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Making It in The Toy Industry

How do I bring my toy ideas to life? How can I pitch my toy concept to top toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, or Goliath Games? What does it cost to make a prototype, and where can I get one made? Are there toy manufacturing options outside of China? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered on this weekly podcast, Making It In The Toy Industry. In addition to mini toy masterclasses, and step-by-step guides, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action toward developing, presenting, licensing, and producing your next big toy...

#210: An Insider Look at A National Toy Trade Show in Las Vegas

25 mins; March 06, 2024

#209: How Women in the Toy Industry Are Building Dreams and Connections with Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

18 mins; February 28, 2024

#208: When Motherhood Inspires Toy Invention with Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

25 mins; February 21, 2024

#207: The Secrets To Networking in The Toy Industry

33 mins; February 15, 2024

#206: How “No” Led This Game Creator To Unexpected Opportunity

29 mins; February 06, 2024

#205: Turning Ideas into Top Sellers with Robert Yusim

26 mins; January 31, 2024

#204: Exploring the Secrets, Surprises, and History of Polly Pocket with Maude Campbell

28 mins; January 24, 2024

#203: How CJ Charles Turned Her Children's Book into a Plush Doll

32 mins; January 17, 2024

#202: Gender Neutral Toy Sections Are Now Law In California

40 mins; January 10, 2024

#201: 12 SMART Goals To Launch Your Toy Idea in 2024

26 mins; January 03, 2024

#200: Virginia Lette Interviews Azhelle Wade The Toy Coach

49 mins; December 20, 2023

#199: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Promotion Process With AI

27 mins; December 13, 2023

#198: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Invention Process With AI

30 mins; December 06, 2023

#197: How Get Your Products In Stores With A Pitch That Stands Out with Rick Derr

24 mins; November 29, 2023

#196: Instant Insights Into The Toy Industry Uncovered at ChiTag Part 2 of 2

37 mins; November 22, 2023

#195: Instant Insights Into The Toy Industry Uncovered at ChiTag Part 1 of 2

32 mins; November 16, 2023

#194: How To Pick A Toy Brand Name That Doesn't Suck with Alexandra C Watkins

51 mins; November 08, 2023

#193: 3 Last-Minute Black Friday Promo Ideas To Increase Q4 Sales

36 mins; November 01, 2023

#192: The Secret To Mastering 1:1 Email in Your Toy Business

29 mins; October 25, 2023

#191: Game-Changing Connections for Toy Inventors at People of Play Week

24 mins; October 18, 2023

#190: The Best and Worst of Toy Fair and Why You Should Attend The LAST Toy Fair in New York

45 mins; October 11, 2023

#189: How To Pitch With Pizzazz at New York Toy Fair with Barry and Jason

49 mins; September 20, 2023

#188: You're Invited To Hasbro's FIRST Ever Women Innovators of Play Event with Tanya Thompson

24 mins; September 06, 2023

#187: Making Change Through Play with TOTY Nominated Dr. Zabina Bahsin

33 mins; August 30, 2023

#186: When A Game You Developed Gets Nominated For a Toy Of The Year Award with Christian Castro

19 mins; August 23, 2023

#185: Dolls That Celebrate Asian Diversity with Samantha Ong

51 mins; August 16, 2023

#184: From Fandom to Fun: The Power of Collaboration in Funko Games' Development Process with Deirdre Cross

40 mins; August 09, 2023

START HERE: Welcome Future Toy Person!

2 mins; August 07, 2023

#183: How To Pitch A Show Idea To Hasbro in 2023 with Brandon Braswell

59 mins; August 02, 2023

#182: The Captivating Timeline Of Barbie: From Ruth Handler To Rebirth (1959-2023)

20 mins; July 26, 2023

#181: Unveiling the Ultimate Barbie Movie Marketing Tactics: Unique Strategies for Viral Success!

35 mins; July 19, 2023

#180: Trailblazing Toy Creators Share The Mission and Story Behind Their Brands [2 of 2]

35 mins; July 05, 2023

#179: Trailblazing Toy Creators Share The Mission and Story Behind Their Brands [1 of 2]

40 mins; June 28, 2023

#178: Playfully Illustrating Polly Pocket Nostalgia with Amy Greenbank

32 mins; June 14, 2023

#177: Reinvigorating a Timeless Brand with Robert Pasin of Radio Flyer

37 mins; June 07, 2023

#176: How To Prepare For Your Next Specialty Toy Trade Show

29 mins; May 24, 2023

#175: The Impact of Toy Guns: A Tough Conversation

39 mins; May 17, 2023

#174: Market Research Strategies for Developing Good Toys Kids Will Love with Dr. Amanda Gummer

41 mins; May 03, 2023

#173: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 2 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI

26 mins; April 26, 2023

#172: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 1 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI

37 mins; April 19, 2023

#171: Toy Path QUIZ: Are You a Toy Inventor, Entrepreneur, or Executive?

23 mins; April 12, 2023

#170: A Review of the Future Forecast Report From The Insights Family

21 mins; March 29, 2023

#169: The Art and Science of Successful Toy Biz Email Campaigns

43 mins; March 22, 2023

#168: See How the Bubbles Are Made: South Beach Bubbles Warehouse and Office Tour

20 mins; March 15, 2023

#167: The GREAT Toy and Game Idea Bootcamp - Join Now!

