From a young age, Michael Harring’s love for monster movies and horror legends like Rick Baker and Stan Winston fueled his imagination and creative ambitions. His early experiments in creature-making may have started with DIY garage kits, but his journey was far from traditional. Michael explored filmmaking, advertising, and even collaborated with icons like Disney and Star Wars, but his heart never left the world of monsters. With encouragement from family and friends, Michael finally returned to his roots, launching Wayward Ghouls—a unique line of collectible, nostalgia-filled monster toys for fans who share his passion for the strange and supernatural. Now, Michael’s creations capture that same childhood thrill, making Wayward Ghouls a must-have for any monster-loving collector.

For the upcoming 2024 holiday season, visit Toys R Us in Macys or through their website to discover toys for your kids created by those who love them best: parents, caregivers, and everyday people! These creators tap into their daily experiences to design toys that resonate with what kids really want and need, creating joyful play moments that last. This year's top Toys R Us picks are perfect for inspiring kids to explore, imagine, and engage with the world around them! Here are this year’s standout toys at Toys R Us, crafted with care, insight, and a dash of holiday magic.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Tamagotchi was one of the biggest toy fads that had a grip over children in Japan and in the United States. This phenomenon began on November 23rd, 1996 when Bandai released their first Tamagotchi in Japan.

It originally consisted of a 32x16 pixel screen and three buttons to be used to take care of the Tamagotchi - the name of the creature and the device it was in. These buttons controlled simple tasks such as playing games with your pet, feeding it, or turning the lights on/off in its room. If you failed to complete these tasks, the Tamagotchi you raised would end up dying.

Here’s some solid toy advice: before you even create your product, you need to have a marketing plan. Having marketing at the core of your toy creation will allow you to do more than just make it, it will allow you to sell it!

This 3-step toy marketing triangle creates a solid foundation and lets you know where you can begin with your marketing plan. This plan is accessible to anyone, and can be scaled up or down depending on your needs and budget.

Being a toy designer is an extremely rewarding, inspiring and creative job. But the big question is, how do I get a job as a toy designer? You may find yourself also wondering; What do I do to gain toy design experience? How do I cross over from other industries if I already have experience as a product developer, graphic designer, or industrial designer? Whether you are making a change from a different industry to come into the toy industry, or looking to change roles in your already thriving toy career, these 10 tips are sure to help you land the toy job you’ve been dreaming about.

The digital age is here and just like everyone else, toy inventors need to embrace the internet and social media in particular. E-commerce managers, distributors, licensors and other professionals who scour the web for new toy inventors to work with look at social media, in addition to sites like Kickstarter to find the next big thing. How will you “wow” them? Keep reading to find out.

Greg Watson, the national account manager for Publisher Services, Inc. (AKA PSi), one of the top toy distributors in USA, says that at PSi, they consult with buyers to learn about their needs. That allows them to pick the perfect products for their markets. Then, they also work with publishers and game developers to figure out how to provide the most value to the buyer.

You’ve got this great idea for a product but now you realize you’re drowning in the prospect of toy safety testing. The whole process seems overwhelming and a bit scary. But here’s a guide to get you started on the process. Don’t let the safety rules intimidate you.
Why are there so many regulations? Well, in 2008, there was a big safety scandal that led to the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act(CPSIA). The toy industry had to quickly adapt to the new regulations.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to write and illustrate a children's book? Maybe you have a few ideas but you’re not sure if they’re good. Or maybe your book is complete but you don’t know what to do next. How do you find a talented editor, agent, or publisher? Most people have a great idea to create something but they get caught up in the little things, which stops them in their tracks. Instead they watch other people’s ideas come to life.

Finding the right factory doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. But there are very specific steps you should follow on this journey. It’s a journey that you should document in as much detail as you can in an Excel file.