Have you ever wondered what it’s like to run a business with your spouse? Is it all fun and games, or does every dinner conversation turn into a boardroom meeting? Do you get to celebrate the wins together, or do you find yourself debating packaging details at 10 PM on a Friday night?

Are tariffs here to stay or not? That was the hot topic at New York Toy Fair 2025, and trust me—it’s still got the toy industry buzzing. In Q1 of 2025, the Trump administration announced a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, and with 80% of all toys made in China, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are all bracing for impact.

So, who's really going to absorb these extra costs? Will factories take the hit? Will retailers adjust their pricing? Or will consumers end up paying the price?

Find out:

🔥 Why Chinese factories can’t absorb the tariffs, and what that means for production

🛒 How major retailers are pivoting their strategies to stay competitive

⚖️ If companies should rush their products to market before the tariffs take full effect

🔍 Shifting buyer patterns at Toy Fair 2025

If you missed New York Toy Fair or couldn’t see everything, check out this first episode of NY Toy Fair 2025 Exclusive Interview Series.

Over the next month and a half I’ll be taking you inside the show floor for exclusive interviews with toy designers, licensors, CEO’s, entrepreneurs and inventors who are Making It In The Toy Industry!

In this episode, Jayson Esterow, President of License 2 Play Toys, shares how he turned a viral trend into a major licensing deal with Jeep. If you’ve ever heard of Jeep Ducking, you know how passionate Jeep owners are about their community. Jayson saw an opportunity to take this organic, fan-driven movement and transform it into an officially licensed toy line.

Gavin Lawler, Creator of Deddy Bears, fresh off his TOTY win for Collectible of the Year, opens up about the challenges of breaking into the toy industry and how he used his F.B.O. (First, Best, Only) formula to develop a product that stands out. Plus, we dive into his major collaboration with Liquid Death and why identifying white space in the market is the key to launching a toy brand that captures attention and drives sales.

So, you’re going to Toy Fair New York this year, but you aren’t sure you’re making the most of your trip? It’s true, without a solid plan, walking into Toy Fair New York can be completely overwhelming. You can easily get lost in a few friendly conversations, pass too much time playing with toys at welcoming booths, and end up missing opportunities to grow your business, or sell your ideas. Once you walk through the doors of the Javits Center, the impact of the show is bound to hit you. So let’s take a little time to pre-plan and make this show a success for you.

Toy Fair is chaotic—buyers are rushing from booth to booth, seeing hundreds of products. If you want them to stop and actually care about your toy or game, your pitch needs to demand attention.

In this episode, I’m sharing 3 simple strategies to help you:
✨ Grab buyer attention in seconds (without feeling salesy)
🎉 Make your pitch an experience they won’t forget
👀 Spot buyer body cues so you know when to pivot or close

These tips come straight from Barry McLaughlin & Jason Lautenschleger, game inventors who turned quirky pitches into real shelf space.

If you’re heading to Toy Fair and serious about landing deals, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Hit play now!

New York Toy Fair is just around the corner and if you’re preparing to launch your toy or game at this event, learn this lesson: it WON’T sell itself! Buyers see hundreds of pitches, and even the best ideas can get lost in the noise.

The real secret? It’s not just what you pitch, but HOW you pitch it. So, how do you make buyers stop, pay attention, and want to play? 

In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, Barry & Jason share their wildest Toy Fair pitch stories, including the time Jason literally proposed with Game Night in a Can—and walked away with a deal!

In this episode, learn how to grab attention, keep buyers engaged, and turn a pitch into an unforgettable experience. Put your headphones on and get ready to SELL MORE TOYS!

When The Toy Coach was picking up steam, many people told me a focus on DEI and being black would be to the benefit of my business, but… my instincts said otherwise. And now? I was right.

This episode explores my personal feelings about the DEI initiative rollbacks that started with the US federal government and spilled out into a few corporations, how we feel, what we think, and what we’ll do now. 

Be sure to check the show notes for links to black-owned businesses you may be interested in buying from.

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!’.

What if a simple classroom activity could unite generations? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, we’re celebrating 30 years of Blurt with its inventor, Tim Walsh, and uncovering how a classroom exercise—reading dictionary definitions—sparked the creation of a game that’s built vocabularies, brought families together, and supported memory care.

Tim shares the journey of Blurt, from its beginnings as DeFUNitions to becoming a household favorite. We also spotlight the unsung heroes of the toy world—inventors who are “criminally unrecognized” despite creating cultural phenomena like UNO and LEGO. We explored how the industry can better recognize inventors, following examples set by Euro games that feature designers prominently.

Tim also highlights why play is essential for creativity, connection, and overcoming challenges—proving that toys are far more than just playthings.

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.

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!

In this episode, host Azhelle Wade shares the four key lessons, inspired by her previous interview with Ron Weizman, that will help you launch and scale your toy business—even if you’re working full-time. 

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!

A Toy Of The Year Award (TOTY) nomination can boost sales and recognition of the brands lucky enough to earn one. 

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 his team turned classic bubble play into the never-before-seen Poppin Colorz line, and how it made its way to be nominated for a TOTY® Award. If your eye is on a future TOTY nomination, this episode is one you can’t miss.

Want your toy pitch to stand out? 🚀 Learn the secrets to writing email subject lines that get clicks! From the ‘Four U’s’ formula to real-life examples, this episode is loaded with tips to boost your success on your toy pitches. What are you waiting for? Put on your headphones and listen to the full episode! 🎧✨

Ever wondered how toys come to life through photography? 🎨✨ In this episode, Mitchel Wu, the iconic toy photographer whose work blends motion, emotion, and incredible storytelling, reveals the secrets behind his craft. Learn how he turned a hobby into a thriving career, why storytelling is at the heart of his work, and his tips for creating scroll-stopping images. Don’t miss this inspiring episode! 🎥

Virtual pitches have become the new norm, and they’re here to stay! Whether you're an aspiring toy inventor or a seasoned creator, knowing how to ace your virtual presentation can make all the difference in getting your idea licensed or noticed by top toy companies. In this episode, I share 7 essential tips to level up your virtual toy pitch. 🎧 Don’t miss out—listen now and take your pitch to the next level!

How does a kid from the South Bronx become a children’s book superstar? 🚀 Join Azhelle Wade as she chats with Charles George Esperanza, the genius behind Boogie Boogie Y’all! Charles shares how he turned rejection into success and made waves in children’s books. 🎨✨ Don’t miss this episode—listen to the FULL episode now! 🎧

Feeling stuck in your business? Tyler Turk transformed his subscription box service into a thriving board game brand sold at retailers like Barnes & Noble. Discover his secrets to pivoting successfully, building retail-ready products, and thriving in the toy industry. Tune in for game-changing strategies! 🎲