Making It in The Toy Industry with The Toy Coach
271 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 32 ratingsHow do I bring my great toy ideas to life? How do I get my concepts in front of BIG toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, and Goliath Games? Where should I go to create my own prototypes and how much should they cost? Is my only manufacturing option in China? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered on this weekly podcast, Making It In The Toy Industry. In addition to mini toy masterclasses, and step-by-step guides, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action toward developing, presenting, licensing, and producing your next big toy idea. Learn the invaluable how-to’s like, finding a factory for production, negotiating costs, and industry-proven sales techniques so that you can turn your toy dreams into a reality. | Brought to you by thetoycoach.com |
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Episodes
#147: This NEW Toy Category is Bursting into the Wellness Game
October 19, 2022 14:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBToday’s podcast episode was inspired by several conversations I’ve had with my biz besties around health and mindfulness, as well as conversations with my colleagues in the toy industry. This is the exploration of a growing category in the toy industry called Comfort & Wellness. These toys are marketed to make us feel better, sleep better, and even think better…but overall the consistent theme of Comfort & Wellness toys is to reduce our anxiety. While this category seems to have most of it’s...
#146: How To Stand Out As A New Toy and Game Inventor or Entrepreneur
October 12, 2022 16:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBToday’s episode is for those of you who are 1, just getting started in the toy industry, maybe you’re in your first few years or 2, haven’t started yet but keep looking over the fence and waiting for the perfect moment to jump in. In today’s episode, The Toy Coach discusses how you can stand out as a new creator in the toy and game industry. If the toy industry feels like a big, noisy place and you have no clue how to stand out as a new-ish creator…keep reading. In this episode we cover 4 ...
#145: How To Take Your Card Game From Boutique Stores to Target with Kiara Imani
October 05, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MB“The games category is too competitive!” “You shouldn’t even try to get a card game into Target!” If Kiara Imani had let those thoughts dissuade her from trying, she may have never gotten her Like U card game into one of the biggest retailers in the United States. Today, my podcast guest Kiara shares how she came up with, designed, manufactured and sold her conversation starting card game, Like U. In a world where we’re always trying to put people in boxes, the Like U card game helps player...
#144: Don’t Miss The First-Of-Its-Kind Toy Trade Show On A Boat
September 28, 2022 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBSearching for a unique way to promote your toy product or toy brand? The ASTRA Toy Boat may be it! On February 20th, 2023 the first ever toy trade show on a boat will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and make its way to the Bahamas. In just a few days you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your latest products, promote your services, or find the next hit toy to fill your store. The ASTRA Toy Boat is designed for retailers, manufacturers, and inventors to come together for a networking ev...
#143: Making Your Toy Dreams Real At WiT Empowerment Day
September 21, 2022 16:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBOn September 19th 2022, the WiT Empowerment Day made it possible for over 100 inventors and creators to pitch their ideas and products in 1:1 meeting with the major retailer Walmart and dozens of toy companies including Spinmaster, Jazwares, Hasbro, Educational Insights, and many more! In today’s podcast episode get a play by play of what happened at the 2022 WiT Empowerment Day and learn why you should seriously plan on attending the next WiT Empowerment Day pitch event. Curious about wha...
#142: How To Start A Toy Business At 7 Years Old with Zoe Oli
September 07, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBYou have to be an adult to start your own business and make your toy ideas real, right? Today’s guest proves that completely wrong. At just 7 years old she recognized an important gap in the toy industry and, with the help of her mom, created a line of toys to empower young black and brown girls. Now 10, today’s guest offers toy industry experts and newbies some sage advice. At 7 years old, Zoe Oli’s mom bought her a black doll. There was just one problem. The doll had straight hair. Zoe wa...
#141: An Unusual Source of Inspiration For Your Next Toy or Game Package
August 31, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBToyspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a song, a play, a theatrical release or even the world of fashion. In this podcast episode, The Toy Coach dives deep to share a creative process with an unusual source of inspiration. If you’re currently struggling with designing a package for your toy or game idea, this is the episode for you. Or, if you have a toy or game brand with the packaging you’ve been meaning to refresh, make sure you give this episode a listen! In this episode,...
