Podcasts by The Toy Coach Podcast: Making It in The Toy Industry
How do I bring my great toy ideas to life? How do I get my concepts in front of BIG toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, and Goliath Games? Where should I go to create my own prototypes and how much should they cost? Is my only manufacturing option in 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 idea. Learn the invaluable how-to’s like, finding a factory for production, negotiating costs, and industry-proven sales techniques so that you can turn your toy dreams into a reality. | Brought to you by thetoycoach.com |
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#199: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Promotion Process With AI from 2023-12-13T09:00
How is AI reshaping the toy industry? In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the world of AI and its transformative impact on toy design and creation. Discover how tools like Adobe Firefly, ...
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#198: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Invention Process With AI from 2023-12-06T14:00
Have you ever wondered how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the toy industry? From speeding up the toy invention process to comparing traditional and AI-assisted methods, AI is tr...
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#197: How Get Your Products In Stores With A Pitch That Stands Out with Rick Derr from 2023-11-29T11:00
In Q4 some toy entrepreneurs are feeling FOMO, wishing that they made a bigger push to get into retail for this season. But don’t worry, your next big opportunity for sales is just around the c...
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#196: Instant Insights Into The Toy Industry Uncovered at ChiTag Part 2 of 2 from 2023-11-22T11:00
Listen in as The Toy Coach conducts several mini interviews for a deep dive into the heart of toy innovation at CHITAG, part of the People of Play Week and Innovation Conference. Episode 196 of...
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#195: Instant Insights Into The Toy Industry Uncovered at ChiTag Part 1 of 2 from 2023-11-16T17:00
Are you passionate about toy design and eager to learn from the best in the toy industry? This episode of Making It In The Toy Industry takes you inside the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTag), a...
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#194: How To Pick A Toy Brand Name That Doesn't Suck with Alexandra C Watkins from 2023-11-08T02:00
In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, you'll hear an insightful conversation with our guest Alexandra C. Watkins, the creative genius behind naming consultancy Eat My Words and ...
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#193: 3 Last-Minute Black Friday Promo Ideas To Increase Q4 Sales from 2023-11-01T02:00
It's that time of year again, and Black Friday is just around the corner. If you're still finalizing your Black Friday promotions, or you haven’t even started thinking about them yet, ...
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#192: The Secret To Mastering 1:1 Email in Your Toy Business from 2023-10-25T12:00
Are you drowning in emails, struggling to keep up with crucial communications for your toy business? In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, we're about to unveil the secret to co...
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#191: Game-Changing Connections for Toy Inventors at People of Play Week from 2023-10-18T16:00
Are you "toying" around with an idea for a toy or game that you want to license? Don’t miss the chance to pitch and playtest that idea in 2023 at POP Week. In this episode of Making It...
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#190: The Best and Worst of Toy Fair and Why You Should Attend The LAST Toy Fair in New York from 2023-10-11T13:00
Want a play by play of what worked at Toy Fair New York, and what didn’t? In this new podcast episode, The Toy Coach breaks down every day of the trade show, including setup days, and provides t...
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How To Pitch With Pizzazz at New York Toy Fair with Barry and Jason from 2023-09-20T09:00
Maya Angelou once said, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” So tell me this, at your last pitch meeting, how did you ma...
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You're Invited To Hasbro's FIRST Ever Women Innovators of Play Event with Tanya Thompson from 2023-09-06T13:00
The biggest game company in the world is walking the talk with their first ever Women Innovators of Play Event, and YOU are invited. In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, The Toy Coa...
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Making Change Through Play with TOTY Nominated Dr. Zabina Bahsin from 2023-08-30T05:00
Dr. Zabina Bhasin began her journey of understanding the powerful role toys play in shaping a child's identity. As a child psychiatrist, she used her expertise to observe that children were...
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When A Game You Developed Gets Nominated For a Toy Of The Year Award with Christian Castro from 2023-08-23T08:00
Calling all game people! In this week’s episode, we delve into the captivating world of game development with Christian Castro, Director of Product Development at Relatable. Christian's con...
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Dolls That Celebrate Asian Diversity with Samantha Ong from 2023-08-16T06:00
In this episode of the Making It In The Toy Industry, Samantha Ong shares her journey in launching Joeydolls and highlights the importance of representation in the toy industry. Samantha's ...
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From Fandom to Fun: The Power of Collaboration in Funko Games'Development Process with Deirdre Cross from 2023-08-09T09:00
If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged because your games aren't resonating with fans and delivering the powerful and rewarding experiences you envisioned, then you are not alone...
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START HERE: Welcome Future Toy Person! from 2023-08-07T14:00
Are you ready to dive into the business of toys? Since 2010, I've been in the thick of the toy industry, and now I'm sharing my wisdom and connections with you, right here on the Makin...
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#183: How To Pitch A Show Idea To Hasbro in 2023 with Brandon Braswell from 2023-08-02T15:00
9 to 5 Warriors, and it's a nineties-inspired toy line that aims to recapture the magic of the Saturday morning cartoon era. The founder o 9 to 5 Warriors, Brandon Braswell, is sharing his ...
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#182: The Captivating Timeline Of Barbie: From Ruth Handler To Rebirth (1959-2023) from 2023-07-26T11:00
Have you ever wondered about the captivating history of Barbie, the world's most iconic doll? Get ready to traverse the captivating timeline of Barbie, the world's most iconic doll. Di...
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#181: Unveiling the Ultimate Barbie Movie Marketing Tactics: Unique Strategies for Viral Success! from 2023-07-19T09:00
Are you dreaming about Barbie yet? This week we do a deep dive into the marketing that has continually been going viral since April of this year. We explore how the iconic doll brand also became...
