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Episode Description

Have you ever wondered if it were possible to sell your toy idea instead of the finished product? Today’s podcast episode follows one creator, who does just that.

Today’s guest Joanna Paul, shares her journey of developing Moodles (formerly known as "What's Its Face?"), a patentable plush invention designed to help children understand and express their emotions. From the initial concept inspired by her own experiences as a mom to the challenges of patenting and licensing, Joanna's toy story is a testament to the power of persistence and adaptability in the toy industry when it comes to inventing a toy.

Throughout the episode, Joanna discusses key aspects of her success, including:

1. The importance of understanding your strengths and weaknesses as an inventor and entrepreneur when it comes to inventing toys

2. Navigating the complexities of patenting and licensing to protect your intellectual property

3. Adapting your product based on feedback from buyers and embracing changes for marketability

4. The emotional rollercoaster of pitching, rejection, and ultimately seeing your toy on store shelves

Joanna's background in branding and design, combined with her personal experiences as a parent, have shaped her approach to inventing a toy. Her creation, Moodles, not only serves as a fun and engaging toy but also has the potential to make a fundamental impact on childhood development by promoting emotional learning, imagination, and problem-solving skills.

Hit play on this episode to listen in on Joanna’s early days of prototyping, inventing, and pitching her toy idea to the exciting moment of finally seeing Moodles available at major retailers like Walmart, Kohl's, and on Amazon.

Episode Cliff Notes

• Learn how one mom's experience in the suburbs inspired her to invent an emotional learning plush toy. [05:10]

• Discover how a toy with six different facial expressions can help kids learn about emotions and express themselves without electronics. [03:38]

• Find out how persistence and facing legal challenges led to the success of Moodles, a toy that became particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic when childhood mental health problems were on the rise. [09:54]

Episode Breakdown

In this episode of The Toy Coach's podcast, Joanna Paul shared her insights regarding the process of inventing toys, specifically her plush toy, Moodles. Many aspiring toy inventors might be wondering, how? How can I invent a toy too? Joanna highlights the following points when it comes to the toy invention process for future toy inventors.

Step 1: Identify Market Needs: Joanna was motivated to invent her plush toy, Moodles, due to her own experience as a mother. She wanted a product that helped children express their emotions better and understood that other parents may feel the same. Her personal experience helped her identify a market need and she was able to begin the process of inventing her toy.

Step 2: Prototyping and Patenting: Once you have identified a need in your target market or the toy industry in general, you can begin the process of bringing your toy invention to life. Joanna explains the crucial steps revolving around developing your initial prototype and understanding your intellectual property rights in order to protect your toy ideas. To read more about prototyping and the toy manufacturing process, click here.

Step 3: Licensing vs. Selling: For aspiring toy creators, it is important to recognize the difference between just selling versus licensing your toy inventions. When you sell, you have to handle all of the steps required to get your product out to your target market. When you license your toy idea, however, you are able to earn passive income. To read more about toy licensing and whether it is the best fit for you, click here.

Step 4: Persistence and Adaptability: Making it in the toy industry can be challenging. To invent a toy means to go through various trials and errors concerning your target market's wants, your toy's design, packaging, etc. However, through persistence and adaptability, as Joanna stresses, you can pivot from any setback or challenge and find success in the industry. To access more in-depth resources and tailored feedback regarding your latest toy invention, check out Toy Creators Academy by clicking here!