An Unusual Source of Inspiration For Your Next Toy or Game Package
August 31, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBToyspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a song, a play, a theatrical release or even the world of fashion. In this podcast episode, The Toy Coach dives deep to share a creative process with an unusual source of inspiration. If you’re currently struggling with designing a package for your toy or game idea, this is the episode for you. Or, if you have a toy or game brand with the packaging you’ve been meaning to refresh, make sure you give this episode a listen! In this episode,...
#140: Finding Your Toy People With Jeff Lawber & Alan Henry
August 24, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBBeing a toy industry entrepreneur or toy inventor doesn’t have to be a solo project. Working with a partner can help you to think outside of the box. In a mentor/mentee context, both parties can learn a lot from each other. Today’s guests met in a Facebook group and even though they haven’t met in person yet, they have created quite the toy industry “bromance.” Jeff Lawber is an industrial designer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and creator of Marmals, a line of beautifully ...
#139: The ONE Thing You Need To Do BEFORE You Launch That Toy Kickstarter
August 17, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBKickstarter is just a platform for product presales? Right? Wrong! Sales is an important aspect of the platform, but today’s episode is all about how Kickstarter can actually help you develop an authentic community for your toy or game idea. Today’s guest launched a Kickstarter and funded his original game idea in just 4 days. Then he went back and launched another successful campaign for an expansion pack for the game! Today you will hear from Joe Slack, a board game designer. In addition ...
#138: Why You Need A Clear Brand Mission For Your Kids’ Brand
August 10, 2022 09:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBWhich comes first? Your product or your mission? In today’s episode you will learn the benefits of creating your business’s mission before your toy or toy brand. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t develop your toy or game if you haven’t defined your mission. However, defining the purpose of your business will guide you on the creative journey, and doing so can give you a powerful reason to invest so much time and money into your toy ideas. Today we have two podcast guests—Janene Russ...
#137:This Toy Factory Will Help You Develop Your Ideas with Kate Khvorostianova
August 03, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBSmall toy companies and toy inventors that only want to order a small amount of product can’t work with factories in China, right? Wrong! Today’s episode is so practical and essential for anyone who wants to manufacture a toy or a game. You will get concise insider knowledge of how to work with a Chinese factory, manufacturing pitfalls to avoid, and tips to maximize your success. Today’s podcast guest is Kate Khvorostianova. She is an account manager with LongPack Toys, a toy and gift facto...
#136: When Your Toy Dream Is To Open A Toy Store with Isaac Elliott-Fisher
July 27, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBWhen asked what it takes to create a small toy store, today’s guest answered: “Well, you have to be crazy, but that’s fine. I’m crazy.” What he meant by that was that you have to be willing to take chances, willing to try something new, willing to learn new skills, and willing to get creative. In today’s episode you’ll learn about what it is like to start a small toy store, toy brand, and a new manufacturing technique. In today’s podcast episode, find out what it really takes to open a toy s...
#135: When Your Brand Goes Viral with Danielle Murrell Cox of Zuri and Dre
July 20, 2022 12:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBWhat happens after you go viral? How do you go viral in the first place? There is no perfect formula to make something go viral on social media, but there are things you can do to make it more likely. Today’s guest had a viral post on social media that opened up opportunities for a book deal and a line of plush toys. Today’s guest is Danielle Murrell Cox. She self-published an uplifting coloring book called Black Queens & Kings. She then went viral on social media which led to a publishing ...
#134: The Power of Integrating Your Culture Into Your Toy Dreams with Keewa Nurullah
July 13, 2022 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBBecoming an entrepreneur looks different for each person who chooses this path. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to it! However, one thing that can help any entrepreneurial project is putting yourself, including your background and your history, into the story and finding a meaningful motivation for your ideas. That meaning may drive your mission in interesting and new directions, like it did for today’s podcast guest. Keewa Nurullah, today’s podcast guest, is the founder of Kido Chic...