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#180: Trailblazing Toy Creators Share The Mission and Story Behind Their Brands [2 of 2] from 2023-07-05T09:00
What happens when you’ve got a great idea for a toy, you have inventory, and you want to break into a major toy show or media event but you just simply don’t have the funds left to make it happe...
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#179: Trailblazing Toy Creators Share The Mission and Story Behind Their Brands [1 of 2] from 2023-06-28T12:00
Are you ready for an exciting episode filled with innovation, inspiration, and the untold stories of toy and game creators? Join us as we delve into The Toy Coach Showcase, an extraordinary plat...
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#178: Playfully Illustrating Polly Pocket Nostalgia with Amy Greenbank from 2023-06-14T05:00
Ever since my childhood fascination with Polly Pockets, I've been enamored with toys and video games that allowed me to build worlds of my own. When I came across an announcement of a Polly...
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#177: Reinvigorating a Timeless Brand with Robert Pasin of Radio Flyer from 2023-06-07T05:00
If someone tells you to close your eyes and picture a red wagon...what's the first thing that pops into your mind? I bet it's probably the classic and iconic Radio Flyer red wagon. In...
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#176: How To Prepare For Your Next Specialty Toy Trade Show from 2023-05-24T11:00
If you want to get your toy or game product into toy stores, have you considered starting with specialty stores first? In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, learn how you can start s...
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#175: The Impact of Toy Guns: A Tough Conversation from 2023-05-17T05:00
In this thought-provoking episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade and returning guest Marjorie Spitalnik dive into a sensitive but crucial topic - the impact of toy guns on c...
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#174: Market Research Strategies for Developing Good Toys Kids Will Love with Dr. Amanda Gummer from 2023-05-03T05:00
In this episode, Azhelle Wade aka The Toy Coach interviews Dr. Amanda Gummer, psychologist and founder of Good Play Guide, a service that provides independent evaluations and accreditations for ...
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#173: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 2 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI from 2023-04-26T07:00
Are you curious about the potential of AI in the toy industry and how it can revolutionize the way we create and develop products? This eye-opening part 2 podcast episode delves into the power o...
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#172: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 1 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI from 2023-04-19T06:00
Are you curious about how AI can revolutionize the toy industry? Do you want to know how AI can help in designing and marketing a toy product? If so, then this podcast episode is for you. Join T...
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#171: Toy Path QUIZ: Are You a Toy Inventor, Entrepreneur, or Executive? from 2023-04-12T11:00
There are many paths you can take in the toy industry, but the 3 most common paths that most new creators fall into are Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Executive! In today's episode, The Toy Co...
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#170: A Review of the Future Forecast Report From The Insights Family from 2023-03-29T10:00
Data is a precious thing. Data allows companies to make growth projections, develop products based on consumer needs, and write messages based on consumer desires. But where do you go to find pr...
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#169: The Art and Science of Successful Toy Biz Email Campaigns from 2023-03-22T08:00
According to Demand Sage, there are 4.37 billion email users in the world as of 2023. That number is expected to climb to 4.6 billion by 2025. Email marketing has a return on investment (ROI) of...
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#168: See How the Bubbles Are Made: South Beach Bubbles Warehouse and Office Tour from 2023-03-15T05:00
Today’s podcast episode is the first time we’ve done an interview at the manufacturer's office and warehouse to see how the toys are really being made! You will see how bubble magic is made...
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#167: The GREAT Toy and Game Idea Bootcamp - Join Now! from 2023-03-08T04:00
Visualize, Validate, and Vow to make your toy or game idea real this year with accountability and guidance from The Toy Coach team! Inside this Bootcamp, you’ll get step by step training and acc...
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#166: Tips For Creating Niche Products in the Toy Industry with April Hail from 2023-03-01T05:00
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...
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#165: A Toy Inventor Story of Faith and Determination with Angie Cella from 2023-02-22T05:00
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 goi...
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#164: MESH Toys For Mental, Emotional and Social Health with Rachele Harmuth from 2023-02-15T10:00
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 kid...
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#163: Before You Present Your Product To Buyers Listen To THIS from 2023-02-08T05:00
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...
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#162: The Remarkable Journey of David Vonner: From Marvel Dreamer to Toy Legend from 2023-02-01T05:00
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 design...
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#161: Father-Daughter Duo Develops Handy Famm, Un-boring Tools For Kids from 2023-01-25T09:00
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 creat...
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#160: Top Tips for Creating a Neighborhood Toy Store with Theresa Duncan from 2023-01-17T19:00
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...
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#159: How AI-Powered Chat GPT Can Generate Toy and Game Concepts from 2023-01-11T10:00
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 ...
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#158: AI-Assisted Toy Design: Revolutionizing The Toy And Game Industry from 2023-01-04T05:00
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 U...
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#157: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [3 of 3] from 2022-12-28T06:00
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, publ...
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#156: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [2 of 3] from 2022-12-21T09:00
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, publ...
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#155: In-Person Interviews with Entrepreneurs At Chicago Toy and Game Week [1 of 3] from 2022-12-14T16:00
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 Pl...
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#154: Growing and Licensing an Authentic Brand with April Showers from 2022-12-07T06:00
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. Bu...
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#153: A Holiday Gift Guide Preview and What You Need To Get Featured In 2023 from 2022-11-30T09:00
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...
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#152: Why This Mission-Driven Doll Line Offers 100+ Custom Skin Tones with Dr. Lisa Williams from 2022-11-23T05:00
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....
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#151: Dealing With Mental Health As A Toy Entrepreneur With Marjorie Spitalnik from 2022-11-16T07:00
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...
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#150: How the Power Pony Was Imagined By Kids For Kids with Mia Monzidelis from 2022-11-09T04:00
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 sensa...
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#149: Back In Person! The People Of Play Innovation Conference from 2022-11-02T09:00
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, welcom...
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#148: Answering Your Questions About Toy Creators Academy from 2022-10-26T08:00
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 ep...
