big: this product didn’t exist yet… and she was going to make it.
• [07:02] – No sewing skills? No problem. Katharine taught herself everything from scratch (including coding) to bring her purring plush to life.
• [17:15] – Just one day into Toy Fair, her brand was already featured in Forbes. This unexpected media moment changed everything.
• [22:51] – Instead of diving straight into retail, Katharine took a smarter path that gave her more control, and it's one you might want to follow too.

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Let’s face it: toy brands get almost ALL the glory, but the inventors behind the product—people like you—deserve the spotlight too. In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m sharing 5 lessons to take you from hidden genius to rising star, inspired by my own experience and my recent convo with Tim Walsh, inventor of ‘Blurt!’.

We’re talking about why advocating for yourself matters (yes, you can request your name on the box), how to time your ideas to ride the perfect trend wave, and why pitching just one idea is a rookie mistake. (Spoiler: you need a whole pipeline of concepts.)

I’ll also give some insight into how to spot the white space in the market, using data-focused tools and cross-industry trends. 

Hit play if you agree with me and Tim Walsh that toy and game inventors are criminally unrecognized. 🙂


Listen For These Important Moments:

• [00:01:46] - Recognition for Toy Creators
• [00:07:27] - Collaborating with the Industry
• [00:10:55] - Designing for Connection
• [00:12:25] - Playtesting in Real-World Environments
• [00:14:10] - Timing and Persistence
• [00:18:23] - Pitching Multiple Ideas
• [00:20:50] - Finding White Space
• [00:23:28] - Drawing Inspiration from Other Industries

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Did you know that you can turn everyday experiences into great toy ideas? Today’s podcast guest noticed that her toddler loved to play with pretend food toys. However, she saw that the food toys on the market didn’t represent what was popular in Hawai’i, where she lives. So, she created a toy company that started with Hawai’ian food toy sets and has now branched out with toys that represent other cuisines found in Hawai’i like Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese.

April Hail has lived in Hawai’i for between 20 and 30 years of her life. There, she started Keiki KauKau, after being inspired by her kids’ play patterns and the popular foods in Hawai’i. April shares about the struggles of being a parent and being an entrepreneur who is running a small one-person company. Her kids inspired her to create the business, but she also seeks to have balance so she can spend plenty of time with them. You’ll also learn about the unique struggles of importing from China to Hawai’i while also selling to the mainland US, which shipping platform you may want to try to save money, and advice on how to market a niche toy.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• Find out the benefits of starting a niche company in a small community.  [00:06:26]
• Find out which products are often cheaper: online or in-store. [00:10:32]
• Learn why shipping international products to Hawai’i is particularly costly and difficult. [00:11:51]
• Find out about an easy shipping website that could help you save money on shipping costs. [00:17:10] 
• Learn when you should hire someone to do your marketing for you. [00:20:54]
• Find out about the unique history of Hawai’i that has led it to become the most multicultural state. [00:22:29]
• Learn the value of offering niche products that people can relate to. [00:26:55]
• Find out what April finds difficult about being a solo entrepreneur. [00:28:01]
• Learn April’s best piece of advice for getting started with a niche product in the toy industry. [00:37:09]
• Find out how to target layered niches for even more specialization in the toy industry. [00:40:14]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at https://www.thetoycoach.com/166

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Today’s podcast episode touches on a subject we haven’t covered yet: faith. Today’s guest shares how her faith not only inspired her to create what became a popular product but also kept her going during challenging moments. My guest today believes that everyone has a God-given purpose and that finding that will help each person find the most fulfillment in life.

Angie Cella is a mom of four children, a Christian author, and the inventor and chief dreamer of Blinger, an amazing tool for both kids and adults that you can use to add crystals to your hair. Her incredible and unique story starts with a prayer and a dream. However, it wasn’t a metaphorical dream that led Angie to create Blinger. It was a literal nighttime dream that gave her inspiration. Listen to today’s podcast episode to learn how she made her dream into reality over the next four years, how she made it work financially with four children, and how her faith kept her going through it all. You’ll also learn why she first licensed her toy but then decided to get her license back after a few years, and about the miracle that helped her write her book, Blinger: An Entrepreneur's Faith-Based Journey.

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• Learn about Angie’s dream that led her to create Blinger. [00:05:44]
• Find out how Angie handled the difficult moments in the development process using a technique she learned from her work with Arbonne. [00:13:49]
• Learn how and why Angie’s strong faith has led her to where she is today. [00:15:57]
• Find out about the miracle that helped Angie write her most recent book. [00:20:34]
• Learn about the overall mission of Blinger. [00:30:10]
• Find out why Angie says you really can’t actually “mess it up.” [00:31:54]
• Learn how Angie’s faith kept her going during financially difficult moments and what she did to keep her dream going during those times. [00:34:10]
• Find out how Angie’s toy, Blinger, seemed to explode overnight at the Toy Fair. [00:37:42]
• Learn where you can find more information about the Women in Toys event that helped Angie’s product become more well-known. [00:42:50]
• Find out why Angie decided to become the manufacturer of Blinger after working with a licensing company. [00:46:47]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at https://www.thetoycoach.com/165

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MESH is NOT the new STEAM. MESH is a solution that utilizes toys as an answer to the mental health crisis among children and teens today.  The development of MESH skills is important to help kids learn how to navigate strong emotions and difficult experiences. So what is MESH?  MESH is an acronym for Mental, Emotional and Social Health. Developing MESH skills can help protect kids from the risky behaviors and self-harm that are too often the result of their mental distress.

Today’s podcast episode is a Masterclass on MESH with Rachel Harmuth, the Head of ThinkFun. MESH products are products that build skills like problem solving, perseverance, adaptation, conflict resolution, self-regulation, self-advocacy, cognitive skills, and communication strategies.

If you have a toy or game product that could potentially fit into the MESH category, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. In this episode you’ll learn all about the MESH movement, who is behind it, and you’ll uncover how you can get involved.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at https://www.thetoycoach.com/164

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This week on the Making It In The Toy Industry Podcast, learn the steps on how to create a Successful Buyer Presentation with help from expert Marie Nastasi. You’ll learn what buyers are looking for, how to research product categories and research your competition, and how to craft an amazing retail presentation.

This episode is packed with valuable information for developing a successful buyer presentation. Learn the 5 Keys to a Successful Buyer Presentation as developed by today’s guest Marie Nastasi. She brings a wealth of experience and advice from her roles as both a buyer and a manufacturers’ representative for companies large and small. 

Marie is on the show today to serve up a mini toy sales masterclass. She explains the importance of extensive and in-depth consumer research, price-to-value relationships, price point play, vendor of record, and exactly what you should include in that PowerPoint deck for buyers. We’ll also take an in-depth look at what these toy industry terms mean. Get ready for a toy conversation that’s filled with valuable, actionable, and toyspirational advice.

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• Research your consumer. There are so many ways to do this. In this episode, learn how.
• Understand product categories inside and out. Forwards and backwards. It’s what your competition is doing.
• Learn why it’s so important to visit a variety of retail stores and visit them often. 
• Are you a vendor of record? Learn what that means and how to become one. 
• Learn important industry terms so you can be successful with key buyers 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at https://www.thetoycoach.com/163

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How do you go from a dreamer with comic book aspirations to a toy industry legend and award-winning toy designer? Today’s guest shares his incredible journey as an artist, parent, and toy designer from the 1990s until now. His toy journey will inspire you to take a risk, put in your all, and go that extra mile.

David Vonner’s original dream was to be an illustrator for Marvel Comics. However, his family and those surrounding him encouraged him to go down a path that would ensure a good career. After attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia, David got his first design job at Spencer’s, and then went through a slew of creative toy jobs that led him to work at Marvel as a toy designer for 5-6 years, before moving on to Hasbro to work on their Marvel-licensed products. 

In today’s episode you will learn how connections helped David to advance in the toy industry, how he went from traditional employment to starting his own company, and his best piece of advice for people in the toy industry today. His toy story is captivating, informative, and inspirational!