#133: 3 Ways To Market Your Toy or Game Product For Free
July 06, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBAs a toy entrepreneur it’s pretty likely that your cost of doing business is high. From manufacturing the perfect toy or game, to going to trade shows, building a website, nurturing an email list, dealing with returns, and damaged goods…you may be finding it’s hard to do anything for free, even if you do it yourself. Today’s podcast episode is going to share how you market your toy or game product for free. Now look, we know nothing is truly free in this world, so these marketing tactics wil...
#132: This Gay-Owned Game Company Started As A Side Hustle with Greg Watson
June 29, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBYour own life is the best inspiration for your game and toy ideas. While it can be from something like your educational background or profession, it doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Just think of the best times with your friends and family and you might come up with an idea. Today’s podcast guest did just that. Today’s guest is Greg Watson. Greg has actually been on the podcast before! In episode 72 you heard him talking about working with a distributor to get your toy or game into ...
#131: Getting Your Game Into Barnes & Noble with Chrissy Fagerholt
June 22, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBIs your toy idea begging to see the spotlight? Do you have a game idea swimming around in your imagination? You may be a burgeoning toy inventor! However, if you are ready to fully flesh out your toy idea, brand, and marketing, you may be a toy entrepreneur. What is the difference between these two toy industry tracks? You will find out that and more on today’s episode of Making it in the Toy Industry. Today’s guest is Toy Creators Academy alumni Chrissy Fagerholt. After a career as a flora...
#130: Unlocking Creativity at Science Museum Oklahoma with Azhelle Wade
June 15, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBAt the beginning of June, The Toy Coach was invited to give a keynote speech at the Science Museum Oklahoma’s Inspire and Be Inspired Event. This 2nd annual Convening of Makers and Educators is presented by Oklahoma EPSCoR. This weekend provided STEAM educators, artists, and makers an opportunity to inspire and be inspired as they connected to share ideas and resources. The creative community learned, laughed, and explored great ideas together. The museum is over 390K square feet of creative...
#129: Playful and Creative Marketing Ideas with Deanna Seymour
June 08, 2022 12:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBHave you ever struggled with the idea of promoting your brand on social media? Well lucky for you, today’s podcast episode focuses on how to make social media marketing fun! Our guest is a graphic designer and all-around creative gal who knows the power of creativity and playfulness in marketing. Deanna uses humor and empathy to help her clients feel more comfortable being themselves while marketing their business and connecting with their ideal clients. In today’s podcast episode we talk a...
#128: 9 Tips and Tricks For Toy Creators Attending The Licensing Expo
June 01, 2022 17:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBIf you have a brand or product you should consider adding licensing to your business model. Licensing is a great way for toy manufacturers to borrow the authority of powerful brands and grow their own revenue. A great licensing deal can help growing brands expand to various consumer goods categories while avoiding the added cost of manufacturing. If you’re ready to learn more about how licensing can benefit your toy business, you should consider attending the Las Vegas Licensing Expo next ye...
#127: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 2
May 25, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBThe Toy Coach’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t start in toys, but instead it started in fashion. In 2012 Azhelle Wade, aka The Toy Coach created a fashion brand called Costumize Me. What started as a made to order costume company, evolved into a convertible event wear brand with the tag line 1 dress 100 ways to wear. The story of Azhelle building a brand in an industry she knew nothing about is one that she is excited to share with you on the podcast today, because it’s one that you can prob...
#126: Toy Lessons Learned From My First Fashion Company Part 1
May 18, 2022 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBThe Toy Coach’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t start in toys, but instead it started in fashion. In 2012 Azhelle Wade, aka The Toy Coach created a fashion brand called Costumize Me. What started as a made to order costume company, evolved into a convertible event wear brand with the tag line 1 dress 100 ways to wear. The story of Azhelle building a brand in an industry she knew nothing about is one that she is excited to share with you on the podcast today, because it’s one that you can prob...