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#147: This NEW Toy Category is Bursting into the Wellness Game from 2022-10-19T10:00
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...
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#146: How To Stand Out As A New Toy and Game Inventor or Entrepreneur from 2022-10-12T12:00
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 waitin...
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#145: How To Take Your Card Game From Boutique Stores to Target with Kiara Imani from 2022-10-05T06:00
“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 Li...
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#144: Don’t Miss The First-Of-Its-Kind Toy Trade Show On A Boat from 2022-09-28T10:00
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...
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#143: Making Your Toy Dreams Real At WiT Empowerment Day from 2022-09-21T12:00
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 o...
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#142: How To Start A Toy Business At 7 Years Old with Zoe Oli from 2022-09-07T03:00
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...
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#141: An Unusual Source of Inspiration For Your Next Toy or Game Package from 2022-08-31T15:00
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 pro...
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#140: Finding Your Toy People With Jeff Lawber&Alan Henry from 2022-08-24T06:00
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...
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#139: The ONE Thing You Need To Do BEFORE You Launch That Toy Kickstarter from 2022-08-17T03:00
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...
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#138: Why You Need A Clear Brand Mission For Your Kids’ Brand from 2022-08-10T05:00
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 ...
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#137:This Toy Factory Will Help You Develop Your Ideas with Kate Khvorostianova from 2022-08-03T05:00
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...
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#136: When Your Toy Dream Is To Open A Toy Store with Isaac Elliott-Fisher from 2022-07-27T06:00
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 t...
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#135: When Your Brand Goes Viral with Danielle Murrell Cox of Zuri and Dre from 2022-07-20T08:00
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 l...
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#134: The Power of Integrating Your Culture Into Your Toy Dreams with Keewa Nurullah from 2022-07-13T03:00
#133: 3 Ways To Market Your Toy or Game Product For Free from 2022-07-06T09:00
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 lis...
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#132: This Gay-Owned Game Company Started As A Side Hustle with Greg Watson from 2022-06-29T08:00
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...
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#131: Getting Your Game Into Barnes&Noble with Chrissy Fagerholt from 2022-06-22T06:00
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 you...
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#130: Unlocking Creativity at Science Museum Oklahoma with Azhelle Wade from 2022-06-15T09:00
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 ...
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#129: Playful and Creative Marketing Ideas with Deanna Seymour from 2022-06-08T08:00
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 graph...
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#128: 9 Tips and Tricks For Toy Creators Attending The Licensing Expo from 2022-06-01T13:00
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 the...
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#127: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 2 from 2022-05-25T06:00
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...
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#126: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 1 from 2022-05-18T11:00
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...
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#125 The Impact of Entrepreneurial Resilience with Jeremy Padawer from 2022-05-11T09:00
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...
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#124: The Effect Of Skimpflation and Shrinkflation On Toy Creators from 2022-05-04T06:00
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 r...
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#123: Turning Your Professional Expertise Into An Educational Toy with Julie Dini from 2022-04-27T08:00
Mission driven toy creators like Julie Dini have one major goal in common. It’s to improve the lives of the kids and families that interact with their products. Today on The Toy Coach Podcast, o...
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#122: Dealing With Creative Burnout In The Toy Industry from 2022-04-20T07:00
Have you ever wanted to throw in that towel on your toy dreams? Maybe you’ve been on the hunt for your dream toy job, or perhaps you’ve been working on developing and launching an amazing new to...
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#121: Sick Day – Changes Coming To The Toy Coach Podcast from 2022-04-13T08:00
If you’ve been a listener of The Toy Coach podcast for a while now, you may have grown comfortable with the format of the show. But today’s episode is a small break from the toyspirational educa...
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#120: What Makes A Good Toy Logo and A Bad Toy Logo? from 2022-04-06T10:00
A logo is not the most important part of your toy business. A logo holds NO meaning without a strong product or service behind it. Knowing that is true, should help alleviate the pressure of des...
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#119: Toy Packaging 101 The Elements of A Great Package from 2022-03-30T10:00
Are you struggling with developing the perfect package for your toy or game product? As toy or game creators you spend a lot of time thinking about the amazing toy idea you have and the innovati...
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#118: Why You Should Manufacture Your Toy Products in India with Joshua Punin from 2022-03-23T14:00
Wondering if there are any manufacturing options for you that are outside of China? More and more toy makers, toy creators, and even toy companies want to expand their manufacturing resources be...
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#117: The Importance of Play Every Day with Emma Worrollo from 2022-03-16T10:00
Do you know how to play? It seems like a simple question and your first thought might be, “of course I do!” but many adults today have forgotten how to play. As toy people, we know that play is ...
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#116: An Incredible First Time Toy Inventor Story with Daniela Valenzuela Bomchil from 2022-03-09T00:00
Do you have an idea, and maybe even a prototype for a toy invention, but are wondering how to get it in front of toy industry executives? You’re not alone. This is something some toy inventors s...
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#115: Making It Into Retail: Getting Your Product Into Specialty Stores with Nicole Hawthorne from 2022-03-02T20:00
Wondering what toy entrepreneurs like you do to get their product placed in retail? In this episode, The Toy Coach sits down with Nicole Hawthorne, student of Toy Creators Academy and co-founder...
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#114: How To Break Into Toys A Step-By-Step Roadmap from 2022-02-23T11:00
Did you recently discover the Toy Coach and are looking for help on how to break into the Toy Industry? Well this is the perfect episode for you. Today, The Toy Coach is sharing a presentation a...
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#113: 10 Unexpected Toy or Game Ideas That Will Inspire You To Make Your Ideas Real from 2022-02-16T09:00
Does this sound like you? You have a life outside the toy industry, but you have ideas. Maybe you are a lawyer, a baker, or even a mechanical engineer. But there’s something from your daily life...