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• Learn how David’s love of comics helped him to develop drawing skills in childhood. [00:08:47]
• Find out the surprising connections that led David to think of a career outside of comics. [00:19:09]
• Learn about the difficult and shocking event that delayed David’s college experience by 3 years and made him even more determined to succeed. [00:22:44]
• Find out why David redid his entire portfolio the weekend before a job interview. [00:28:11]
• Learn the first product that David designed at his first job. [00:35:05]
• Hear the heart racing tale of how David lost the address to the new Marvel offices on his way to the interview! You’ll be surprised where he was able to find it. [00:49:44]
• Learn the advice that helped David not only survive but thrive while working on the Marvel team at Hasbro. [00:59:55]
• Find out how David took care of his mental health after a difficult time in the toy industry. [01:22:53]
• Learn how David started his own studio, Vonner Studios [01:33:51]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/162

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Think of a time when you were shopping for a product and just thought to yourself, “Ugh, all of the options are boring, or not that cute, or they don’t work the way I need them to.” You’re creative, so you probably thought of a great way to improve that product at that moment. But, maybe you wondered if you could really do everything that goes into creating a successful product in the toy industry. Keep listening to learn the inspiring story of someone who did just that. 

Josh White is an award-winning innovator who combines strategy, branding, marketing, packaging design, manufacturing, and toy creation at his creative agency, OffWhite Co. He created a line of kid-friendly measuring tapes called Handy Famm after a dissatisfying trip to the hardware store with his daughter. This is a great example of how the best toy ideas come from the world around us and our everyday lives. In today’s episode, you will learn how sticking with the “box” of what you know can actually help you to get started with your ideas. You’ll also learn how Josh’s product is toyetic, the importance of safety in toy design, and how Josh deals with challenges that come his way in the toy development process.

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn about the first time Josh got to innovate in the toy industry. [00:05:38]
• Find out the story behind Handy Famm’s inspiration. [00:10:44]
• Learn the toyetic properties included in Handy Famm’s products and ideas. [00:13:58]
• Find out how Josh used Kickstarter to see if his product could be successful. [00:16:00]
• Learn what safety considerations went into creating the tape measures. [00:18:27]
• Find out how challenges can actually be a good thing. [00:21:20]
• Learn what Handy Famm did to become the number one measuring tool on Amazon. [00:23:57]
• Find out how Josh takes the steps to bring his ideas to life. [00:29:27]
• Learn how using what you know can help you to start on your ideas. [00:32:16]
• Find out where to get a special promo code for Handy Famm. [00:36:59]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/161

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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Have you ever dreamed of creating your own neighborhood toy store? Even if that’s not your toy industry dream, today’s episode is full of valuable tips for any toy industry entrepreneur. Today’s guest started a toy store in her local community with her dad, and turned into a successful family business over the eight years it has been open. Listen to the episode to find out about the differences between starting a digital business and a brick-and-mortar business and how a business plan can give you a solid framework for success.

Today’s guest, Theresa Duncan, started her career in non-profit work, developing programs for at-risk youth. Now, she is the owner of Villa Villekulla Toys in Amelia Island, Florida. In today’s episode, she tells how she got the idea to quit her job and start a neighborhood toy store in the first place, how focusing on the community can help you to market your small business, and valuable tips for getting your toy into a neighborhood toy store. Listen to the full episode for these essential pieces of toy industry information and more!


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn how Theresa’s work with kids inspired her toy store idea. [00:01:45]
• Find out how having a business plan helped Theresa and her father start their toy store. [00:08:46]
• Learn about the startup differences between digital and brick-and-mortar toy stores. [00:09:54]
• Learn about the five stages of entrepreneurship and how they relate to your business. [00:13:32]
• Ever heard of Neighborhood Toy Store Month? It’s something you need to learn about even if you don’t own a toy store! [00:21:34]
• Find out the benefits of shopping locally. [00:22:37]
• Explore clever ways to market your toy or game products to independent toy stores. [00:32:31]
• We even dive into tips on Google Ads! Find out how to save money on Google Ads with the negative keywords list. [00:33:35]
• Learn why Theresa got comfortable being the face of her store and how it helped her business. [00:39:19]
• Find out the “secret sauce” of Theresa’s toy store. [00:40:40]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/160

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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With AI-Powered Chat GPT, generating toy and game ideas has never been easier. If you are in the process of developing a toy or a game but are stuck in the concept phase, this week’s episode is one you cannot afford to miss. AI-Powered Chat GPT can generate “creative” toy & game ideas quickly and easily - and all you need to get started is a single sentence. Chat GPT was released in November of 2022, and is known for its ability to code, write stories, and even music. But today we’re giving this clever chatbot a new challenge…to come up with a concept for a toy or game. Curious to know how it did? I bet you’ll be shocked by the results.
 
In today’s episode we explore 1) what Chat GPT is, 2) how you can start using it today, 3) if it's really possible to generate complete ideas for toys and games with just a single sentence prompt and 4) if this chatbot can aid in the marketing and selling of your toy or game.  This episode ends with a look into the obvious benefits and maybe not so obvious drawbacks of this new tool. When you’re ready to harness the power of technology to improve your toy ideation process, tap play and dive into this episode.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• What happens when I request Chat GPT to give me an idea for a toy that will teach boys about nurturing. [11:44]
• Hear my thoughts on what Chat GPT output as an email draft for contacting potential buyers of my fictional toy product. [20:50]
• Not sure what to include in your press release? Hear a complete example generated by this chatbot. [22:48]
• Learn the key benefits of using this AI chat bot for ideas, information, and to jumpstart your pitch emails. [28:50]
• Find out how capacity is one of the biggest challenges this chat bot faces, and what that could mean for your ability to use it. [33:16]
• Hear what actions Google is rumored to be taking against AI copywriting technology and why. [33:50]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/159

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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I bet that YOU can generate a high resolution concept image of your toy idea for free, and in seconds. The use of AI art exploded in recent months, with the search term “AI art” spiking in the US this past December. The breakout AI tools have been Midjourney, Lensa, and DALL-E. Since then, there has been considerable and understandable backlash against AI art from real human artists across the globe. In this episode we explore three things, 1) how AI can help the development process of your toy or game, 2) why some artists are frustrated by the growing popularity of ai art, and 3) what legal ramifications using art generated by AI could pose.

As the golden age of AI art seems to be just on the horizon, one of my favorite quotes by Tom Waits seems to be challenged. “ Fast, Cheap, and Good… pick two. If it’s fast and cheap it won’t be good. If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. If it’s fast and good, it won’t be cheap.” It seems that at least for now AI art can deliver fast, cheap, and good work. Some might argue the “good” is debatable, but out of that trifecta, I think it’s the affordability of AI art of the future that we really have to worry about. What use is a free AI generated image, if you can’t use it because it infringes on the copyright of an existing artist? Find out the answer to that question and more in this podcast episode.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn the 3 popular AI tools of today, Midjourney, Dalle, and Lensa.[3:28]
• Find out why developers consider AI to be creating unique images and why artists disagree. [10:42]
• Hear how I prompted Midjourney AI to design an actual toy! [17:21]
• Curious if AI art can help you develop a children’s book? Maybe not entirely, but find out what it can do for your composition. [30:56]
• Why you may not be able to use the images you generate. [39:12] 
• Find out how independent board game designers are making use of AI art. [44:26]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/158

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations.

During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any toy biz wisdom they’d gathered along the way. This is Part 3 of a 3 part interview release series featuring my interviews with the founder of Tragos Carolina Acosta, who created the games company that works to remove the stigma of not being Latino enough" through cards that almost any Latin@ can identify with regardless of how much Spanish they speak or where they were born. After that, we'll go right into an interview with Fungisaurs a true augmented reality collectible toy and IP. And finally, we'll wrap up today's episode with Mary Kay Morrison, the author of the grandparent guidebook, Legacy of Laughter.

Watch the video of these 10 interviews on my YouTube channel, visit youtube.com/thetoycoach and hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss those.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/157

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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What if a simple classroom activity could unite generations across decades? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, we’re celebrating 30 years of Blurt with its inventor, Tim Walsh, and uncovering the incredible story behind the game that connects Boomers to Gen Alpha.

Discover how a third-grade classroom exercise—reading dictionary definitions aloud—sparked the creation of a timeless game that’s built kids’ vocabularies, brought families together, and even supported memory retention for older adults. Tim takes us through the evolution of Blurt, from its humble beginnings as a prototype called DeFUNitions to becoming a household staple.