#125 The Impact of Entrepreneurial Resilience with Jeremy Padawer
May 11, 2022 13:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBToday’s podcast guest has been called The Godfather of Toys and is a social media icon in the collectors toy space. Jeremey’s journey in toys started at a clothing and toy store called Only Kids in Memphis, Tennessee. In today’s episode Jeremy provides advice on “making it” in the corporate toy world and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. You’ll learn the difference between collectibles both physical and digital, and yep that means we talk about NFTs! The consistent theme in today’s episod...
#124: The Effect Of Skimpflation and Shrinkflation On Toy Creators
May 04, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBAll across the globe we are seeing a massive increase in prices and reduction in quality. In fact it’s so prevalent, it has a few nicknames. Shrinkflation and Skimpflation are two practices of reducing the quality of goods and services to maintain margin, and reducing the actual contents of goods and quality of services while increasing the cost. Customers have noticed the change in gas prices, groceries and now even our toys. If you are a new entrepreneur, inventor, or toy maker you may thi...
#123: Turning Your Professional Expertise Into An Educational Toy with Julie Dini
April 27, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBMission driven toy creators like Julie Dini have one major goal in common. It’s to improve the lives of the kids and families that interact with their products. Today on The Toy Coach Podcast, our guest Julie Dini shares her toy journey from handmade prototype to recurring sales online. Julie’s product, Dealing In Feelings, helps kids understand simple to complex emotions through identification and gameplay! Learn what it takes to launch a product from concept to manufacturing and find out...
#122: Dealing With Creative Burnout In The Toy Industry
April 20, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBHave you ever wanted to throw in that towel on your toy dreams? Maybe you’ve been on the hunt for your dream toy job, or perhaps you’ve been working on developing and launching an amazing new toy idea. You might also be a new toy inventor struggling to make contact with a toy company that you have the perfect idea for. After months or years of non-stop hard work you might be feeling mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhausted. Well, before you give up on those big dreams of yours, g...
#121: Sick Day – Changes Coming To The Toy Coach Podcast
April 13, 2022 12:00 - 7 minutes - 5.24 MBIf you’ve been a listener of The Toy Coach podcast for a while now, you may have grown comfortable with the format of the show. But today’s episode is a small break from the toyspirational education that you’ve gotten used to. With The Toy Coach out sick, her fiance Christian Castro stepped up to the mic to share upcoming changes that are coming for The Toy Coach Podcast, Community, Emails, and our signature program, Toy Creators Academy. At the very end of today’s episode, Christian shares...
#120: What Makes A Good Toy Logo and A Bad Toy Logo?
April 06, 2022 14:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBA logo is not the most important part of your toy business. A logo holds NO meaning without a strong product or service behind it. Knowing that is true, should help alleviate the pressure of designing or selecting the perfect logo for your toy brand. Your logo can evolve and change as your company evolves, and it can still maintain the brand recognition of powerhouse brands like Barbie, Hasbro, and Google. In today’s podcast episode The Toy Coach dives into the meaning of a Logo. You’ll lea...
#119: Toy Packaging 101 The Elements of A Great Package
March 30, 2022 14:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBAre you struggling with developing the perfect package for your toy or game product? As toy or game creators you spend a lot of time thinking about the amazing toy idea you have and the innovative game that you will create, but you likely don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about the packaging of your toy or game idea. Well today that changes! It’s time to learn toy and game packaging 101 with The Toy Coach. By The End Of today’s Episode You will know the anatomy of great toy and game ...
#118: Why You Should Manufacture Your Toy Products in India with Joshua Punin
March 23, 2022 18:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBWondering if there are any manufacturing options for you that are outside of China? More and more toy makers, toy creators, and even toy companies want to expand their manufacturing resources beyond China, but they don’t know where to start. Major toy companies and retailers have announced goals to move 30%-60% of their manufacturing of toy products out of China by 2023. And where will they move them? Likely India. India is an emerging country for manufacturing in general, but especially is ...
