"Our biggest win was getting an offer to test pilot our dolls at a chain toy store! We wouldn't have had that opportunity without being apart of TCA & their toy pitch event!"

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Written By Azhelle Wade
 

I’m an agile project manager by day. I assist with team building and creating business protocols that help companies iterate rapidly.

Before Toy Creators Academy I didn’t really know much about the toy industry and my toy contact list was nonexistent! I was struggling with what to pursue first and how to get in front of some of the toy industry's biggest & most influential companies with our toy idea. Sometimes it felt like analysis paralysis since I would research so many different things and get stuck trying to prioritize what was the most important task to pursue 1st.

But now we have so many resources & feel super empowered to reach out as needed. TCA helped me realize there is a solid process to getting your toy idea out there that works!

I was able to take the progress my 5 year old daughter and my company already made & translate that in to a real strategy that we can execute. Many questions I had were answered within the course & supportive Facebook community. It's been amazing that our dolls are finally available on Amazon and we are continuing to develop our brand line to include more diversity in the near future!

As a result of taking Toy Creators Academy, our biggest win was getting an offer to test pilot our dolls at a chain toy store. We wouldn't have had that opportunity without being apart of the TCA Virtual Pitch event. We pitched to Learning Express-Lake Zurich location and TCA helped us be able to share our concept even though we weren’t fully retail/wholesale ready. But now we have the resources to get in to retail & try a unique test market.

I had an excellent experience with TCA & am beyond happy I joined! I am 8 months pregnant and it was a challenge at times to fully participate, however I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Azhelle is amazing and such an excellent resource in the toy community. Looking forward to making her proud as we continue on our toy journey as a brand.

Nicole Hawthorne

Agile Project Manager

 
 
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Azhelle Wade
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"Since joining TCA I’ve pitched my ideas to Ox Eye Media, Hasbro, Spin Master, Fat Brain Toys, and Klutz."
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"I pitched at Toy Fair Dallas before and after taking TCA. The difference was night and day. I have interest from several toy companies as a result of those meetings."