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
#98: The Virtual Toy And Game Pitch Event You Should Be Preparing For
November 03, 2021 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBIf 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 a row w...
#97: Write Click-Worthy Email Subject Lines For Your Next Toy Pitch
October 27, 2021 14:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBIt’s toy pitching season and e-mail is one of the best ways to make connections and capture people’s attention. However, business people receive tons of e-mails each day. Some of them 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. The information I share with you is based on my own research and experience. I’ll tell you all about th...
#96: The California Law to Empower Gender Neutral Toys
October 20, 2021 15:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBOn October 11th, toy social channels exploded with the news that California Law would force toy retailers to fill their shelves with gender neutral toys by 2024. While partially true, the law is much more nuanced than the poppy articles make it seem. In this episode of The Toy Coach Podcast, we dive into the new California Law and try our best to decipher what it truly means for toy retailers like Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us. Will this mean the end to the pink/blue divide still seen at ...
#95: Tips For Finding The Great Toy Or Game Concepts Within You with Christian Castro
October 13, 2021 13:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBDo you have an idea for a game? Well, you’re in luck because to close out Hispanic Heritage Month, The Toy Coach sits down with Christian Castro, the Design Director of What Do You Meme? to talk about what makes a great game idea…GREAT! Together Azhelle and Christian compare parlor games and commercial games in an effort to identify the key characteristics of classic party, family, and kids’ games. From today’s episode you’ll learn the right and wrong way to use theming in your toy ideas, so...
#95: Tips For Finding The Great Toy Or Game Concepts Within You
October 13, 2021 13:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MBDo you have an idea for a game? Well, you’re in luck because to close out Hispanic Heritage Month, The Toy Coach sits down with Christian Castro, the Design Director of What Do You Meme? to talk about what makes a great game idea…GREAT! Together Azhelle and Christian compare parlor games and commercial games in an effort to identify the key characteristics of classic party, family, and kids’ games. From today’s episode you’ll learn the right and wrong way to use theming in your toy ideas, so...
#94: The Superhero That Sparked A Social Movement with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez creator of La Borinqueña
October 08, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBLearn about outside-of-the-box thinking with the 2nd part of my interview with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, the creator of the hit comic La Borinqueña. In today’s episode, Edgardo tell us how he got unique contract opportunities and came up with creative licensing deals, including chocolate bars and a toy deal! Edgardo also teaches everyone an important lesson about asking for what you want and how he was able to create opportunities that worked for him. This allowed him to create this amazin...
#93: Making The Most Of Unexpected Publicity with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez creator of La Borinqueña
October 06, 2021 13:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBIf you’re wondering just how much of yourself you should put into your intellectual property, you need to listen to Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’ amazing story. You might be afraid to truly put yourself, your identity, or your story out there in your intellectual property because you worry it could hurt your chances of success, but the opposite is true, especially when you are focused on what the application will be. Today’s episode features Edgardo’s story of how he infused his identity as a...
#92: Breaking Through Barriers in Children’s Book Publishing with Charles George Esperanza
September 29, 2021 16:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBToday’s episode is a treat for the senses toy people. My guest today is a published book author and illustrator with books released by Sky Pony Press, Abrams Books, and Harper Collins. Charles George Esperanza grew up in the south Bronx and found the mentor and structure he needed while studying Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology. During our chat today Charles shares his come-up story, premiers a banger of a song, and of course, provides advice to all you aspiring book aut...
#91: The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Meet The Experts with The Toy Coach Azhelle Wade
September 22, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBHave you been looking for an overview on all the possible career paths in the toy industry? Wondering what it takes to make it as an inventor or corporate toy person? Well during my chat with the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures I covered just that. And lucky for you, that incredibly valuable talk is now available right here on your favorite podcast. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is home to the world’s largest collection of fine-scale m...
#90: Leaving Your Boring Job to Start a Career in The Toy Industry with Erica and Liliana
September 15, 2021 14:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBAccording to Gallup research, the great resignation of 2021 found 48% of the American workforce actively looking to change jobs. Among the reasons to leave? Not seeing opportunities for growth, lack of community at work, and not feeling a sense of purpose or passion in their work. 2021 was a good year for the toy industry regarding sales, but how has it been regarding hiring? On today’s podcast episode I invite two listeners of the podcast, on the podcast to share their toy career stories. ...