#117: The Importance of Play Every Day with Emma Worrollo
March 16, 2022 14:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBDo you know how to play? It seems like a simple question and your first thought might be, “of course I do!” but many adults today have forgotten how to play. As toy people, we know that play is necessary for the growth and development of children…but what about play in adults? Play is proven to help ease stress and inspire creative problem solving. So what do you do when the stresses of life stop you from playing or worse yet, you forget what play is to you? Well that’s where my guest today ...
#116: An Incredible First Time Toy Inventor Story with Daniela Valenzuela Bomchil
March 09, 2022 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBDo you have an idea, and maybe even a prototype for a toy invention, but are wondering how to get it in front of toy industry executives? You’re not alone. This is something some toy inventors struggle with. Today’s episode is all about some things you can do to make that happen, and they might be surprising to you. I interviewed Daniela Valenzuela Bomchil, a recent student of the Toy Creators Academy. When Daniela came to the academy, I noticed that her prototypes were impeccable, and she...
#115: Making It Into Retail: Getting Your Product Into Specialty Stores with Nicole Hawthorne
March 03, 2022 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBWondering what toy entrepreneurs like you do to get their product placed in retail? In this episode, The Toy Coach sits down with Nicole Hawthorne, student of Toy Creators Academy and co-founder of Jaylas Heirlooms dolls. Nicole is a researcher at heart, and her devotion to the craft of Googling helped her find the roadmap that she so desperately wanted. Nicole shares how she devoured the podcast way back in season one, enjoying episode after episode. A few years and a few grants later, Ni...
#114: How To Break Into Toys A Step-By-Step Roadmap
February 23, 2022 16:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBDid you recently discover the Toy Coach and are looking for help on how to break into the Toy Industry? Well this is the perfect episode for you. Today, The Toy Coach is sharing a presentation and step-by-step roadmap on How To Break Into Toys. The lessons taught in today's episode are applicable if you are hoping to be a toy inventor, entrepreneur or find a corporate toy job. In today’s episode you’ll learn two ways to educate yourself in the toy industry from traditional to digital. The ...
#113: 10 Unexpected Toy or Game Ideas That Will Inspire You To Make Your Ideas Real
February 16, 2022 14:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBDoes this sound like you? You have a life outside the toy industry, but you have ideas. Maybe you are a lawyer, a baker, or even a mechanical engineer. But there’s something from your daily life or playtime with your family that has inspired an idea for a toy or game. How do you take that from inspiration to product? In today’s episode, I share stories from my students who took their products from idea to reality with the help of The Toy Creators Academy. Learn how a developmental child psy...
#112: How To Get Started In The Toy Industry When You Have ZERO Contacts
February 09, 2022 14:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBListener 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. Networking is best done when you don’t need anything because Networking is essentially lending a helping hand, making another person's day a little brighter or their load a little lighter so that they hold you and you...
#111: 3 Ways Wordle Taught Us That Play Could Go Viral
February 02, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWhether or not you’re completely addicted to Wordle, the simple online word game that recently got bought by the NYTimes for 7 figures, you’ve probably heard of it. Even if you haven’t heard of it, you’ve probably seen people posting cryptic social media statuses about it with green, grey, and yellow squares. It’s the latest viral fad that everyone is talking about. But, this isn’t the first time a toy or game has had it’s moment in the sun or 15 minutes of fame. In today’s episode, I exam...
#110: Why You Can Only Sell A Toy Idea When It's R.i.T.E. with Dan Klitsner
January 26, 2022 13:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBHave you ever wanted to pick the brain of an award winning toy inventor? Ever wanted to know how iconic toys, like BopIt, got their start? Today you will get that chance! This episode is so helpful if you dream of creating the next big thing, if you want to learn more about pitching, or just want to hear about why you should be marketing their products on Tik Tok. Today’s episode features an incredible interview with the amazing Dan Klitsner, the inventor of BopIt, Simon, and Hyper Dash, an...