But this episode isn’t just about one game. It’s about the unsung heroes of the toy industry—inventors who remain “criminally unrecognized” despite shaping cultural phenomena like UNO and LEGO. Tim and I explore why toy creators deserve the same recognition as musicians and authors, how Euro games are leading the way in celebrating designers, and what the industry can learn from them.

Tim also shares invaluable lessons for aspiring toy creators: why resilience and persistence are critical, why timing can make or break a product, and why you should always focus on generating multiple ideas instead of pinning your hopes on just one. You’ll also hear how toys like Operation have inspired careers in fields like healthcare and engineering and how play is essential for creativity, connection, and overcoming life’s challenges.

Whether you’re a toy enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or someone who values the power of play, this episode will leave you inspired to think differently about toys—and the brilliant minds behind them.

Listen for these Important Moments! 

• [01:44] - The Surprising Anonymity of Toy Designers
• [04:16] - The Origin Story of Blurt
• [07:33] - Blurt's Impact and Evolution
• [21:58] - Challenges and Successes in the Toy Industry
• [24:10] - The Power of Play in Creativity and Connection
• [26:17] - Insights from Toyland: Interviews with Legendary Inventors
• [28:33] - The Concept of 'Entreplayneur' and Embracing Playfulness
• [34:31] - Play Throughout Life: Lessons from Blurt and Beyond
• [38:12] - Advice for Aspiring Toy and Game Inventors
• [40:40] - The Influence of Childhood Toys on Future Careers

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations.

During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any toy biz wisdom they’d gathered along the way. This is Part 2 of a 3 part interview release series featuring my interviews with Kate Hunt, a current student in toy creators academy and the creator of the Ultimate Treehouse game. After that, we'll go right into an interview with Joe Barron Gray Matters games,  the games company with a devotion to supporting brain health. In short, they believe that exercising the gray matter in your head…matters! And finally, we'll wrap up today's episode with Rebecca Jatton of Goliath Toys and Games. 

Watch the video of these 10 interviews on my YouTube channel, visit youtube.com/thetoycoach and hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss those.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/156

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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In December of 2022, The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations.

During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any toy biz wisdom they’d gathered along the way. This is Part 1 of a 3 part interview release series featuring my interviews with Dolphin Hat Games, Eblox, Pockimals, and Project Genius. 

The video of these 10 interviews will be released on my YouTube channel before the end of 2022! If you don’t want to miss the video release, head over to youtube.com/thetoycoach and hit the subscribe button to be notified when they are available.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/155

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Have you ever had an idea for a character that you could envision becoming a globally recognized brand? Today, one of the important ingredients to building a licensable brand is authenticity. Building an authentic toy and entertainment brand means that you’ve got to be crystal clear about the reason WHY you created that brand in the first place. You’ve got to dedicate your time and energy to growing AND supporting your community, and meanwhile you’ve got to make sure the whole world knows it’s happening. That’s the topic that we dive into during today’s podcast episode.

Our guest today is April Showers, the founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn.  This uplifting brand includes unicorn themed clothing, accessories, toys, and more, that feature a diverse array of unicorns with afros and different skin tones. Afro Unicorn products are available at Walmart and Target, this brand has been shared and supported by Gayle King, Viola Davis, and Tiffany Haddish.  April supports fellow entrepreneurs to “live the dream!” providing free promotional and educational opportunities through her social platforms, called Small Business Saturday.

Dive into this episode to discover HOW April Showers turn an idea into a household name within her community. You’ll hear us talk about the power of manifesting your toy dreams and the focus required to go after them. This podcast episode is essential for anyone looking to build their own toy or entertainment IP because it provides a roadmap of one way you can make that happen. Get ready to take notes, change the way you approach developing your brand, and make sure you support Afro Unicorn products!


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn how April went from a real estate agent and insurance agency owner to a licensing success [00:02:15]
• Find out how upgrading her lifestyle and home helped April to get further in her business. [00:04:48]
• Learn about the strategic mindset and envisioning process that helped April to get to where she is today. [00:10:33]
• Find out where the idea and inspiration came for the Afro Unicorns brand. [00:17:06]
• Learn how and why April originally envisioned Afro Unicorns as being a brand for adults. [00:19:06]
• Find out the incredible story behind a viral video that put the Afro Unicorns brand in the spotlight. [00:25:08]
• Learn why April focused so much on building the brand before it was in national retail stores. [00:28:54]
• Find out the unexpected way April learned all about licensing when she was working on her first licensing deals. [00:33:08]
• Learn why April is still focused on helping the entrepreneur community. [00:42:11]
• Find out the best piece of advice April has for other toy industry entrepreneurs. [00:45:11]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/154

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For the first time ever, The Toy Coach is releasing a holiday gift guide featuring her top toy picks for the holiday season. The focus of today’s episode is to share a preview of this gift guide AND to educate you on what you need to get featured in any toy gift guide in 2023. This episode begins with a countdown of the top 12 toys you should gift this holiday and ends with a mini toy lesson on the top 5 things you MUST submit to publications if you want your product featured in Holiday Gift guides next year.

The Toy Coach’s holiday gift guide episode highlights toy creators who were consumers first and felt inspired by the kids in their lives to make an impact by creating the toys they wanted to see on the shelf.

To check out the gift guide described in today's episode visit, www.thetoycoach.com/guide where you can download the guide or order a physical copy.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

This episode is brought to you by the Chicago Toy and Game Fair happening December 10th-11th, 2022! This fair is open to the public and is the perfect opportunity to market, sell and promote your toy product before the end of the year. Visit https://www.chitag.com/2022-fair to reserve your booth.

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/153

Download or order your own copy of The Toy Coach’s 2022 Holiday gift guide by visiting thetoycoach.com/guide

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It is a myth that toys are shallow or don’t make an impact on kids. Today’s guest was inspired to leave a tenured position as the top professor in her field to create a meaningful line of dolls. Listen to today’s episode to discover what inspired her and how she made it happen.

Dr. Lisa Williams started off her career as the first black person to receive a doctorate in logistics from The Ohio State University. She became the top professor in her field, had a tenured position, and even had a multimillion-dollar endowed chair dedicated to her position that she could use for research, students, or studies. However, one day she saw a little girl interviewed in a study about dolls and race that changed her life forever.

After seeing the interview, Dr. Lisa Williams was inspired to create a line of racially diverse dolls with custom-blended skin tones. Since she didn’t have a background in the toy industry, she came up with her own methods of developing realistic skin tones for a variety of shades. Today, her brands The Fresh Dolls, The Fresh Squad, Positively Perfect, and the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dolls, are featured in Wal-Mart, Target, Macy’s, and more.

In today’s episode, you will learn which role models inspired Dr. Lisa Williams, the unique way she created the custom blended skin tones for her dolls, how she found her way in the toy industry with a background in academia, and more.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn about a role model who inspired Dr. Lisa Williams to be whatever she wanted to be. [00:02:20]
• Find out the ways Dr. Lisa Williams encountered and dealt with racism in academia [00:03:38]
• Learn about the unconventional methods Dr. Lisa Williams used to create more realistic skin tones for her dolls. [00:09:57]
• Find out about the powerful experience that led Dr. Lisa Williams to leave her tenured position and create black and brown dolls with accurate skin tones. [00:11:36]
• Learn about the time Dr. Lisa Williams said “no” to Walmart. [00:15:37]
• Learn how Dr. Lisa Williams worked on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dolls to give them a specialty feeling. [00:21:04]
• Find out about an exciting patent pending hair technology for dolls created by Dr. Lisa Williams and her team. [00:21:32]
• Learn about the challenges of manufacturing and packaging dolls with textured hair. [00:22:59]
• Find out what Dr. Lisa Williams did in one moment when she wanted to quit, and why she didn’t. [00:24:16]
• Learn the best advice Dr. Lisa Williams received in the toy industry. [00:34:44]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/152

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Today’s episode is special for two reasons. First, it is the first-ever live broadcast of an episode of Making it In the Toy Industry. Second, today’s guest gives a raw view into all the ups and downs of being a toy industry entrepreneur, how it can affect your mental health, and how to keep going with your ideas even when it seems like things haven’t gone your way. 

Marjorie Spitalnik is the founder and CEO of Little Rebels, a popular plush doll collection that seeks to educate kids about historical female figures like Amelia Earhart and Malala Yousafzai. However, Marjorie’s journey to success in the toy industry was full of twists and turns, including a dark period of three months where she was so depressed she could only get off the couch to make sure to take care of her daughter. 