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#112: How To Get Started In The Toy Industry When You Have ZERO Contacts from 2022-02-09T09:00
Listener Erika wrote in asking how you can “Make It” in the toy industry when you’re just starting out with ZERO contacts. So, for today’s episode we will dive into 3 networking strategies that ...
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#111: 3 Ways Wordle Taught Us That Play Could Go Viral from 2022-02-02T06:00
Whether or not you’re completely addicted to Wordle, the simple online word game that recently got bought by the NYTimes for 7 figures, you’ve probably heard of it. Even if you haven’t heard of ...
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#110: Why You Can Only Sell A Toy Idea When It's R.i.T.E. with Dan Klitsner from 2022-01-26T08:00
Have you ever wanted to pick the brain of an award winning toy inventor? Ever wanted to know how iconic toys, like BopIt, got their start? Today you will get that chance! This episode is so help...
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#109: Why You Should Attend The TCA Virtual Pitch Event from 2022-01-19T07:00
Finding a platform or opportunity to pitch your toy or game idea to an industry professional seems like an impossible task, especially if you have no previous experience or contacts within the t...
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#108: Money-Saving Benefits of Automating Your Toy Business with Kelly Goss from 2022-01-12T08:00
Do you find yourself putting off the repetitive daily tasks for your toy business? Did you ever wish there was a magical solution that could automate those tedious processes? Well, there is one!...
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#107: Secrets For Pitching Your Game Ideas To Hasbro with Tanya Thompson from 2022-01-05T06:00
Pitching as a toy inventor can be an intimidating process, especially if you’ve never done it before. But what if you could get the inside scoop from an industry executive at a major toy company...
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#106: The Power Of Telling Your Unique Toy Story with Cher Hale from 2021-12-29T06:00
How can you weave your own personal story into your product and make a powerful connection? Telling potential buyers the reason behind your product or idea can increase interest and ultimately, ...
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#105: Minda Harts on Retaining and Nurturing Diverse Talent in 2022 from 2021-12-22T06:00
With the Great Resignation of 2021 companies struggled to retain talent. And some companies more specifically recognized their inability to retain diverse talent. Noting that diversity is a majo...
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#104: The Easiest Way To Protect Your Toy Idea That Most People Overlook with Dan Harris from 2021-12-15T06:00
Want to know how to protect your products and intellectual property when dealing with Chinese manufacturers? Dan Harris, a lawyer who specializes in International law, with a focus on China, giv...
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#103: What You Need to Do Today To Protect Your Toy Brand From Counterfeits from 2021-12-08T06:00
Are you sure that toy you got is the real deal? The holiday shopping season brings lots of people to look for the trendy “it” toy their kids are begging for, as well as fun games and collectibl...
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#102: Innovating The Sales Process In 2021 with Chloe Kershaw of Hape Toys from 2021-12-01T06:00
Once you make your toy idea a real product, how do you sell it? In today’s podcast episode we sit down and chat with Chloe Kershaw, the National Sales Manager at Hape Toys. Chloe didn’t start he...
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#101: Learn Toy History With Toys That Built America from 2021-11-24T07:00
Before you can build the toy business of your dreams, you’ve got to know the history of the toy businesses that came before you. In today’s episode I’ll be sharing insider information directly f...
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#100: Special 100th Episode Getting To Know The Toy Coach from 2021-11-17T07:00
Every week for the past 100 weeks I have shown up with a new episode designed to help you take another confident step forward in your toy journey. This podcast is filled with lessons from my dec...
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#99: How This Toy and Game Pitch Event Advances Women In Toys from 2021-11-10T09:00
Finding the courage to pitch your toy or game idea can be challenging, so that’s where important industry events like the one covered in today’s episode come in. Today on The Toy Coach podcast y...
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#98: The Virtual Toy And Game Pitch Event You Should Be Preparing For from 2021-11-03T09:00
If you’ve ever had a toy idea or a game idea, it’s likely that you’ve wondered where you should go to get that incredibly groundbreaking idea in front of toy companies. Well, this week on The To...
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#97: Write Click-Worthy Email Subject Lines For Your Next Toy Pitch from 2021-10-27T10:00
It’s toy pitching season and e-mail is one of the best ways to make connections and capture people’s attention. However, business people receive tons of e-mails each day. Some of them receive 16...
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#96: The California Law to Empower Gender Neutral Toys from 2021-10-20T11:00
On October 11th, toy social channels exploded with the news that California Law would force toy retailers to fill their shelves with gender neutral toys by 2024. While partially true, the law is...
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#95: Tips For Finding The Great Toy Or Game Concepts Within You with Christian Castro from 2021-10-13T09:00
Do you have an idea for a game? Well, you’re in luck because to close out Hispanic Heritage Month, The Toy Coach sits down with Christian Castro, the Design Director of What Do You Meme? to talk...
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#94: The Superhero That Sparked A Social Movement with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez creator of La Borinqueña from 2021-10-08T06:00
Learn about outside-of-the-box thinking with the 2nd part of my interview with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, the creator of the hit comic La Borinqueña. In today’s episode, Edgardo tell us how he g...
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#93: Making The Most Of Unexpected Publicity with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez creator of La Borinqueña from 2021-10-06T09:00
If you’re wondering just how much of yourself you should put into your intellectual property, you need to listen to Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’ amazing story. You might be afraid to truly put you...
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#92: Breaking Through Barriers in Children’s Book Publishing with Charles George Esperanza from 2021-09-29T12:00
Today’s episode is a treat for the senses toy people. My guest today is a published book author and illustrator with books released by Sky Pony Press, Abrams Books, and Harper Collins. Charles G...
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#91: The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Meet The Experts with The Toy Coach Azhelle Wade from 2021-09-22T06:00
Have you been looking for an overview on all the possible career paths in the toy industry? Wondering what it takes to make it as an inventor or corporate toy person? Well during my chat with th...