#89: 3 Simple Strategies to Becoming A Toy Person
September 08, 2021 14:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBIf you’re a devoted listener of this podcast, then I’ve been calling you a toy person for almost 100 episodes now, and it just hit me recently, that I’ve never actually talked about what it means to be a toy person! Today’s episode covers just that. Learn 3 simple strategies that you can start implementing today to become a toy person in this industry. This episode is for YOU if you’ve ever felt a little imposter syndrome when you’ve been referred to as a toy person. This episode will a...
Episode #89: 3 Simple Strategies to Becoming A Toy Person
September 08, 2021 14:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBIf you’re a devoted listener of this podcast, then I’ve been calling you a toy person for almost 100 episodes now, and it just hit me recently, that I’ve never actually talked about what it means to be a toy person! Today’s episode covers just that. Learn 3 simple strategies that you can start implementing today to become a toy person in this industry. This episode is for YOU if you’ve ever felt a little imposter syndrome when you’ve been referred to as a toy person. This episode will a...
#88: Virtual Pitch Event Stories from Students of Toy Creators Academy
September 01, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBStudents of Toy Creators Academy join The Toy Coach on the podcast today to share their experience going through Toy Creators Academy, and ultimately pitching at the TCA Virtual Pitch Event. During this chat, Chrissy Fagerholt, Geordie Humphrey, and Scott Underwood share lessons learned, and achievements as new toy creators. In this episode, hear specific stories about what it was like to virtually pitch to major toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel and Spinmaster. Chrissy shares her what it ...
#87: Is My Idea Considered A Toy or Children's Product?
August 25, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBRemember when you came up with your latest and greatest toy idea? At any point, did you stop and wonder to yourself, is this really a toy product? If you’ve had an idea or two that you weren’t quite sure fell into the category of toys and games, then today’s episode is going to help you clear that thought process right up. Today’s episode was inspired after about a dozen inquiries I’ve gotten asking to clarify what makes a toy a toy. This episode will walk you through 3 exercises to take y...
#86: Toy Safety 102: The EN-71 Toy Safety Standard with Bill Baxter
August 18, 2021 13:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBRemember Brexit? Well, back in late January when the UK left the EU, I reached out to a Toy Safety expert friend of mine and asked, “What is this going to do to our labeling requirements?” The answer was, "a little when it comes to testing, and "a lot when it comes to paperwork. " Today’s podcast episode is our Toy Safety 102 lesson, and we spend about 90% of this conversation focusing on the cost, complication, and changes in labeling and testing requirements brought about once the UK spli...
#85: Lessons for Specialty Toy Brands from the 2021 ASTRA Marketplace Show
August 11, 2021 21:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBIf you’ve ever looked into attending a toy trade show and thought, “Nope. Toy trade shows are for the big toy companies with thousands and thousands of orders at least, they’re not for me.” Well, it’s time to declare that a myth right here and right now my friend. Today’s podcast episode we dive into a review of the ASTRA Marketplace and Academy that takes place every year to connect specialty toy retailers with the manufacturers that make creative, innovative specialty toy products. In th...
#84: How To Use TikTok To Find Your Next Toy Job
August 04, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBYou know that feeling when you submit a job application but you’re pretty sure no one is going to see it? The process of applying for jobs has become more and more impersonal in the digital age. The personalities of resumes today are defined by the template and type face that was chosen. Well today, the ever-growing social media platform, TikTok has stepped up to the plate to create a more personal hiring experience that can almost ensure your resume gets seen…at least once. TikTok Resumes ...
Episode #83: Predicting Retail Market Trends After The Shipping Container Crisis
July 28, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBHow much do you know about how the toy products that you make and play with get to you? Most likely, they were shipped to the city you bought them from, on boats in containers. In January of 2021, shipping container prices started to climb. By early spring they were double the standard pricing and today shipping container prices have been reported to have increased 4x what importers are used to paying to ship their products. The growth in sales that the toy industry experienced over the past...
#83: Predicting Retail Market Trends After The Shipping Container Crisis
July 28, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBHow much do you know about how the toy products that you make and play with get to you? Most likely, they were shipped to the city you bought them from, on boats in containers. In January of 2021, shipping container prices started to climb. By early spring they were double the standard pricing and today shipping container prices have been reported to have increased 4x what importers are used to paying to ship their products. The growth in sales that the toy industry experienced over the past...
#82: The Pillars Of Marketing Your Toy From Scratch with Harold Chizick
July 21, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBI absolutely love talking marketing. Both digital marketing, traditional PR, and earned media are the main ways you can create awareness for your business. Before you spend any money developing your toy idea, I want you to have a realistic plan to build awareness around your product before you launch it. And you’ll build that awareness throughout marketing. Without that awareness you can’t collect generate email leads and interests. Without email leads and interest, you can’t generate or gro...