Marjorie tells listeners how people who didn’t believe in her product affected her mental health, how she dealt with imposter syndrome, and the unique type of therapy that got her to move out of her depressive episode and into success with Little Rebels. You will also get motivated with the best piece of advice Marjorie has heard in her toy industry journey.

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn about the unique product idea that got Marjorie started in the toy industry. [00:07:37]
• Find out the unique twist that brought Little Rebels shooting into the spotlight. [00:11:39]
• Learn about the crushing toy industry rejection that sent Marjorie into a three-month-long depression. [00:17:42]
• Find out the type of therapy that finally got Marjorie off her couch and back to working on her toy industry product. [00:25:21]
• Learn how Marjorie took valuable feedback to add amazing new features to Little Rebels. [00:29:00]
• Find out how Marjorie did her first Kickstarter while learning on her feet. [00:32:51]
• Learn about Marjorie’s favorite social media network and why she loves it. [00:35:34]
• Find out the amazing things Marjorie is doing with Little Rebels is doing today. [00:38:04]
• Learn about Marjorie’s daughter’s own journey with mental health. [00:39:20]
• Find out what keeps Marjorie going when she has moments of doubt. [00:43:58]
  
  

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/151

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Only adults can make amazing toys right? Wrong! Kids play with a lot of toys so it only makes sense that they would come up with some incredible toy ideas. Today’s guest has come up with a sensational toy at only 11 years old. Well, she was actually 5 when she came up with the idea and started developing the product. Now she is bringing her insights as a seasoned kidpreneur to today’s episode of Making it in the Toy Industry.

Mia Monzideliz came up with the idea for the Power Pony when she got a hoverboard and a large plush horse for Christmas one year. She came up with the idea to put the pony on the hoverboard, and the rest is history! Now the Power Pony is a successful product that is only available on the company’s website. With the help of her parents, Mia created the business from the ground up, helping with everything from the design of the horses to the proprietary ZüME engine. In today’s episode you will learn all about her fresh perspective as a young entrepreneur, and her wise advice for anyone in the toy industry.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn how a 5 year old Mia got inspired to create the Power Pony. [00:01:53]
• Find out how Mia’s friends helped her to get motivated to turn her idea into a business at such a young age. [00:04:02]
• Learn the first step that Mia and her family took to make the Power Pony a reality. [00:05:32]
• Find out why Mia and her family created a unique engine for the Power Pony instead of just using a hoverboard. [00:06:52]
• Learn how long it took from conception to having the Power Pony safety tested and ready to sell. [00:08:42]
• Find out how Mia keeps it all balanced with school, playing sports, and working on Power Pony. [00:15:10]
• Learn the easiest part of creating Power Pony for Mia. [00:19:54]
• Find out the most famous celebrities who have talked about Power Pony. [00:23:17]
• Learn the best piece of advice Mia received when she started Power Pony. [00:27:22]
• Find out Mia’s favorite toy (besides Power Pony of course!) [00:29:24]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/150

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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Finally, this beloved toy and game innovation conference returns in person. The People of Play Innovation Conference is the largest global innovation conference in the toy and game world, welcoming over 50 companies from across 17 countries to review pitches from students, new inventors, and professional inventors. If you’re new to the toy industry and you’ve heard rumblings about POP week or the Innovation conference, and you weren’t quite sure what either were…then this episode is just what you’ve been waiting for.

In today’s podcast episode, we dive into the details of how to register and why you should join the POP Inventor & Innovation conference. The Toy Coach explains how the re-branding of the conference is more than just a name change, but actually a separation of a public and private show! This episode dives into the details of the different conference tracks available, and how each track’s unique schedule is designed to help you have your most successful show ever. Learn about the Young Inventor’s Challenge, the TAGIE award show and much more in today’s detailed overview of the People of Play Inventor & Innovation Conference.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/149

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Have you been considering joining Toy Creators Academy to develop your toy or game idea? Do you still have a few questions about how the program works, when it starts, or what it covers? This episode is perfect for you! In today’s podcast episode, The Toy Coach addresses the most frequently asked questions about this 12 week group coaching program.

If you have questions on whether this program is right for you, wondering when the class will reopen, or if you can take the program on your own time, this is the episode for you. The most comprehensive toy business program for developing, prototyping, and pitching your most toyetic ideas yet. Toy Creators Academy is the only toy education and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you how to fully develop your toy or game idea like a pro — but also how to properly pitch that idea to buyers and toy companies. Are you ready to bring your toy and game ideas to life? Make it happen with the guidance and support provided by Toy Creators Academy.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/148

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Today’s podcast episode was inspired by several conversations I’ve had with my biz besties around health and mindfulness, as well as conversations with my colleagues in the toy industry. This is the exploration of a growing category in the toy industry called Comfort & Wellness. These toys are marketed to make us feel better, sleep better, and even think better…but overall the consistent theme of Comfort & Wellness toys is to reduce our anxiety. While this category seems to have most of it’s roots in plush products, that’s not the only place you’ll find it. In today’s podcast episode we explore the Comfort & Wellness category. What it is, what it means, what products are blazing the path ahead.

In this episode you’ll hear from Rick Derr of Learning Express Toys Lake Zurich, who shares his thoughts on the growing category. We’ll highlight the ways that the comfort category has already gone mainstream and provide links to research that support the importance of having products in this category that appeals to not only kids, but also adults. By the end of this episode you’ll get a history lesson on where this category may have emerged from and my goal is for you to leave inspired to add something comforting to your product assortment.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• Learn the name of the new toy category that is breaking into the Wellness space. [02:48]
• Find out the perspective of a toy retailer on this new comfort toys category. [03:37]
• What are the benefits of comfort toys? How are they marketed to consumers? Find that out here. [06:07]
• You might be surprised to hear where this new trend may have emerged from. [10:15]
• Find out what toys are in this comfort category already [13:43]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/147

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

Building your dream toy business while working a 9-to-5 might be overwhelming, but with the right mindset and a dash of creativity, you can take small, actionable steps to turn your big ideas into reality! It’s all about getting scrappy, seeking unfiltered feedback, and spotting opportunities to stand out from the crowd.

In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade shares the four key lessons inspired by her previous interview with Ron Weizman, the co-founder of South Beach Bubbles, that will help you launch and scale your toy business—even if you’re working full-time.

You’ll hear why it’s okay to get scrappy with your first orders, why honest and harsh feedback is the secret weapon for creating products that will strike an impact on your target market, and how to identify “white space” in even the most crowded markets. You’ll also hear why launching your product before it’s perfect is definitely okay and is necessary for your toy or product to thrive.

This episode walks you through practical tips like using local shows to test your product, leveraging unfiltered feedback to improve your designs, and finding opportunities to innovate in competitive categories.

If you’re dreaming of creating your first toy or looking for strategies to grow, this episode gives you the tools to take your toy business to the next level, one small, strategic step at a time!

Listen For These Important Moments:

• [00:00] - Exciting New Podcast Format Unveiled
• [00:47] - Recap of Ron Weizman's Interview
• [02:54] - Key Lesson #1: How To Get Your First Big Order
• [05:48] - Key Lesson #2: The Importance of Honest Feedback
• [13:32] - Key Lesson #3: Finding White Space in the Market
• [19:00] - Key Lesson #4: Just Launch Already
• [23:37] - Wrapping Up with Actionable Next Steps

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Today’s episode is for those of you who are 1, just getting started in the toy industry, maybe you’re in your first few years or 2, haven’t started yet but keep looking over the fence and waiting for the perfect moment to jump in. In today’s episode, The Toy Coach discusses how you can stand out as a new creator in the toy and game industry. 

If the toy industry feels like a big, noisy place and you have no clue how to stand out as a new-ish creator…keep reading. In this episode we cover 4 ways you can start to gain visibility for your toy or game product or if you’re a toy inventor and you’re not looking to promote a specific product, you can apply these concepts to promote yourself! For each tip on how to stand out, we’ll cover why it works and hear examples of toy creators who have put that tip into action.

To continue the lessons learned in this episode, check out Toy Creators Academy at toycreatorsacademy.com which is open for enrollment right now.



MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/146

🎓Learn more about how you can develop and pitch your toy idea with Toy Creators Academy by clicking here to visit www.toycreatorsacademy.com and join the waitlist.

Not ready for the Toy Creators Academy online course? Start by connecting with fellow toy creators inside our online community. Click here to join.

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

“The games category is too competitive!” “You shouldn’t even try to get a card game into Target!” If Kiara Imani had let those thoughts dissuade her from trying, she may have never gotten her Like U card game into one of the biggest retailers in the United States. Today, my podcast guest Kiara shares how she came up with, designed, manufactured and sold her conversation starting card game, Like U.

In a world where we’re always trying to put people in boxes, the Like U card game helps players to enjoy a conversation of differences. In today’s episode we explore the power of listening to advice that encourages you to find a new path instead of giving up on your dream entirely. Sometimes the answer is to change your approach to your toy dreams and not the dreams themselves. Learn that and more in this incredible episode.

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES:

• How Kiara went from lawyer, to author, to viral dancer and ended up in the toy industry! [02:12]
• Kiara and The Toy Coach play a few rounds of Like U cards the the conversation gets deep! [13:10]
• Get ready to talk about MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) and learn why Kiara had to change the size and MSRP of her product for mass market retailers. [25:27]
• Learn why Kiara says being scrappy got her product into Target. [27:11]
• How the RIGHT partnership can elevate your brand. [33:34]
• The one piece of advice that could’ve kept Kiara from getting Like U cards into Target if she’d listened. [36:21]
• Kiara shares how her favorite childhood toy got a bad rap over the years. [36:45]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/145

🎓Learn more about how you can develop and pitch your toy idea with Toy Creators Academy by clicking here to visit www.toycreatorsacademy.com and join the waitlist.

Not ready for the Toy Creators Academy online course? Start by connecting with fellow toy creators inside our online community. Click here to join.

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Searching for a unique way to promote your toy product or toy brand? The ASTRA Toy Boat may be it! On February 20th, 2023 the first ever toy trade show on a boat will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and make its way to the Bahamas. In just a few days you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your latest products, promote your services, or find the next hit toy to fill your store. The ASTRA Toy Boat is designed for retailers, manufacturers, and inventors to come together for a networking event unlike any you’ve ever experienced.

In today’s episode, I answer all of your questions about the upcoming toy trade show on a boat. Including who is putting it on, what events will be happening aboard, the cost of attending, and the details of activities to do on board when you’re done working. If you’ve been waiting for a full report on what to expect from the ASTRA Toy Boat, this is it.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/144

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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On September 19th 2022, the WiT Empowerment Day made it possible for over 100 inventors and creators to pitch their ideas and products in 1:1 meeting with the major retailer Walmart and dozens of toy companies including Spinmaster, Jazwares, Hasbro, Educational Insights, and many more! 

In today’s podcast episode get a play by play of what happened at the 2022 WiT Empowerment Day and learn why you should seriously plan on attending the next WiT Empowerment Day pitch event. Curious about what each pitch meeting was like? Curious about the educational sessions held or how much the event cost? It’s all explained in this week’s episode. Ready to join the next WiT Empowerment Day? Well you’ve got to be a WiT member first. Head over to womenintoys.com to learn more.

For the first time ever, the WiT Empowerment Day Event partnered with The Toy Coach to help attendees prepare ahead of time for the pitch meetings. The Toy Coach prepared a WiT Pitch Prep Series which included a streamlined roadmap of pitch lessons for inventors and entrepreneurs who were getting ready to pitch their ideas. If you enjoyed learning from The Toy Coach in the WiT Pitch Prep series, head over to toycreatorsacademy.com.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/143

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You have to be an adult to start your own business and make your toy ideas real, right? Today’s guest proves that completely wrong. At just 7 years old she recognized an important gap in the toy industry and, with the help of her mom, created a line of toys to empower young black and brown girls. Now 10, today’s guest offers toy industry experts and newbies some sage advice.

At 7 years old, Zoe Oli’s mom bought her a black doll. There was just one problem. The doll had straight hair. Zoe wanted to see dolls that had hair just like hers: curly, and sometimes braided. So, her mom helped her to create the brand Beautiful Curly Me. Zoe has written two books: Beautiful Curly Me and Say It, Show It - Gratitude and Kindness Journal. They also have a line of dolls with different skin tones and natural hair styles including braids and afros. Beautiful Curly Me also sells hair care products including a matching bonnet set for kids and their dolls. The dolls have been featured on Oprah’s favorite thing, and Zoe has even made an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show. Clearly, this girl is going places.

In this episode, you’ll learn the history behind the brand and the process of creating a business as a 7 year old. You’ll also find out some wise advice that applies to anyone in the toy industry, young or old.




EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn the struggles that led Zoe to want to create something to help raise black and brown girls’ self-esteem. [00:02:40]
• Find out why toy creators could consider kids' perspectives when making their products. [00:03:18]
• Learn the first thing Zoe and her mom did once they decided to start a business. [00:04:54]
• Find out how Zoe felt when she saw the first sample of her product. [00:05:58]
• Learn how Zoe’s mom helped her stay balanced as a kidpreneur. [00:06:54]
• Find out the hardest part of creating a business as a kid. [00:06:16]
• Learn why it was so easy for Zoe to find other kids that related to her product. [00:07:04]
• Find out how Zoe and her mom got the word out about their dolls. [00:07:34]
• Learn about Zoe’s biggest TV and social media appearances. [00:07:52]
• Find out Zoe’s advice for both kid and adult entrepreneurs. [00:10:03]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/142

🎓Learn more about how you can develop and pitch your toy idea with Toy Creators Academy by clicking here to visit www.toycreatorsacademy.com and join the waitlist.

Not ready for the Toy Creators Academy online course? Start by connecting with fellow toy creators inside our online community. Click here to join.

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

Toyspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a song, a play, a theatrical release or even the world of fashion. In this podcast episode, The Toy Coach dives deep to share a creative process with an unusual source of inspiration. If you’re currently struggling with designing a package for your toy or game idea, this is the episode for you. Or, if you have a toy or game brand with the packaging you’ve been meaning to refresh, make sure you give this episode a listen!

In this episode, you’ll learn how to look at sources of inspiration in a way that helps you add your own creative twist instead of copying what’s already been done before. Discover why it’s better to come up with ideas without focusing too much on what already exists in your toy category. By the end of this episode, you’ll have all the tools you need to spark unique inspiration in a matter of minutes!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/141

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Being a toy industry entrepreneur or toy inventor doesn’t have to be a solo project. Working with a partner can help you to think outside of the box. In a mentor/mentee context, both parties can learn a lot from each other. Today’s guests met in a Facebook group and even though they haven’t met in person yet, they have created quite the toy industry “bromance.”

Jeff Lawber is an industrial designer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and creator of Marmals, a line of beautifully designed modular and sensory magnetic toys. Alan Henry is a 2021 product design graduate and a freelance toy designer. He is also a volunteer toy designer at Marmals. The two started collaborating and developed an organic mentorship that benefited both of them.

In today’s episode you’ll learn how social media can lead to real friendships and mentorships. You’ll also find out why you might want to hire a fresh face or two if you’ve been in the toy industry for a while, and why you should stick to your toy industry dreams and toy ideas even when things get hard.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn exactly how Jeff and Alan made a lasting connection on social media. [00:02:33]
• Find out how Jeff knew Alan would be a great fit to help out with Marmals. [00:05:10]
• Learn one way a mentor can benefit in a mentorship relationship. [00:08:05]
• Learn how Jeff went from industrial designer to toy entrepreneur. [00:13:01]
• Find out the original first name of Marmals that didn’t stick. [00:14:28]
• Learn how even someone with little experience can bring new energy to the table. [00:15:33]
• Find out the unique retail space where Marmals has found a lot of success. [00:21:52]
• Find out how Jeff manages costs as an entrepreneur. [00:24:26]
• Learn essential toy industry advice from both Jeff and Alan. [00:26:35]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/140

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Kickstarter is just a platform for product presales? Right? Wrong! Sales is an important aspect of the platform, but today’s episode is all about how Kickstarter can actually help you develop an authentic community for your toy or game idea. Today’s guest launched a Kickstarter and funded his original game idea in just 4 days. Then he went back and launched another successful campaign for an expansion pack for the game!