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#90: Leaving Your Boring Job to Start a Career in The Toy Industry with Erica and Liliana from 2021-09-15T10:00
According to Gallup research, the great resignation of 2021 found 48% of the American workforce actively looking to change jobs. Among the reasons to leave? Not seeing opportunities for growth, ...
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#89: 3 Simple Strategies to Becoming A Toy Person from 2021-09-08T10:00
If you’re a devoted listener of this podcast, then I’ve been calling you a toy person for almost 100 episodes now, and it just hit me recently, that I’ve never actually talked about what it mean...
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#89: 3 Simple Strategies to Becoming A Toy Person from 2021-09-08T10:00
If you’re a devoted listener of this podcast, then I’ve been calling you a toy person for almost 100 episodes now, and it just hit me recently, that I’ve never actually talked about what it mean...
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#88: Virtual Pitch Event Stories from Students of Toy Creators Academy from 2021-09-01T08:00
Students of Toy Creators Academy join The Toy Coach on the podcast today to share their experience going through Toy Creators Academy, and ultimately pitching at the TCA Virtual Pitch Event. Dur...
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#87: Is My Idea Considered A Toy or Children's Product? from 2021-08-25T06:00
Remember when you came up with your latest and greatest toy idea? At any point, did you stop and wonder to yourself, is this really a toy product? If you’ve had an idea or two that you weren’t q...
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#86: Toy Safety 102: The EN-71 Toy Safety Standard with Bill Baxter from 2021-08-18T09:00
Remember Brexit? Well, back in late January when the UK left the EU, I reached out to a Toy Safety expert friend of mine and asked, “What is this going to do to our labeling requirements?” The a...
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#85: Lessons for Specialty Toy Brands from the 2021 ASTRA Marketplace Show from 2021-08-11T17:00
If you’ve ever looked into attending a toy trade show and thought, “Nope. Toy trade shows are for the big toy companies with thousands and thousands of orders at least, they’re not for me.” Well...
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#84: How To Use TikTok To Find Your Next Toy Job from 2021-08-04T06:00
You know that feeling when you submit a job application but you’re pretty sure no one is going to see it? The process of applying for jobs has become more and more impersonal in the digital age....
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#83: Predicting Retail Market Trends After The Shipping Container Crisis from 2021-07-28T06:00
How much do you know about how the toy products that you make and play with get to you? Most likely, they were shipped to the city you bought them from, on boats in containers. In January of 202...
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#82: The Pillars Of Marketing Your Toy From Scratch with Harold Chizick from 2021-07-21T06:00
I absolutely love talking marketing. Both digital marketing, traditional PR, and earned media are the main ways you can create awareness for your business. Before you spend any money developing ...
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#81: How To Leverage Your Creative Business For Major Publicity from 2021-07-14T06:00
Getting publicity for your toy business can seem like a daunting task at first. Imposter syndrome is often the culprit preventing many toy entrepreneurs from getting their name and toy products ...
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#80: Building A Multi-Million Dollar Business Through Email With Amy Porterfield from 2021-07-07T06:00
Amy Porterfield is an online marketing expert and the host of the top-ranked podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. Before building a multi-million-dollar digital course business, Amy worked with ...
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#79: The 3 BIGGEST Mistakes To Avoid When Working With A Factory from 2021-06-30T06:00
Are you in the process of sourcing with a factory overseas? Or perhaps you’re in the middle of working with a factory to produce your toy product. Or maybe you’ve just been considering reaching ...
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#78: How To Be A Toy Designer from 2021-06-23T06:00
Today’s episode is for all of the aspiring professional toy designers out there who have reached out at one time or another for advice on how they can get a job in the toy industry. Perhaps you ...
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#77: Get In Front Of 12,000 Buyers With This Year-Round Toy Trade Show from 2021-06-16T12:00
If the expense of returning to in-person toy trade shows has you a little worried, then there’s a year-round toy trade show platform that you need to know about. In today’s episode we take a beh...
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#76: The Art of Pitching and Pivoting In Toys and Entertainment from 2021-06-09T06:00
For today’s episode of the show, I invited three of my star students of Toy Creators Academy to be guests on the podcast to share their experiences pitching their ideas right to major toy compan...
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#75: Lessons And Benefits Of Pitching Your Toy Ideas At The TCA Virtual Toy Pitch Event from 2021-06-02T06:00
The first ever Toy Creators Academy virtual pitch event concluded at the end of May 2021. Over a dozen toy companies, reviewed dozens of product pitches in 2 weeks of speed-dating style toy and ...
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#74: How To Break Into Toys Through Self-Publishing from 2021-05-26T06:00
If you’re wondering how to break into toys, just know this. There are MANY paths into the toy industry. Get ready to hear how a self-published author found herself as the VP at a major toy compa...
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#73: Executive Tips To License Your Toy Ideas With Zack Pentecost of Zuru Toys from 2021-05-19T06:00
Do top toy companies really want to work with inventors? Today’s episode answers that question with a resounding YES!
Our guest today is Zack Pentecost of ZURU Toys. If you don’t know the n...
#72: Working With A Distributor To Get Your Toy or Game In Retail with Greg Watson from 2021-05-12T06:00
If you’ve ever wondered if or why you should use a distributor to help push your toy or game, well I’ve got an episode for you. PSi aka Publisher Services, Inc is the world’s largest toy, game, ...
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#71: The Art of Toy Photography with Mitchel Wu from 2021-05-05T06:00
Do you know the definition of toy photography? Well in this episode, Mitchel and The Toy Coach define toy photography as the creation of art using toys as a vehicle for storytelling. Mitchel Wu ...