#81: How To Leverage Your Creative Business For Major Publicity
July 14, 2021 10:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBGetting publicity for your toy business can seem like a daunting task at first. Imposter syndrome is often the culprit preventing many toy entrepreneurs from getting their name and toy products a well-deserved spotlight. Having been featured on NBC’s Access Daily, interviewed by Marie Forleo, and Amy Porterfield, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to teach you about getting media coverage. By the end of today’s episode, you’ll have the tools you need to start highlighting and pitching your c...
#80: Building A Multi-Million Dollar Business Through Email With Amy Porterfield
July 07, 2021 10:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBAmy Porterfield is an online marketing expert and the host of the top-ranked podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. Before building a multi-million-dollar digital course business, Amy worked with mega brands like Harley-Davidson and Peak Performance Coach, Tony Robbins, where she oversaw the content team and collaborated on ground-breaking online marketing campaigns. And today, friend of the show Amy Porterfield joins The Toy Coach for a conversation around the importance of list building. In...
#79: The 3 BIGGEST Mistakes To Avoid When Working With A Factory
June 30, 2021 10:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBAre you in the process of sourcing with a factory overseas? Or perhaps you’re in the middle of working with a factory to produce your toy product. Or maybe you’ve just been considering reaching out to a factory in China but you haven’t taken the leap just yet. If you answered yes to any of those questions, then today’s episode is a must listen. In today’s episode I walk you through three of the 3 BIGGEST and most common mistakes you need to avoid when you start working with factories. Some o...
#78: How To Be A Toy Designer
June 23, 2021 10:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBToday’s episode is for all of the aspiring professional toy designers out there who have reached out at one time or another for advice on how they can get a job in the toy industry. Perhaps you have a degree in industrial design, graphic design, or illustration, and you’ve recently discovered this podcast and realized—wait a minute. I want to be a toy designer. Well finally I have the perfect episode for you. By the end of today’s episode, you will have uncovered a few resources to find jo...
#77: Get In Front Of 12,000 Buyers With This Year-Round Toy Trade Show
June 16, 2021 16:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBIf the expense of returning to in-person toy trade shows has you a little worried, then there’s a year-round toy trade show platform that you need to know about. In today’s episode we take a behind the scenes look at Toy Fair Everywhere, a year-round, 24/7 virtual trade show that is changing the way the toy entrepreneurs and buyers connect and do business. The platform functions as a product discovery tool for buyers and a wholesale ecommerce site for sellers. You can make, nurture, and gr...
#76: The Art of Pitching and Pivoting In Toys and Entertainment
June 09, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBFor today’s episode of the show, I invited three of my star students of Toy Creators Academy to be guests on the podcast to share their experiences pitching their ideas right to major toy companies. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of what it takes to pitch your toy ideas in a virtual event, you’ll learn some lessons, and be inspired to take action whether you’re a toy inventor or toy entrepreneur. Today you will meet Ruthie Wallberg, Kieche O’Connell, and Pamel...
#75: Lessons And Benefits Of Pitching Your Toy Ideas At The TCA Virtual Toy Pitch Event
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBThe first ever Toy Creators Academy virtual pitch event concluded at the end of May 2021. Over a dozen toy companies, reviewed dozens of product pitches in 2 weeks of speed-dating style toy and entertainment pitch meetings. The toy companies that attended this pitch event were connected with new toy entrepreneurs and toy inventors in the toy space, and the students and alumni of Toy Creators Academy who pitched were able to jumpstart their toy network. If you are curious about the TCA Virtua...
#75: Lessons And Benefits Of Pitching Your Toy Ideas At The TCA Virtual Toy Pitch Event
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBThe first ever Toy Creators Academy virtual pitch event concluded at the end of May 2021. Over a dozen toy companies, reviewed dozens of product pitches in 2 weeks of speed-dating style toy and entertainment pitch meetings. The toy companies that attended this pitch event were connected with new toy entrepreneurs and toy inventors in the toy space, and the students and alumni of Toy Creators Academy who pitched were able to jumpstart their toy network. If you are curious about the TCA Virtua...
#74: How To Break Into Toys Through Self-Publishing
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBIf you’re wondering how to break into toys, just know this. There are MANY paths into the toy industry. Get ready to hear how a self-published author found herself as the VP at a major toy company leading Marketing and Emerging IP’s. Our guest today is Karen Kilpatrick, an author who has both self-published and traditionally published her work with major companies like Macmillan. In this episode, you’ll learn from Karen’s journey and mistakes, and finally, realize that you don’t need to kn...
