"Since Toy Creators Academy, I’ve clarified my brand mission and offer, which allowed me to successfully sell my product to a 3rd party distributor!"

I own a business consulting firm and we help businesses go through all the stages to launch their idea and help them to get operationally sound, build up their team, and set up payroll.

Prior to Toy Creators Academy, I had luck with a toy product on Etsy that went viral, but I knew that I didn’t understand the toy process. So I came to The Toy Coach because I wanted to more fully understand the toy industry. I had so many questions about toy safety, toy organizations, and who I could trust in the industry.

When I discovered The Toy Coach, Toy Creators Academy was closed for enrollment so I utilized Azhelle’s 1:1 coaching offer until the program reopened. I wasn’t sure if my new product ideas were viable or what my next steps should be, but together Azhelle helped me perform a SWOT Analysis on my business, which helped me focus on the areas of my business that needed help instead of wasting time re-doing aspects that were already perfectly fine.

Before TCA my toy company contact list was zero. I knew nothing about the industry at all and I had no toy industry resources or contacts. But all of that completely changed that for me thanks to TCA.

During this program I learned that I don't want to have anything to do with selling my product. Instead, I want to create my product and pass it to a 3rd party to market and sell. Even though marketing comes easy to me, distribution is complicated. And now, because of Toy Creators Academy, I’ve found a partner in distribution for my product. The fact that distribution is taken care of now is amazing, because now I’ll I need to do is create an amazing product and utilize my existing network of people to buy it.

I was selected to pitch during the TCA Virtual Pitch, and that event was bumpy at first, because I had no idea what or how to prepare for it. But, Azhelle pointed out where exactly within the Toy Creators Academy program, I could find the pitch templates I needed. I pulled an all-nighter to prep for my pitch, and the templates provided with TCA helped me feel confident that my pitch was done professionally.

Since the TCA pitch event, I’ve clarified my brand mission and offer, which allowed me to successfully sell my product to a 3rd party distributor!

There is something about Azhelle that’s really tenacious. She’s high pressure but not in a way that is overwhelming. She’s high pressure in a way that inspires you. The personal aspect to her teaching style made me feel like a friend was saying “What are you doing wasting time? Go for it!”

I didn’t anticipate getting that kind of encouragement and support through this experience. I thought it would be, “here’s the information now, keep moving” but instead I got digging and motivation. It’s clear that she really cares about her students and the toy products that they’re creating.

Trudy Baidoo
Business Development Agency Owner