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#70: 7 Tips To Improve Your Next Virtual Toy Pitch from 2021-04-28T08:00
It’s important to stay relevant and change with the times as a toy person and the latest skill you’ll need to add to your repertoire is a doozy. What skill is that? Well, it’s video editing. But...
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#69: Why I Left My Corporate Toy Job To Become The Toy Coach from 2021-04-21T12:00
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about The Toy Coach, and why Azhelle built this podcast then this episode is for you. Today Azhelle shares her story from corporate dream job, to entrepreneur...
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#68: One Dad's Secret To A 3 Million Dollar Toy Kickstarter from 2021-04-14T08:00
After being laid off during the pandemic in 2020, Conor Lewis was bit by the entrepreneurial bug and decided to go for it with his toy product, FORT. Conor put his marketing expertise to use and...
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#67: Objectively Vetting Your Amazing Toy Ideas from 2021-04-07T08:00
Coming up with toy ideas is fun, and over time it gets easier and easier. And vetting ideas that you’ve come up with is the trickiest step of all, because of our own ego. Ego can get in the way ...
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#66: The Ripple Effect Of Racial Bias In The Toy Industry Part 2 with Jacqueline Vong from 2021-03-31T08:00
Considering over 70% of toys are manufactured in China, we would be remiss to not acknowledge and discuss the increase in Asian hate crimes that are making headlines in the US and Canada. Accord...
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#65: Creating A Hit Kids’ TV Show with Farnaz Esnaashari Creator of Shimmer&Shine from 2021-03-24T08:00
What does it take to create a hit kids’ TV show? Well in today’s episode, Farnaz Esnaashari, Creator of the hit kids’ tv show Shimmer and Shine joins us to answer that question and so many more....
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#64: Selling Your Toy Or Game On Amazon Live from 2021-03-17T15:00
Have you ever heard of Amazon Live? Amazon Live is Amazon’s live streaming platform that allows Amazon sellers, vendors, and Amazon influencers to sell their products live in a QVC-style experie...
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#63: How To Make A Toy, The 5 Steps of Product Development from 2021-03-10T08:00
The Toy Development process can seem big, scary, and overwhelming if you’ve never taken it on before, but today’s episode is going to eliminate any uncertainties you may have about what that pro...
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#62: What Buyers Need To See In Your Toy Product Pitch With Marie Nastasi from 2021-03-03T08:00
This episode is packed with valuable information for developing a successful buyer presentation. We’ll share the 5 Keys to a Successful Buyer Presentation as developed by today’s guest Marie Nas...
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#61: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Taura Stinson from 2021-02-26T08:00
In celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the ...
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#60: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Donna Moore from 2021-02-25T08:00
In celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the ...
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#59: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Chantel Calloway from 2021-02-24T08:00
In celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the ...
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#58: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Tanya Wright from 2021-02-23T08:00
In celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the ...
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#57: Building Your Brand Identity with Albert Lawrence from 2021-02-17T10:00
Content is King. How many times have you heard that statement? And how many times did you take that statement seriously? Today’s podcast episode is focused on teaching you strategies and tactics...
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#56: How To Be A Game Inventor With Eric Slauson Creator of Tattoo Stories from 2021-02-09T16:00
Have you ever thought about inventing or designing a game? There are two markets you can create games for. The mass market and the hobby market. And on today’s podcast episode, we have Eric Slau...
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#55: Funding Your Toy Business with Terri-Nichelle Bradley of Brown Toy Box from 2021-02-03T00:00
Get your notebook and pen toy people, because we’re about to get down to business. In today’s podcast episode, we talk about the grind of obtaining funding for your toy business. My guest is Ter...
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#54: 5 Biggest Myths About Working In The Toy Industry from 2021-01-27T14:00
Ready for a myth-buster? How about 5?
For today’s episode I’m going to dispel 5 myths you may have about the toy industry and share personal stories, and lessons that you can learn f...
#53: The Importance Of Defining A Vision Statement For Your Toy Business from 2021-01-20T09:00
As a toy inventor or entrepreneur, you know that there are about a hundred decisions you make on any given day. A decision to partner with a specific person or organization, a decision in how yo...
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#52: The Business of Baby Toys with Brad Reese from 2021-01-13T00:00
If you’re a fan of the holiday toy sensation Elf on the Shelf, you may already be familiar with the Lumistella Company. Today’s guest is Brad Reese, and he is the Director of Product Development...
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#51: Set Up Your Toy Business For Tax Success with Margie Montes from 2021-01-06T00:00
Are you thinking about starting your business in the toy industry but stumped about how to set it up when it comes to taxes? Navigating tax protocols as a new business owner can be confusing and...
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#50: Becoming A Children's Book Illustrator and Author with Yesenia Moises from 2020-12-30T00:00
Ever toyed with the idea of creating a children’s book but unsure where to start? Today’s guest, Afro Latina author and illustrator Yesenia Moises, knows exactly what it takes. A graduate of the...
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#49: 7 Lessons For Toy Inventors From Netflix’s Jingle Jangle from 2020-12-23T00:00
This season we’ve all cozied up and scrolled through Netflix trying to find the perfect holiday flick, but there’s one in particular that will resonate well with my fellow toy inventors. The mov...
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#48: Why The Toy Industry Needs More Toys Designed For Free Play from 2020-12-15T22:00
Have you ever watched a child engage with a push-button toy and couldn’t help but feel something was missing? Today we explore why the toy industry needs more toys designed for free play, experi...
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#47: Legally Protecting Your Toy Ideas with Stephanie Pottick, Esq from 2020-12-09T00:00
Today’s episode is an extremely important topic. We’re going to talk about how to protect not only your toy ideas but also your toy business. You’ll learn the 3 most valuable contracts you need ...
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#46: My 5 Favorite Online Marketing Tactics To Grow Your Toy Business from 2020-12-02T17:00
With the Christmas season fast approaching and COVID-19 numbers rising, today’s episode focuses on what you need to do to adapt your toy business or toy career so that you can attract sales and ...