48 mins; March 08, 2023

#166: Tips For Creating Niche Products in the Toy Industry with April Hail

48 mins; March 01, 2023

#165: A Toy Inventor Story of Faith and Determination with Angie Cella

58 mins; February 22, 2023

#164: MESH Toys For Mental, Emotional and Social Health with Rachele Harmuth

54 mins; February 15, 2023

#163: Before You Present Your Product To Buyers Listen To THIS

39 mins; February 08, 2023

#162: The Remarkable Journey of David Vonner: From Marvel Dreamer to Toy Legend

85 hours 42 mins; February 01, 2023

#161: Father-Daughter Duo Develops Handy Famm, Un-boring Tools For Kids

43 mins; January 25, 2023

#160: Top Tips for Creating a Neighborhood Toy Store with Theresa Duncan

65 hours 11 mins; January 17, 2023

#159: How AI-Powered Chat GPT Can Generate Toy and Game Concepts

38 mins; January 11, 2023

#158: AI-Assisted Toy Design: Revolutionizing The Toy And Game Industry

51 mins; January 04, 2023

#157: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [3 of 3]

60 hours 22 mins; December 28, 2022

#156: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [2 of 3]

40 mins; December 21, 2022

#155: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [1 of 3]

67 hours 35 mins; December 14, 2022

#154: Growing and Licensing an Authentic Brand with April Showers

51 mins; December 07, 2022

#153: A Holiday Gift Guide Preview and What You Need To Get Featured In 2023

31 mins; November 30, 2022

#152: Why This Mission-Driven Doll Line Offers 100+ Custom Skin Tones with Dr. Lisa Williams

39 mins; November 23, 2022

#151: Dealing With Mental Health As A Toy Entrepreneur With Marjorie Spitalnik

68 hours 8 mins; November 16, 2022

#150: How the Power Pony Was Imagined By Kids For Kids with Mia Monzidelis

33 mins; November 09, 2022

#149: Back In Person! The People Of Play Innovation Conference

20 mins; November 02, 2022

#148: Answering Your Questions About Toy Creators Academy

22 mins; October 26, 2022

#147: This NEW Toy Category is Bursting into the Wellness Game

15 mins; October 19, 2022

#146: How To Stand Out As A New Toy and Game Inventor or Entrepreneur

24 mins; October 12, 2022

#145: How To Take Your Card Game From Boutique Stores to Target with Kiara Imani

43 mins; October 05, 2022

#144: Don’t Miss The First-Of-Its-Kind Toy Trade Show On A Boat

19 mins; September 28, 2022

#143: Making Your Toy Dreams Real At WiT Empowerment Day

31 mins; September 21, 2022

#142: How To Start A Toy Business At 7 Years Old with Zoe Oli

18 mins; September 07, 2022

#141: An Unusual Source of Inspiration For Your Next Toy or Game Package

29 mins; August 31, 2022

#140: Finding Your Toy People With Jeff Lawber & Alan Henry

36 mins; August 24, 2022

#139: The ONE Thing You Need To Do BEFORE You Launch That Toy Kickstarter

34 mins; August 17, 2022

#138: Why You Need A Clear Brand Mission For Your Kids’ Brand

34 mins; August 10, 2022

#137:This Toy Factory Will Help You Develop Your Ideas with Kate Khvorostianova

30 mins; August 03, 2022

#136: When Your Toy Dream Is To Open A Toy Store with Isaac Elliott-Fisher

48 mins; July 27, 2022

#135: When Your Brand Goes Viral with Danielle Murrell Cox of Zuri and Dre

45 mins; July 20, 2022

#134: The Power of Integrating Your Culture Into Your Toy Dreams with Keewa Nurullah

36 mins; July 13, 2022

#133: 3 Ways To Market Your Toy or Game Product For Free

33 mins; July 06, 2022

#132: This Gay-Owned Game Company Started As A Side Hustle with Greg Watson

42 mins; June 29, 2022

#131: Getting Your Game Into Barnes & Noble with Chrissy Fagerholt

48 mins; June 22, 2022

#130: Unlocking Creativity at Science Museum Oklahoma with Azhelle Wade

36 mins; June 15, 2022

#129: Playful and Creative Marketing Ideas with Deanna Seymour

48 mins; June 08, 2022

#128: 9 Tips and Tricks For Toy Creators Attending The Licensing Expo

46 mins; June 01, 2022

#127: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 2

29 mins; May 25, 2022

#126: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 1

37 mins; May 18, 2022

#125 The Impact of Entrepreneurial Resilience with Jeremy Padawer

54 mins; May 11, 2022

#124: The Effect Of Skimpflation and Shrinkflation On Toy Creators

30 mins; May 04, 2022

#123: Turning Your Professional Expertise Into An Educational Toy with Julie Dini

31 mins; April 27, 2022

#122: Dealing With Creative Burnout In The Toy Industry

36 mins; April 20, 2022

#121: Sick Day – Changes Coming To The Toy Coach Podcast

7 mins; April 13, 2022

#120: What Makes A Good Toy Logo and A Bad Toy Logo?

35 mins; April 06, 2022

#119: Toy Packaging 101 The Elements of A Great Package

46 mins; March 30, 2022

#118: Why You Should Manufacture Your Toy Products in India with Joshua Punin

51 mins; March 23, 2022

#117: The Importance of Play Every Day with Emma Worrollo

46 mins; March 16, 2022

#116: An Incredible First Time Toy Inventor Story with Daniela Valenzuela Bomchil

30 mins; March 08, 2022

#115: Making It Into Retail: Getting Your Product Into Specialty Stores with Nicole Hawthorne

32 mins; March 02, 2022

#114: How To Break Into Toys A Step-By-Step Roadmap

29 mins; February 23, 2022

#113: 10 Unexpected Toy or Game Ideas That Will Inspire You To Make Your Ideas Real

32 mins; February 16, 2022

#112: How To Get Started In The Toy Industry When You Have ZERO Contacts

36 mins; February 09, 2022

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Making It in The Toy Industry

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