Today you will hear from Joe Slack, a board game designer. In addition to designing games he has also taught courses on board game design and wrote an internationally best selling book: The Board Game Designer’s Guide. He funded his solo play game Relics of Rejavihara on Kickstarter, then also funded the expansion pack Montalo’s Revenge on the platform.

Joe tells you how he used social media organically to get people interested in his board game, how he strategically planned his second Kickstarter campaign, and some of the options for fulfillment and shipping partners when doing a Kickstarter for a game. You’ll also find out what a pledge manager is and why you might want to use one once your Kickstarter campaign is over. If you’ve got a crowdfunding campaign going for your toy or game, or you’re thinking about making one, listen to this episode!


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Find out how Joe used social media in an organic way to reel people into his Kickstarter. [00:05:23]
• Learn how Joe strategically timed the expansion pack and 2nd Kickstarter to keep people engaged with the game. [00:11:04]
• Learn what a pledge manager is and how it can help you after a Kickstarter campaign. [00:15:19]
• Find out the differences between using a pledge manager and having your own website. [00:17:27]
• Find out the benefits of working with a fulfillment partner for your toy or game Kickstarter. [00:18:19]
• Learn why you might want to work with more than one fulfillment partner. [00:21:06]
• Find out a strategic pricing method to make high shipping costs less painful for Kickstarter backers. [00:22:08]
• Learn how you can sell directly to retailers from Kickstarter. [00:24:59]
• Find out the most important piece of advice Joe has for creating a Kickstarter. [00:27:15]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/139

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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Which comes first? Your product or your mission? In today’s episode you will learn the benefits of creating your business’s mission before your toy or toy brand. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t develop your toy or game if you haven’t defined your mission. However, defining the purpose of your business will guide you on the creative journey, and doing so can give you a powerful reason to invest so much time and money into your toy ideas.

Today we have two podcast guests—Janene Russell and Ms. Monica Sutton, also known as Miss Monica. Janene is the key lead in preschool brands and preschool brand manager at Educational Insights. Monica is an early childhood educator and child behavior specialist with a hit YouTube channel with over 500,000 subscribers focused on early childhood education. Miss Monica and Educational Insights have partnered up to deliver educational content to preschoolers using Educational Insights products online.

In today’s episode you will learn some valuable lessons about how to develop your mission and how to stay aligned with it over time. You’ll learn the power of saying no, how sticking to your mission can lead to more opportunities, and how things that didn’t go so well can actually help to define and guide your mission. You’ll also learn why it is so important for kids to have tactile learning tools, and why screens will never fully take over in education.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn tips to track conversions from viral social media posts. [00:05:05]
• Find out how Ms. Monica and Educational Insights discovered their missions were aligned and started working together. [00:05:40]
• Learn what ages early childhood refers to. [00:09:05]
• Find out why tactile toys are so important for kids. [00:09:31]
• Learn how both Ms. Monica’s and Educational Insights' missions evolved over time. [00:11:15]
• Find out why having a mission is useful when you’re feeling creative block. [00:13:03]
• Learn how saying no to things that don’t align with your mission can help your business. [00:17:26]
• Find out a Thomas Edison quote that offers a helpful and positive reframe for failure. [00:19:58]
• Learn how both Ms. Monica and Educational Insights had to shift their businesses during the pandemic. [00:22:18]
• Learn the value of slowing down to speed up. [00:28:34]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/138

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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Small toy companies and toy inventors that only want to order a small amount of product can’t work with factories in China, right? Wrong! Today’s episode is so practical and essential for anyone who wants to manufacture a toy or a game. You will get concise insider knowledge of how to work with a Chinese factory, manufacturing pitfalls to avoid, and tips to maximize your success.

Today’s podcast guest is Kate Khvorostianova. She is an account manager with LongPack Toys, a toy and gift factory in China. Some of the most notable products they manufacture include Throw Throw Burrito and Loopy Looper. Kate gives you the inside scoop on how to work with LongPack, and how this factory might be different than some other ones. 

She tells you how to present yourself professionally when talking to a factory, why it's important to market parallel to manufacturing, and all of the services LongPack Toys provides to support inventors and entrepreneurs along the way.

Kate says that LongPack is really interested in working with smaller toy companies, entrepreneurs, and Kickstarter based projects. Is that you? Listen to the episode to get all the information, then reach out to Kate to start the manufacturing process.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn what LongPack Toys does as a company and why you should know about them. [00:01:56]
• Find out how being a project manager at a factory is similar to being an entrepreneur. [00:04:40]
• Learn what an account manager at a factory does and how they help you get your product made. [00:06:16]
• Find out what additional services Long Pack offers to support entrepreneurs. [00:08:26]
• Learn how LongPack Toys can help you make a sample product. [00:13:57]
• Find out the most important things to think about before you reach out to a factory. [00:15:46]
• Learn why marketing is important, even in the manufacturing stage. [00:16:55]
• Find out what types of games the company started out making, and how they added toy manufacturing into the mix. [00:18:12]
• Learn what COVID is like in Shanghai and how the factory keeps up with manufacturing even during lockdowns. [00:19:57]
• Find out the best piece of advice Kate has for people in the toy industry. [00:22:35]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/137

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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The highest honor your toy can get in this industry is the Toy of the Year® (TOTY®). This award is so coveted, that just a nomination alone has been said to boost sales and recognition of the brands lucky enough to earn one. A TOTY win can trigger a flood of retailers knocking on your door, desperate to get your product on their shelves.

So what does it take to get a TOTY nomination? That’s what we’re breaking down in today’s episode.

In this episode, Ron Weizman, co-founder of South Beach Bubbles shares how a simple idea to get his kids off screens turned into a thriving toy business focused on outdoor play. 

Ron shares how his team turned classic bubble play into the never-before-seen Poppin Colorz line, and how it made its way to be nominated at the 2025 Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards.

Ron opens up about the scientific challenges of making stain-free colored bubbles, how to stand in a crowded toy market, and why waiting for perfection isn’t always the best move for your idea. 

If your eye is on a future TOTY nomination, this episode is one you can’t miss.


Listen For These Important Moments:

• [01:46] - The Importance of Unfiltered Feedback in the Toy Industry
• [04:33] - The Birth of South Beach Bubbles
• [09:17] - What Went Through in Making PoppinColorz Bubbles
• [11:30] - Challenges and Successes that Ron & South Beach Bubbles Experienced
• [17:32] - Balancing Imagination and Practicality in the Toy Industry
• [18:47] - How Embracing Higher Price Points Can Lead To Your Toy’s Success
• [19:20] - PoppinColorz In The Making
• [23:27] - How South Beach Bubbles Creates A Trend Of Their Own
• [27:44] - Why Perfection Isn’t Necessary
• [31:26] - Creating a Lasting Community Impact by Giving Back

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When asked what it takes to create a small toy store, today’s guest answered: “Well, you have to be crazy, but that’s fine. I’m crazy.” What he meant by that was that you have to be willing to take chances, willing to try something new, willing to learn new skills, and willing to get creative. In today’s episode you’ll learn about what it is like to start a small toy store, toy brand, and a new manufacturing technique. In today’s podcast episode, find out what it really takes to open a toy store in terms of time, money, heart, and labor. 

Todays’ podcast guest, Isaac Elliott-Fisher's experiences in the film industry as a cinematographer led him to toys in an interesting and unexpected way. While working on a documentary in the UK with his production company, Definitive Film, he couldn’t find any toy knights, so he decided to create some himself. In the process he bought a dilapidated building in his small Ontario town, with the intention to turn it into a manufacturing site for his toys. However, it turned into something even better. It is now The Village Toy Castle, a destination that is part museum, part toy store, part play space, and soon to be the center for his new manufacturing techniques for plastic toys and toy parts. 

In my interview with Isaac, you’ll learn how it all came together. You’ll find out how much money goes into creating a brand new toy store, what kind of out-of-the-box thinking helped the process, and about the benefits of having a generous and open mindset. You’ll also find out how to get in touch with Isaac about pitching your product for his store!

EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn about the movies Isaac made that led him to get interested in the toy industry. [00:01:40]
• Find out a play pattern that Isaac used as a kid that allowed him to enjoy his toys well into his teenage years. [00:02:31]
• Learn about the toyetic principles that caused The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand to become so successful. [00:07:46]
• Learn what exactly sparked the surprising transition from cinematographer to toy manufacturer and toy store owner. [00:10:10]
• Learn why The Village Toy Castle is not focusing on online sales [00:34:53]
• Learn about the capabilities of a new tool that could help to bring more affordable toy manufacturing to North America [00:45:14]
• Find out the benefits of sharing information in the toy industry [00:52:00]
• Learn the unlikely piece of advice that helped Isaac break out of the mold and dare to be different. [00:58:45]
• Find out Isaac’s best advice for anyone who wants to open their own toy store. [01:00:53]
• Learn about Isaac’s favorite childhood toys that inspired his love of toys as an adult. [01:03:37]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/136

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
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What happens after you go viral? How do you go viral in the first place? There is no perfect formula to make something go viral on social media, but there are things you can do to make it more likely. Today’s guest had a viral post on social media that opened up opportunities for a book deal and a line of plush toys.

Today’s guest is Danielle Murrell Cox. She self-published an uplifting coloring book called Black Queens & Kings. She then went viral on social media which led to a publishing deal with Harper Collins for her next book, My Hair. Then she created the plush toy line Zuri and Dre, based on the characters from Black Queens & Kings. Danielle based her characters on people in her family and community, and really put “the puzzle of you” into her ideas.

In today’s episode you will learn what factors led to Danielle going viral, and what happened afterwards. You’ll also hear about the personal experiences that led Danielle to create her characters with wide noses and natural hair styles. Finally, you will find out some amazing tips for how to progress in your business when you’re not sure what to do next, like going to trade shows, getting on top of your e-mail marketing, and creating a Kickstarter campaign for a new project.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn how Danielle injected her own experiences into her first entrepreneurial project. [10:11]
• Find out exactly what Danielle posted that went viral on social media. [12:55]
• Learn how to up your chances of going viral on social media. [14:35]
• Find out the differences between self-publishing a book and working with a publisher. [18:18]
• Learn how much time it takes to get a children’s book to market when working with a publisher. [21:27]
• Find out what inspired Danielle to turn her artwork into plush toys. [23:49]
• Learn how Danielle pivoted when she found out her original idea would be too expensive. [25:15]
• Find out the unique way Danielle used social media to pick the names for her plush dolls. [28:19]
• Learn essential tips from Azhelle for what to do when you’re not sure how to get to the next step in your business. [37:12]
• Hear about Danielle’s experiences as a Black woman both in the toy industry and as a graphic designer. [42:24]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/135

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Keewa talks about how her family’s entrepreneurial background going back to Black Wall Street and her history as a Black performance artist shaped her vision. Learn about how she designed her store, the frustrations she has encountered with the photos on product packaging, and the number one piece of advice she received when starting her business.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn how Keewa made the jump from performing artist to entrepreneur and found what she believes to be her true calling. [00:03:40]
• Find out which celebrities Keewa rubbed shoulders with during her time as a performing artist. [00:05:22]
• Learn how Keewa designed her store with Black and brown kids in the area in mind. [00:10:53]
• Find out the hidden inspiration behind the name Kido. [00:12:19]
• Learn about the important history of Black Wall Street and how it affected Keewa’s family history with entrepreneurship. [00:15:05]
• Find out the effects integration had on Black businesses and communities that still affect them today. [00:18:39]
• Learn the experiences that led Keewa to want to create a store that centers Black peoples’ experiences. [00:26:27]
• Find out the frustrations Keewa has with the lack of diversity in photos on product packaging. [00:29:00]
• Learn the best piece of advice Keewa received when creating her business. [00:32:44]
• Find out how Keewa’s favorite toy as a kid inspired the direction for Kido. [00:34:40]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/134

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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As a toy entrepreneur it’s pretty likely that your cost of doing business is high. From manufacturing the perfect toy or game, to going to trade shows, building a website, nurturing an email list, dealing with returns, and damaged goods…you may be finding it’s hard to do anything for free, even if you do it yourself. Today’s podcast episode is going to share how you market your toy or game product for free. Now look, we know nothing is truly free in this world, so these marketing tactics will cost you time to implement. But with time and the tools provided in this episode you could be marketing your toy or game product for free in a way that compounds your efforts over time.

 Have you ever heard of content marketing? You likely already know what direct marketing is, the action of promoting and selling your toy or game product. But what is content marketing? Content marketing is a long game approach to creating awareness for your toy or game product. It takes time, consistency, and a deep understanding of your Ideal Target Market. In this episode I share several ideas for how you can start using content marketing for your toy or game product and highlight a couple of game entrepreneurs who are utilizing content marketing for their product in a brilliant way. Tap listen to find out what that is.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn the definition of Marketing [04:00]
• The Toy Coach discusses the main difference between traditional direct to consumer marketing and content marketing. [6:00]
• Never heard of Content Marketing Before? Learn the definition of content marketing in this episode. [06:11]
• Curious why small businesses should even consider content marketing? What’s the benefits of small business owners using this form of marketing? [07:34]
• Find out why you might have a bigger ROI on content marketing versus paid ad marketing. [09:13]
• You need to know your ITM before you build a content marketing plan. Do you know who your ITM is or better..what ITM stands for? Find out at this point in the podcast. [09:57]
• Learn the 3 ways you can start content marketing. [12:53]
• Start listening for ideas on what kind of content you can create around your toy or game. [12:57]
• Two gamepreneurs created their own content marketing plan around their game product. [18:41]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/133

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Your own life is the best inspiration for your game and toy ideas. While it can be from something like your educational background or profession, it doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Just think of the best times with your friends and family and you might come up with an idea. Today’s podcast guest did just that.

Today’s guest is Greg Watson. Greg has actually been on the podcast before! In episode 72 you heard him talking about working with a distributor to get your toy or game into retail. Back then he was the national accounts manager for PSi, aka Publisher Services, Inc. However, now he has struck out on his own with an idea that was inspired by his best memories of playing card games with friends and family. He and his husband created a new card game called Poof, which is available on Amazon.

In this episode, you’ll learn all about Greg’s inspiration for the game, and how he put his own experience into it. You’ll also learn what game mechanics are and why they are important, how Greg tested his game in the middle of a pandemic, and what to consider for packaging differences between online sales versus retail shelf space. You’ll also learn about Greg’s pricing strategy for this game as well as some future predictions for the toy industry.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Find out how Greg and his husband came up with their game idea based on personal experiences. [00:02:59]
• Learn a great definition of game mechanics, with examples. [00:05:50]
• Find out how playtesting can give you other ideas for game play and game mechanics [00:11:51]
• Learn about the importance of picking out the right packaging elements [00:18:02]
• Find out about packaging differences between online and retail [00:20:56]
• Learn about pricing strategy for games [00:22:25]
• Find out about features of a “boutique” game that might allow for a higher price [00:25:23]
• Learn about the one feature Greg insisted on keeping because it made the game really pop, even though it made manufacturing costs [00:26:40]
• Learn how inflation might affect the toy and game industry. [00:29:35]
• Find out one marketing strategy to put a spin on inflation [00:31:17]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/132

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Is your toy idea begging to see the spotlight? Do you have a game idea swimming around in your imagination? You may be a burgeoning toy inventor! However, if you are ready to fully flesh out your toy idea, brand, and marketing, you may be a toy entrepreneur. What is the difference between these two toy industry tracks? You will find out that and more on today’s episode of Making it in the Toy Industry.

Today’s guest is Toy Creators Academy alumni Chrissy Fagerholt. After a career as a floral designer for 17 years and a short stint as a school lunch lady, she now has a successful game out with Goliath, Friend or Faux. She has two more games coming out soon: Lunchroom and You Who. In today’s episode, Chrissy tells us about making the jump from toy inventor to toy entrepreneur. She explains a bit of her inventing process and tells listeners all about how she came up with a key element in one of her new games that makes it really fun.