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#44: When Kids Invent Their Own Toys with OctoGifts from 2020-11-18T05:00
Currently, the People of Play Young Inventors Challenge is in full swing. Kids from all over have submitted their toy inventions and game ideas for a chance to be named Young Inventor of The Yea...
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#43: Toy Safety 101 with Bill Baxter from 2020-11-11T00:00
Today's podcast topic is a very important one because we will talk about toy safety. When you are creating your toy, you want to make sure it is safe for the age group it is intended for an...
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#42: The Virtual Event That Toy Inventors Need Right Now from 2020-11-04T00:00
In today's episode, I will explain everything about THE event that is known for connecting inventors to pitch their toy ideas to large and small toy companies. People of Play, formerly know...
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#42: The Virtual Summit Toy Inventors Need Right Now from 2020-11-04T00:00
In today's episode, I will explain everything about THE event that is known for connecting inventors to pitch their toy ideas to large and small toy companies. People of Play, formerly know...
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#41: What Keeps Kids’ Attention? with Silly Sparkles The Clown from 2020-10-28T00:00
Toy creators today are in an ongoing battle for kids’ attention. So, I thought, what better way to find inspiration for new toy ideas than to connect with children’s entertainers? And it just so...
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#41: What Keeps Kids’ Attention? with Silly Sparkles The Clown from 2020-10-28T00:00
Toy creators today are in an ongoing battle for kids’ attention. So, I thought, what better way to find inspiration for new toy ideas than to connect with children’s entertainers? And it just so...
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#40: How Diverse Is Your Toy Company? from 2020-10-21T07:00
This episode will highlight the change and movement already happening to support diversity and inclusion within the toy industry. In the past few months, toy organizations started creating safe ...
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#39: Navigating The Festival of Licensing with Amanda Cioletti from 2020-10-14T00:00
Are you attending the Festival of Licensing? Amanda Cioletti joins The Toy Coach in this episode to tell you how this festival works, what it is, and how you can make the most of it. If you don’...
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#38: Bubbles For A Circular Economy with Paola Dyboski-Bryant from 2020-10-07T00:00
Can you change the world with bubbles? Well, that’s the goal of Paola Dyboski-Bryant of Dr. Zigs’ extraordinary bubbles. Inspired by her toddler, she built an eco-friendly and socially conscious...
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#37: How To Support Your Entrepreneurial Significant Other with Christian Castro from 2020-09-30T00:00
This episode gets personal. Today’s episode guest is Christian Castro, Design Director of What Do You Meme? and significant other to The Toy Coach. Christian and Azhelle have an off the cuff con...
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#36: Building A Circular Business In The Time Of Corona from 2020-09-23T00:00
Can a circular business model find success in a pandemic? Yes, it can! And today’s guest, Lauren Gregor is going to share with us exactly how she made that happen. All new businesses require sac...
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#35: How Can The Toy Industry Be More Sustainable With Leticia Suarez from 2020-09-16T09:00
As much as we love toys, we have to be honest with ourselves and recognize the heavy toll that toys take on our planet. This episode focuses on sustainable materials and practices that can help ...
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#34: Attracting Your Ideal Toy Mentor from 2020-09-09T00:00
Have you ever had a toy mentor? Have you ever searched for one? In today’s episode, The Toy Coach gives you four tips for attracting a valuable toy mentor. A toy mentor is someone who is more kn...
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#33: Designing For Free Play with Cas Holman from 2020-09-02T00:00
If you are a fan of the Netflix show, The Art of Design, you may already be familiar with today's guest, Cas Holman. Now if you're just starting out in the toy industry, you may not kn...
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#32: The Value Of Partnering With A Passionate Licensing Agent from 2020-08-26T00:00
Are you ready to learn more about the value of having a sales partner in your toy licensing journey? Well, this week I’ve got a licensing agent to introduce you to named Michael Goodman. Michael...
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#31: What It Takes To Be A Successful&Happy Toy Entrepreneur from 2020-08-19T09:00
Hello again, toy people! To continue the conversation we had last week, The Toy Coach will dive deeper into the world of those who are passionate about one particular toy idea or brand and decid...
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#30: What Does It Take To Be a Successful and Happy Toy Inventor? from 2020-08-11T12:00
Toy Inventors spend their days coming up with new ideas, tinkering with prototypes, and pitching their creations to potential licensees. But what exactly makes them successful? In today’s episod...
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#28: Playing The Kickstarter Long Game with Joe Slack from 2020-07-29T01:00
For many of us, this is "launch season" for our toy and game products. And even though this podcast has given plenty of valuable information about launching a successful crowdfunding ...
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#28: Playing The Kickstarter Long Game with Joe Slack from 2020-07-29T01:00
For many of us, this is "launch season" for our toy and game products. And even though this podcast has given plenty of valuable information about launching a successful crowdfunding ...
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#27: How Much Are Customers Willing to Pay For Your Toy? from 2020-07-22T00:00
When you first came up with your most recent toy idea, did you stop to consider what your target customer might think it's worth? Well, perceived value is extremely important to toy industr...
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#26: The Growing Importance Of Social Proof For Your Toy Ideas from 2020-07-15T00:00
It's no secret that the toy industry is heavily influenced by popular media. Many people in toys compare it to the fashion industry because both are all about fast-moving trends. Traditiona...
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#25: How A Fellow Inventor Turned A Holiday Gift Idea Into A Licensed Invention with Karen Bonnici from 2020-07-08T00:00
Are you ready for an inventor story?
My guest for today's episode is Karen Bonnici, creator of the Super Blanky® and the Super Towel®. This inventor mom joins Azhelle Wade on toda...