#73: Executive Tips To License Your Toy Ideas With Zack Pentecost of Zuru Toys
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBDo top toy companies really want to work with inventors? Today’s episode answers that question with a resounding YES! Our guest today is Zack Pentecost of ZURU Toys. If you don’t know the name ZURU, you most definitely know some of their smash hit toy brands. Like Bunch O Balloons, Fifi The Flossin Sloth, or the Funky Flamingo, many of these toys have been featured on major media outlet like Good Morning America and featured by toy industry publications like The Toy Insider. Inventor, if yo...
#72: Working With A Distributor To Get Your Toy or Game In Retail with Greg Watson
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBIf you’ve ever wondered if or why you should use a distributor to help push your toy or game, well I’ve got an episode for you. PSi aka Publisher Services, Inc is the world’s largest toy, game, and collectible distributor. And in today’s episode we have an illuminating conversation with PSi’s National Accounts Manager, Greg Watson. Greg shares what he believes is most important in game play, as well as the current perspective of distributors and retailers in retail. If you don’t know the re...
#71: The Art of Toy Photography with Mitchel Wu
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBDo you know the definition of toy photography? Well in this episode, Mitchel and The Toy Coach define toy photography as the creation of art using toys as a vehicle for storytelling. Mitchel Wu is known in the toy industry as an expert in creating impactful imagery that drives engagement and conversation. Mitchel comes on the show today and shares his personal journey leaving behind a job he didn’t love as well as tips on how you can take better photos of your toys. What started as a hobby...
#70: 7 Tips To Improve Your Next Virtual Toy Pitch
April 28, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBIt’s important to stay relevant and change with the times as a toy person and the latest skill you’ll need to add to your repertoire is a doozy. What skill is that? Well, it’s video editing. But don’t stress out too much, video editing is much simpler today. There are apps that have simplified the process to it’s almost as simple as drag and drop! In today’s podcast episode we’re going to go over 7 tips that will help you improve your next virtual toy pitch. Video is a huge part of the con...
#70: 7 Tips To Improve Your Next Virtual Toy Pitch
April 28, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBIt’s important to stay relevant and change with the times as a toy person and the latest skill you’ll need to add to your repertoire is a doozy. What skill is that? Well, it’s video editing. But don’t stress out too much, video editing is much simpler today. There are apps that have simplified the process to it’s almost as simple as drag and drop! In today’s podcast episode we’re going to go over 7 tips that will help you improve your next virtual toy pitch. Video is a huge part of the con...
#69: Why I Left My Corporate Toy Job To Become The Toy Coach
April 21, 2021 16:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBIf you’ve ever wanted to learn more about The Toy Coach, and why Azhelle built this podcast then this episode is for you. Today Azhelle shares her story from corporate dream job, to entrepreneurial dream life, with advice on how you can do the same. It all comes down to figuring out the “Puzzle of You” which Azhelle explains with great detail in today’s episode. Get ready to also celebrate Toy Creators Academy Alumni and podcast listeners who have pushed their toy businesses forward with t...
#69: Why I Left My Corporate Toy Job To Become The Toy Coach
April 21, 2021 16:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBIf you’ve ever wanted to learn more about The Toy Coach, and why Azhelle built this podcast then this episode is for you. Today Azhelle shares her story from corporate dream job, to entrepreneurial dream life, with advice on how you can do the same. It all comes down to figuring out the “Puzzle of You” which Azhelle explains with great detail in today’s episode. Get ready to also celebrate Toy Creators Academy Alumni and podcast listeners who have pushed their toy businesses forward with t...
#68: One Dad's Secret To A 3 Million Dollar Toy Kickstarter
April 14, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBAfter being laid off during the pandemic in 2020, Conor Lewis was bit by the entrepreneurial bug and decided to go for it with his toy product, FORT. Conor put his marketing expertise to use and built an email list of over 80,000 people before launching his Kickstarter campaign. His share focused and gamified marketing campaign helped him build his email list organically. Conor comes on the show today to share his journey of building his list, nurturing his interested customers, and ultima...
#67: Objectively Vetting Your Amazing Toy Ideas
April 07, 2021 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBComing up with toy ideas is fun, and over time it gets easier and easier. And vetting ideas that you’ve come up with is the trickiest step of all, because of our own ego. Ego can get in the way of you recognizing if your latest toy or game idea is really GREAT or just OK. So, in today’s episode The Toy Coach breaks down 3 methods and exercises that you can utilize to vet your latest Amazing toy idea. The processes that are detailed in this episode are intentionally designed to separate you...