She explains why the shift to toy industry entrepreneur happened, and where in the process of inventing a toy she starts to come up with marketing and branding ideas. She also describes a bit of the process of working with other artists to make her vision for her games come true. You will also find out how the Toy Creators Academy helped Chrissy to make more toy industry connections which led her to figure out how to make toy industry entrepreneurship work for her.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Find out how Chrissy included “The Puzzle of You” in her latest game, Lunchroom. [00:07:25]
• Learn about a money-saving toy manufacturing technique that could help you save on your next toy design [00:11:27]
• Find out how Chrissy injected pop culture references into her game to make it even more amazing [00:14:40]
• Learn how Chrissy puts together her toy inventor and toy entrepreneur sides in the product development process [00:18:08]
• Find out the smart and daring thing Chrissy did at Target to see if her product would fit in [00:19:53]
• Learn just how many times game inventors play their own games against themselves before bringing it to playtesters [00:20:56]
• Find out the number one thing you want to hear from game playtesters [00:22:46]
• Learn about the Astra toy show and why you should attend, especially as a first-timer [00:26:33]
• Find out the benefits of being an entrepreneur and doing manufacturing, marketing, and branding yourself [00:34:53]
• Learn why Chrissy partnered with a distributor as a toy industry entrepreneur [00:36:41]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/131

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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At the beginning of June, The Toy Coach was invited to give a keynote speech at the Science Museum Oklahoma’s Inspire and Be Inspired Event. This 2nd annual Convening of Makers and Educators is presented by Oklahoma EPSCoR. This weekend provided STEAM educators, artists, and makers an opportunity to inspire and be inspired as they connected to share ideas and resources. The creative community learned, laughed, and explored great ideas together. The museum is over 390K square feet of creative exhibitions and experiences for kids and parents alike.

This year the keynote address was delivered by internationally recognized Toy Coach, Azhelle Wade. During the talk Azhelle shares tips for Unlocking Creativity, and thanks to Science Museum Oklahoma, this talk is being shared on The Toy Coach Podcast! During today’s episode, you’ll hear Azhelle explain 3 steps to unlocking creativity for anything! You’ll learn how to implement step 1, market research, step 2, getting to know your audience, and step 3, toy math. You’ll leave this episode not only feeling inspired but you may even Unlock  Your Zone of Toy Genius.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/130

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Have you ever struggled with the idea of promoting your brand on social media? Well lucky for you, today’s podcast episode focuses on how to make social media marketing fun! Our guest is a graphic designer and all-around creative gal who knows the power of creativity and playfulness in marketing. Deanna uses humor and empathy to help her clients feel more comfortable being themselves while marketing their business and connecting with their ideal clients.

In today’s podcast episode we talk about the wonderful world of GIF’s and why they may be your next marketing tool for your toy business! During this episode, we ideate ways to get creative with the use of GIFs so you can potentially rack up a million views on your GIF’s like Deanna. By the time you finish listening to today’s episode, you’ll know that it’s not about how fancy your design tools are, but it’s all about how you use them. Tap play to listen and learn with the latest podcast episode featuring The Toy Coach and Deanna Seymour!


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/129

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If you have a brand or product you should consider adding licensing to your business model. Licensing is a great way for toy manufacturers to borrow the authority of powerful brands and grow their own revenue. A great licensing deal can help growing brands expand to various consumer goods categories while avoiding the added cost of manufacturing. If you’re ready to learn more about how licensing can benefit your toy business, you should consider attending the Las Vegas Licensing Expo next year. But before you sign up, listen to this podcast for 9 tricks and tips for first time visitors to the Licensing Expo.

The Licensing Expo has over 200 exhibitors each year, including notable brands like Netflix, Lego, Paramount, Mattel, and more. In past years, over 16,000 people have attended, coming from more than 60 countries. Attendees include licensees, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, licensing agents, and more. Each show has more than 5,000 products or brands on display, allowing you to catch trends and get innovative ideas. Of course, there are many representatives from the toy industry, but there are also people in attendance from the fashion world, gaming, animation, and more.


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For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/128

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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The Toy Coach’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t start in toys, but instead it started in fashion. In 2012 Azhelle Wade, aka The Toy Coach created a fashion brand called Costumize Me. What started as a made to order costume company, evolved into a convertible event wear brand with the tag line 1 dress 100 ways to wear. The story of Azhelle building a brand in an industry she knew nothing about is one that she is excited to share with you on the podcast today, because it’s one that you can probably relate to as a new-ish toy creator. Listen to how Azhelle conquered that fish out of water feeling and dove into an industry she knew so little about.

This two part episode series details a toy designer’s entrepreneurial journey in the world of fashion. And because this is The Toy Coach podcast, every lesson learned and mistake made is packaged into a lesson that you can take and apply to your toy journey today. From naming your brand, filing your trademark, testing your concept, changing your idea, flipping from inventor to entrepreneur…this story covers the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in great detail with your favorite toy coach as your guide.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/127

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Struggling to get your toy pitch noticed? 🚀

In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade reveals the secrets to crafting email subject lines that grab attention and boost your chances of success. Learn the powerful 'Four U’s' formula—Urgent, Useful, Unique, Ultra-Specific—and discover proven tips to make your emails stand out in crowded inboxes.

From real-life examples of high-converting subject lines to bonus tips on emojis and formatting, this episode is packed with actionable advice to level up your email game. Tune in and learn how to write toy pitch emails that get clicks, opens, and results! 🎯✨

Listen For These Important Moments

• [1:37] - One-on-One Coaching Opportunity
• [02:48] - Email Marketing for Toy Pitches
• [07:53] - The Four U's of Email Subject Lines
• [17:25] - Bonus Tips for Email Subject Lines
• [18:50] - High Converting Email Headlines
• [29:41] - TCA Alumni Shoutout!

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The Toy Coach’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t start in toys, but instead it started in fashion. In 2012 Azhelle Wade, aka The Toy Coach created a fashion brand called Costumize Me. What started as a made to order costume company, evolved into a convertible event wear brand with the tag line 1 dress 100 ways to wear. The story of Azhelle building a brand in an industry she knew nothing about is one that she is excited to share with you on the podcast today, because it’s one that you can probably relate to as a new-ish toy creator. Listen to how Azhelle conquered that fish out of water feeling and dove into an industry she knew so little about.

This two part episode series details a toy designer’s entrepreneurial journey in the world of fashion. And because this is The Toy Coach podcast, every lesson learned and mistake made is packaged into a lesson that you can take and apply to your toy journey today. From naming your brand, filing your trademark, testing your concept, changing your idea, flipping from inventor to entrepreneur…this story covers the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in great detail with your favorite toy coach as your guide.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/126

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Today’s podcast guest has been called The Godfather of Toys and is a social media icon in the collectors toy space. Jeremey’s journey in toys started at a clothing and toy store called Only Kids in Memphis, Tennessee. In today’s episode Jeremy provides advice on “making it” in the corporate toy world and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. You’ll learn the difference between collectibles both physical and digital, and yep that means we talk about NFTs! The consistent theme in today’s episode is resilience. We explore moments in Jeremy’s past where his resilience helped him move forward and we discuss the relationship between that never-give-up attitude and success.
 
If you’re at a place in your toy journey where you need a little inspiration to push you forward, listen to this episode. At the end of our conversation Jeremy shares two of the best pieces of advice he received in his career. The first helped him feel empowered when taking on a challenging new role, and the second prepared him for the man he is today. Ready for a little toyspiration from a major leader in the toy space? Tap play and give this episode a listen.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/125

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

All across the globe we are seeing a massive increase in prices and reduction in quality. In fact it’s so prevalent, it has a few nicknames. Shrinkflation and Skimpflation are two practices of reducing the quality of goods and services to maintain margin, and reducing the actual contents of goods and quality of services while increasing the cost. Customers have noticed the change in gas prices, groceries and now even our toys. If you are a new entrepreneur, inventor, or toy maker you may think that Shrinkflation doesn’t affect you, but you’d be wrong my friend, it certainly does!

When a company performs a cost reduction exercise under a normal economic climate, they take a look at their product and make small, simple changes. The goal is typically to reduce cost without affecting overall aesthetic or playability. But when companies have to make up for 10% or more in lost margin, there’s no way around affecting the size and sometimes the quality of a product. A lower margin industry wide, and changing consumer expectations is something you could stay acutely aware of over the next year.As an inventor these monetary changes could affect the categories you focus on and as an entrepreneur or maker, it can affect the amount of components you need for your toy or game to stay competitive. If you want to maintain a cash-positive toy business you’ve got to look at the bottom line, and that means adjusting when margin and revenue take an unfortunate tumble.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/124

Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail!

Support the show

Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<