#24: Breaking Into The Specialty Toy Market with Kimberly Mosley CAE, the President of ASTRA from 2020-07-01T01:00
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association aka ASTRA was founded in 1992 by store owners who noticed the value in collaborating in the specialty t...
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#23: Licensing Week Virtual, Tips For Toy Inventors from 2020-06-24T02:00
This week's episode is fan-requested and is ALL about Licensing Week Virtual and the Las Vegas Licensing Expo. This industry event is known as the go-to destination for the biggest licensin...
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#22: 8 Kickstarter Secrets To 8X Your Funding Goal with Evi Triantafyllides from 2020-06-17T00:00
Have you ever wanted to launch a Kickstarter campaign but you’ve been overwhelmed with where to start? Well in this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, Azhelle Wade, The Toy Coach, sits do...
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#21: How To Make An Impact With a Big Idea and a Small Budget from 2020-06-10T00:00
Making an impact is one of the most important parts of the job when you're a toy person. But when you first start out in the industry, making big moves to make a difference for and in our i...
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#20: The Ripple Effect of Racial Bias in The Toy Industry from 2020-06-03T00:00
This past week has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me, and if you've been seeing the onslaught of racially charged media reports, then you may feel the same. What I didn't want to...
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#19: Changing The Game with Pictionary Creator Rob Angel from 2020-05-27T01:00
As of today you might not be in the toy business. You might be in advertising, you might be a school teacher, or you might be a waiter, and the idea of being a toy inventor or a game inventor ma...
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#18: 3 Virtual Networking Opportunities For Toy People from 2020-05-20T00:00
Are you feeling isolated on your journey of creating your own toy or game product? If you find it hard to connect with other passionate toy people from varying specializations, then this is the ...
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#17: The First EVER Virtual Mentorship Program for Our Industry with Janice Ross and Mary Kay Russell from 2020-05-13T00:00
Having a mentor can drastically change the course of your career, help ease times of professional confusion, and provide a vision for the future. Women In Toys, Licensing, and Entertainme...
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#16: The Benefits of Joining Women In Toys, Licensing&Entertainment from 2020-05-06T00:00
Starting off in the toy industry can be difficult, and doing so while observing #stayathome orders may make it seem impossible. Well for today's episode, The Toy Coach introduces you to a n...
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#15: Kickstarter Success In The Time of Coronavirus with Marjorie Spitalnik from 2020-04-29T09:00
What if you launched your Kickstarter, and just a few days later the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic? Well, that's exactly what happened to my guest today Marjorie Spitalnik. M...
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#14: The Hard Truths About Kickstarter with Julie Underwood Richardson from 2020-04-22T19:00
If you're considering launching a Kickstarter campaign, or if you're in the middle of prepping your KS launch, then this episode is here for you! Julie Underwood Richardson is the inve...
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#13: Staying At Home Part 2 Brainstorming and Playtesting Virtually from 2020-04-15T14:00
This episode is part 2 of the mini-series aimed at guiding inventors on how to nurture their creativity and develop their ideas while stuck at home. In this episode learn how to make a game of b...
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#12: Staying At Home Part 1 Problem Solving And Inventing from 2020-04-08T16:00
With 42 states practicing either partial or statewide stay at home orders, our lives are looking very different than they were just a few weeks ago. We're spending a lot of time at home, an...
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#11: Predicting Toy Market Trends After Coronavirus from 2020-04-01T01:00
Let's be honest, the market is changing. We're in the midst of a serious shift in the way we live, and life and business as we know it is changing drastically each and every day. Havin...
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#10: The Modern Marketing of Toys With Steve Starobinsky from 2020-03-25T00:00
There’s no avoiding the impact that social media has had on the marketing of toys and games. Before You-Tube stars and Instagram influencers, networks like Nickelodeon and Disney influenced toy ...
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#9: Top Toy Companies That You Should Know from 2020-03-18T09:00
There's nothing more important to the success of your product pitch than really knowing the company that you're pitching to! Showing a great inventor item to the wrong company is almos...
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#8: 3 Stages of the Toy Product Development Life Cycle from 2020-03-11T04:00
Have you ever proceeded down the path of developing your toy or game idea, to only realize that you weren’t sure what step comes next? If you’ve rushed down the path of sample making or prototyp...
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#7: Finding Quality Sample Makers For Plush, Paper, and Plastics from 2020-03-04T08:00
Have you ever gone to a product pitch meeting with a less than perfect prototype? Did you ever have an excellent concept fall flat because a prototype failed to capture the hearts of your audien...
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#6: What To Do When You Don’t Achieve Your Toy Fair Goals from 2020-02-26T23:00
After attending The New York Toy Fair (NYTF) as an exhibitor, you'll definitely need a few days to recover. Your back may ache, your feet may be swollen, and your ego may be bruised. While ...
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#5: Everything You Need To Know About New York Toy Fair from 2020-02-19T20:00
The New York Toy Fair (NYTF) is the LARGEST toy show in North America. Over 1,000 exhibitors attend to showcase over a hundred thousand products at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York...
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#4: Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 2 from 2020-02-12T06:00
In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, we focus on Manufacturing in the USA. Learn how to use an indispensable resource for American manufacturers. We'll outline key differences ...
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#3: Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 1 from 2020-02-05T07:00
Finally an answer to one of the biggest industry questions out there. How do I start manufacturing my own toy or game ideas with a factory in China? This podcast episode breaks down the easiest ...
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#2: How To Make Your Ideas More Toyetic from 2020-01-29T20:00
What exactly is toyetic? The term toyetic is thrown around a lot in the industry. In this episode, we break down the true definition of toyetic and pull out 4 guiding Toyetic Principles and show...
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#1: Unlocking Your Great Toy Ideas from 2020-01-17T23:00
Are you trying to come up with your next great toy idea for kids, but you're suffering from a creative block? If you find it difficult to come up with an amazing new toy idea time and time ...
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