#109: Why You Should Attend The TCA Virtual Pitch Event
January 19, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBFinding a platform or opportunity to pitch your toy or game idea to an industry professional seems like an impossible task, especially if you have no previous experience or contacts within the toy industry. But what if you could be invited to a one-on-one meeting with a major toy manufacturer like Mattel or Spinmaster? What if before that meeting you could go through weeks of training and research to develop and polish your concept with the help of like-minded individuals? Well my friend, ...
#108: Money-Saving Benefits of Automating Your Toy Business with Kelly Goss
January 12, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBDo you find yourself putting off the repetitive daily tasks for your toy business? Did you ever wish there was a magical solution that could automate those tedious processes? Well, there is one! Today’s episode is all about saving yourself time and money using an incredible automation tool called Zapier. I personally use this tool to automate some of my Toy Coach processes and I have found it so helpful. My guest today is Kelly Goss, a Zapier certified expert and the founder of Solvaa, a co...
#107: Secrets For Pitching Your Game Ideas To Hasbro with Tanya Thompson
January 05, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBPitching as a toy inventor can be an intimidating process, especially if you’ve never done it before. But what if you could get the inside scoop 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. Or, if they let you know exactly what they want to see in your sizzle reel. Stop imagining! Because that is what today’s episode is all about. Today’s episode features an incredible int...
#106: The Power Of Telling Your Unique Toy Story with Cher Hale
December 29, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBHow can you weave your own personal story into your product and make a powerful connection? Telling potential buyers the reason behind your product or idea can increase interest and ultimately, success. Today’s guest, Cher Hale, founder of Gingko PR, shares her experience in helping diverse clients do exactly this. She also shares how she diversified her network and started working with the types of clients that she wanted to help to get their stories out there. Cher shares her moving story...
#105: Minda Harts on Retaining and Nurturing Diverse Talent in 2022
December 22, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBWith the Great Resignation of 2021 companies struggled to retain talent. And some companies more specifically recognized their inability to retain diverse talent. Noting that diversity is a major factor to innovation, many companies are in search of a way to attract and retain diverse talent on their teams. But how can they make that happen? If you are a company seeking to retain diverse talent, or you are a person of color struggling to grow at your current employer, this episode is one you...
#104: The Easiest Way To Protect Your Toy Idea That Most People Overlook with Dan Harris
December 15, 2021 11:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBWant 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. He also gives great details about the most common mistakes American inventors and toy compan...
#103: What You Need to Do Today To Protect Your Toy Brand From Counterfeits
December 08, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBAre you sure that toy you got is the real deal? The holiday shopping season brings lots of people to look for the trendy “it” toy their kids are begging for, as well as fun games and collectibles for adults. However, counterfeit toys are on the rise. Counterfeit toys are a multi-billion dollar industry. 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. Luckily, there are all sorts of things you can do t...
#102: Innovating The Sales Process In 2021 with Chloe Kershaw of Hape Toys
December 01, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MBOnce 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 didn’t start her career in the toy industry...she actually wanted to be a psychiatrist! But eventually, she began her career in consumer goods working in the warehouse of a handbag company. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for the work of the sales team at that same company, led her to discover a career path even better...
#101: Learn Toy History With Toys That Built America
November 24, 2021 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBBefore 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. During today’s episode you’ll get mini toy history lessons on Hot Wheels, Matchbox cars...
#100: Special 100th Episode Getting To Know The Toy Coach
November 17, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBEvery 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. This podcast is filled with lessons from my decade long career, and the career of others. But for episode 100 The Toy Coach podcast is going to do two things. First we’re going to celebrate the listeners of this podcast with an audio montage of who they are and lessons learned from listening to the show. After we celebrate the impact made by 99 ep...
#99: How This Toy and Game Pitch Event Advances Women In Toys
November 10, 2021 14:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBFinding 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. Could the new norm be turning away from in person pitches to virtual? It seems tha...