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 selling your toys in specialty retailers. If you don’t know what a specialty toy retailer is, don’t worry! This episode has got you covered. You’ll learn what specialty toy retailers are, how to connect with owners of specialty toy stores, and why you might want to start your journey as a toy entrepreneur in the specialty market.

This episode provides insight into the upcoming toy trade show, the ASTRA Marketplace, and addresses the costs involved in setting up a booth, as well as pre-show preparations which can range from DIY solutions to professional setups. Discover what is most important to the retailers attending this show, find out what other manufacturers are attending, and learn how this opportunity can be a worthwhile investment for your toy business.

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 children and the potential connection to real-life gun violence. Given the alarming statistics of gun violence in the U.S., they explore the responsibility of toy makers and the toy industry as a whole in shaping children's perceptions of violence and gun use. They discuss potential solutions and draw comparisons to a problematic toy from years ago.  The goal of this episode is not to provide definitive answers, but to spark a conversation about an issue that directly affects our children.