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! 🎲

If you've felt that AI complicates your workflow instead of streamlining it, this episode is your game-changer! Azhelle breaks down how specific AI tools can simplify workflows, support creative brainstorming, and even enhance customer engagement. What are you waiting for? Listen to the full episode right here!

Ever wondered how a simple idea becomes an iconic toy? In this episode, we dive into the creative process of Aaron Muderick, the genius behind Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. Aaron reveals the journey from initial concept to full-scale production, sharing how he transformed Thinking Putty into a beloved product.

Thinking of launching your toy idea through crowdfunding? 🤔 Join us in a conversation with Lisa Ferland, crowdfunding consultant, and author, who has helped raise over $1 million on platforms like Kickstarter, BackerKit, and Indiegogo! In this episode, we break down the essential steps to prepare for a successful campaign and how to keep backers engaged throughout your campaign and for your future projects!

Get ready for a storytelling showdown with our guests, Tres Patton and Rachel Jones! 🎉 We’ll cover how sales reps and vendors approach things differently, plus the secrets to crafting pitches that go beyond a quick sale and build lasting customer relationships. If you’re in toy sales and ready to take your sales to the next level, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN and will transform your storytelling game!

In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade sits down with Richard North, founder of Wow! Stuff, to dive into his incredible journey from a 19-year-old entrepreneur to one of the most innovative figures in the toy industry. 🌟 Richard shares the highs, lows, and what it took to thrive in a competitive market, and how he continues to create "wow" moments with his toys. If you're curious about what it takes to build a successful toy business, this episode is packed with insights and stories

In this exciting episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade interviewed Mary Couzin and Greg Ahearn, two top leaders in the toy world. They discuss the recent merger between The Toy Association and People of Play, revealing how this sets up innovation and creativity in the toy industry. LISTEN to this episode and get the inside scoop on the upcoming ChiTAG event, POP Week, and the TAGIE Awards, plus tips for inventors looking to make their mark!

In this episode, uncover the details behind Barbie's viral marketing success and learn valuable insights for toy businesses. Hosted by toy industry expert Azhelle Wade, this episode explores how Barbie's team created captivating marketing moves and set new industry standards. Learn how to break down these big budget marketing tactics into smaller budget approaches you can DIY for your toy brand. By the end of this episode you’ll be equipped to engage your audience with Instagrammable moments and elevate your toy business with creative strategies.

In this episode of "Making It in The Toy Industry" podcast, host Azhelle Wade aka The Toy Coach interviews Dr. Amanda Gummer, a research psychologist and founder of Good Play Guide, a service that provides independent product evaluations and accreditations for children's toys and games. Azhelle asks Dr. Gummer, about her work and the importance of evaluating toys for children's development. Dr. Gummer talks about her passion for helping people make good toys for kids and raising standards within the industry. She also shares details about Good Play Guide's accreditation program and how it helps prevent products that could damage a brand's reputation.

The conversation talks about the Toy Associations new STEAM accreditation, established in 2021 and details how it follows the same principles as the Good Play Guide. The Toy Coach and Dr. Gummer discuss the value of having an independent, research-based evaluation program for toys and games that involves children in the testing process. Dr. Gummer shares some of the most recent Good Play Guide award winners, as well as construction toys that are becoming more environmentally friendly.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the importance of independent toy evaluations and how they can help the industry create better products for children's educational development.

Today’s podcast episode is something completely new and different. It’s 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 get to see how bubble magic is made at South Beach Bubbles and Toys. Plus, you’ll get to hear some amazing advice and tips from the company’s “bubble dads,” the two friends who founded the business. 

In today’s episode, Ron Weizman and Shooki Grasiani, the founders of South Beach Bubbles, give you an insider tour of their new office and warehouse space. They just moved into a space that is double the size of their old one and are still decorating, so don’t judge the lack of art on the walls. However, they have all their manufacturing and business operations up and running in their new space and you get to see it! You will see how the bubbles are mixed and packaged. Plus, you’ll learn some tips about how to find a great business partner, why the company uses their own warehouse, and why they decided to work with Amazon. Plus you’ll get to see how much fun it is to play with their amazing bubbles!

To watch the full video of today’s episode, head over to youtube.com/thetoycoach and subscribe to our channel.

What if you could get the inside scoop on pitching from an industry executive at a major toy company? Just imagine if someone from, say, Hasbro, told you exactly what pitching to their company is like, step-by-step. Stop imagining! That is what today’s episode is all about. Tanya Thompson, the Senior Director of Inventor Relations for Hasbro Gaming sees around 1,500 submissions per year, so Tanya really knows what works in a pitch and what doesn’t. She shares information on how to pitch directly to Hasbro, when to put text in your sizzle, and whether or not you need to make a prototype. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to gain confidence with pitching and improve their pitching materials using tips from an expert.

There's nothing more important to the success of your product pitch than really knowing the company that you're pitching to! So for today's episode, The Toy Coach dives into a conversation about 6 top toy companies in the industry. We dive into the stories and toys of Hasbro, Mattel, MGA, Spinmaster, Goliath Games, and Funko. You'll get a mini-history lesson on each company, learn their most popular games, and most importantly learn about their history working with inventors.