Listener Erika wrote in asking how you can “Make It” in the toy industry when you’re just starting out with ZERO contacts. So, for today’s episode we will dive into 3 networking strategies that will help you jump start your toy network to connect with toy brands and toy people. In this podcast episode The Toy Coach dives into the top 3 networking strategies that you can start using and implementing TODAY to grow your own toy network. To learn how to make the most of your non-toy skills, your unique toy story, and free toy communities online, tap play and listen to this episode.

Whether or not you’re completely addicted to Wordle, you’ve probably heard of it. It’s the latest viral fad that everyone is talking about. In today’s episode, I examine 3 toys and games that went “viral:” Wordle, Pokemon Go, and Silly Bandz. In just 2 months, Wordle had 300,000 players. Pokemon Go saw even more exponential growth with over 100 million users the month after it launched. Shortly after they launched, Silly Bandz were so popular that they got banned from many schools. You’ll learn about 3 of the toyetic traits that helped these products succeed with such a big burst of energy.

Have you ever wanted to know how iconic toys, like BopIt, got their start? Today’s episode features an incredible interview with the amazing Dan Klitsner, the inventor of BopIt, Simon, and Hyper Dash, and a co-creator of the Perplexus Line. Dan shares how the mistakes he made on his first licensing deal taught him a lot, how he pitched BopIt, and why he likes to share some of his ideas on Tik Tok and Instagram instead of keeping them a secret. You will learn ways the toy industry has changed in the past 25 years, what R.i.T.E. stands for, and why there are no right answers when pitching, but there are wrong ones.

Today’s episode is all about the bi-annual pitch event, The TCA Virtual Pitch Event, held for graduates of The Toy Creator’s Academy and why you should attend. Today in Episode 109, you will learn who you can meet by attending this event and what you can gain by doing it. You will also hear about what it is like to attend this event, and how going through the Toy Creator’s Academy can prepare you for success in the toy industry!

Did you ever wish there was a magical solution that could automate all those tedious processes you do every day for your business? Well, there is one! Today’s episode is all about saving yourself time and money using an incredible automation tool called Zapier. My guest today is Kelly Goss, a Zapier certified expert and the founder of Solvaa, a company that helps businesses become more efficient through automation. In today’s episode, Kelly gives you what I would consider “Zapier 101.” She tells you the basics of using Zapier, including a step-by-step review of how to automate a process. You’ll also learn the benefits of automating tasks, what types of processes you can automate, and which ones you should avoid applying automation to.

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.

How can you weave your own personal story into your product and make a powerful connection? Today’s guest, Cher Hale, founder of Gingko PR, shares her experience in helping diverse clients do exactly this. She also shares how she started working with the types of clients that she wanted to help to get their stories out there. Cher shares her moving story about why she wanted to help people facing systematic barriers tell their own stories. She also shares how adding diverse voices to the mix through PR helps to create social change and why many people from a minority background feel uneasy about telling their stories.

With the Great Resignation of 2021, some companies recognized their inability to retain diverse talent. Since diversity is a major factor in innovation, many companies are in search of a way to attract and retain diverse talent on their teams. The guest on today’s podcast, Minda Harts, shares how her personal experiences with racial microaggressions in the workplace led her to become a thought leader in diversity and become a workplace and equity consultant. Minda explains the important difference between equity and equality, how mentorship adds value for both the mentor and the mentee, and how companies can create a more supportive environment for people of color. If you are ready to increase your awareness and understanding of issues that prevent equitable work environments, listen to this episode.

Want to know how to protect your products and intellectual property when dealing with Chinese manufacturers? Dan Harris, a lawyer who specializes in International law, with a focus on China, gives you extremely detailed insider tips in today’s episode. I learned a lot and I know you will too. Dan tells you why you should go with an NNN agreement versus a typical NDA when dealing with Chinese firms, among other useful tips. This is a truly informative episode with extremely valuable information so make sure you take notes if you’re planning on working with overseas factories.

Are you sure that toy you got is the real deal? Counterfeit toys are on the rise, and they could be dangerous not only for kids but also your brand. Some people who purchase counterfeit toys do so purposely to save money, but others just see a good deal and assume it is the real thing. Listen to today’s podcast episode to find out how you can spot a counterfeit and how you can protect your toy ideas from counterfeiting. With online shopping growing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an issue that is not going away any time soon!

Once you make your toy idea a real product, how do you sell it? In today’s podcast episode we sit down and chat with Chloe Kershaw, the National Sales Manager at Hape Toys. Chloe shares the steps she took to eventually cross over into the sales side of the toy industry including her joyfully offering to do the grunt work that her coworkers didn’t want to do. Learn what she thinks the heart of a physical product-based company is and why, and walk away with insights on why you might want to start working with a sales rep for your company.

Before you can build the toy business of your dreams, you’ve got to know the history of the toy businesses that came before you. In today’s episode I’ll be sharing insider information directly from the producers of the new History Channel series, The Toys that Built America! This upcoming series dives into the history of toy titans like Hasbro and Mattel, with expert interviews and dramatic reenactments. Plus! If you tune into the series you might catch The Toy Coach teaching you some important toy history.

Every week for the past 100 weeks I have shown up with a new episode designed to help you take another confident step forward in your toy journey. Today I’m sitting down to answer a list of personal and professional questions submitted through my website, instagram, and Facebook. These questions cover everything from my experience as a child actress on Sesame Street, to how I handled a shocking cancer diagnosis at a young age, and even how I go about raising capital for my growing business. After listening you’ll feel more connected and aware of the community that loves this podcast, you’ll know more about the vision behind The Toy Coach, why I do the work I do, and what qualifies me to be your guide.

Finding the courage to pitch your toy or game idea can be challenging, so that’s where important industry events like the one covered in today’s episode come in. Today on The Toy Coach podcast you’ll discover yet another in-person pitch event turned virtual for 2021 because of the pandemic. What we’ll learn in this week’s episode is that there is a huge benefit to going virtual for toy industry pitch events. The Women in Toys Empowerment Day helped connect over 80 women inventors and entrepreneurs to decision makers and professionals in the toy industry. In this episode you’ll learn what this event is, who it’s for, and how you can make the most of the incredible opportunities It creates.

If you’ve ever had a toy idea or a game idea, it’s likely that you’ve wondered where you should go to get that incredibly groundbreaking idea in front of toy companies. Well, this week on The Toy Coach Podcast, we are going to learn about one of the biggest toy industry events for toy inventors and game inventors that you need to know about. The event, formerly Chitag, is currently called the People of Play Innovation Conference. The event is entirely virtual for the second year in the row which makes it extremely accessible no matter where you are in the world.

Business people receive 16 promotional emails per hour (or more!) How can you cut through the noise? With a great headline! In this episode I share my best practices for an amazing e-mail headline that will grab attention. I’ll tell you all about the “four U’s” to make your headline really pop, and give you real life examples of my most popular and successful e-mail headlines. Each headline example that I share in this episode has an open rate of 30% or more. These tips can help you to get people to open your e-mails, and get your ideas in front of the right person!