#66: The Ripple Effect Of Racial Bias In The Toy Industry Part 2 with Jacqueline Vong
March 31, 2021 12:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBConsidering over 70% of toys are manufactured in China, we would be remiss to not acknowledge and discuss the increase in Asian hate crimes that are making headlines in the US and Canada. According to NYPD data reported in the Queens Chronicle in September, anti-Asian hate crimes have increased 1900% from 2019 to 2020. For today’s episode, The Toy Coach engages in a hard and honest conversation with Jacqueline Vong a 20-year toy expert and founder of Playology where she works as a consultan...
#65: Creating A Hit Kids’ TV Show with Farnaz Esnaashari Creator of Shimmer & Shine
March 24, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBWhat does it take to create a hit kids’ TV show? Well in today’s episode, Farnaz Esnaashari, Creator of the hit kids’ tv show Shimmer and Shine joins us to answer that question and so many more. Farnaz shares her journey in the world of production and media, starting from her first internship and taking us to her first few pitches. What you’ll learn from this episode is that it takes persistence, grit, and a never-give-up attitude to make it in this business, but, if you’ve been listening to...
#64: Selling Your Toy Or Game On Amazon Live
March 17, 2021 19:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBHave you ever heard of Amazon Live? Amazon Live is Amazon’s live streaming platform that allows Amazon sellers, vendors, and Amazon influencers to sell their products live in a QVC-style experience. The show’s host, whether it’s an Amazon influencer or the product’s manufacturer, can interact with the live attendees of their show via chat. It’s a unique opportunity to answer product questions in real-time while showing the benefits, features, and value of your product in the same spot where ...
#63: How To Make A Toy, The 5 Steps of Product Development
March 10, 2021 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBThe Toy Development process can seem big, scary, and overwhelming if you’ve never taken it on before, but today’s episode is going to eliminate any uncertainties you may have about what that process looks like. There are 5 key steps of the toy development process that we cover in today’s episode, while touching on the differences between working as a toy designer in the corporate toy world, versus working as a toy entrepreneur. There ARE some areas of the toy development process that an ind...
#62: What Buyers Need To See In Your Toy Product Pitch With Marie Nastasi
March 03, 2021 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBThis episode is packed with valuable information for developing a successful buyer presentation. We’ll share the 5 Keys to a Successful Buyer Presentation as developed by today’s guest Marie Nastasi. She brings a wealth of experience and advice from her roles as both a buyer and a manufacturers’ representative for companies large and small. Marie is on the show today to serve up a mini toy sales masterclass. She explains the importance of extensive and in-depth consumer research, price-to-...
#61: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Taura Stinson
February 26, 2021 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBIn celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the same 10 questions, in an effort to celebrate their career achievements in toys and entertainment, connect on a personal level, reminisce about toys from their childhood, and share their valuable life lessons. The women highlighted in this series include a SAG award winner, a Golden Globe nominee, a we...
#60: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Donna Moore
February 25, 2021 13:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBIn celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the same 10 questions, in an effort to celebrate their career achievements in toys and entertainment, connect on a personal level, reminisce about toys from their childhood, and share their valuable life lessons. The women highlighted in this series include a SAG award winner, a Golden Globe nominee, a we...
#59: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Chantel Calloway
February 24, 2021 13:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBIn celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the same 10 questions, in an effort to celebrate their career achievements in toys and entertainment, connect on a personal level, reminisce about toys from their childhood, and share their valuable life lessons. The women highlighted in this series include a SAG award winner, a Golden Globe nominee, a we...
#58: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment with Tanya Wright
February 23, 2021 13:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBIn celebration of Black History Month, The Toy Coach presents a mini-series: Getting To Know Black Women In Toys and Entertainment. In this mini-series, The Toy Coach asks four interviewees the same 10 questions, in an effort to celebrate their career achievements in toys and entertainment, connect on a personal level, reminisce about toys from their childhood, and share their valuable life lessons. The women highlighted in this series include a SAG award winner, a Golden Globe nominee, a we...
#57: Building Your Brand Identity with Albert Lawrence
February 17, 2021 15:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBContent is King. How many times have you heard that statement? And how many times did you take that statement seriously? Today’s podcast episode is focused on teaching you strategies and tactics to build your brand identity as a toy creator. In today’s world, a big part of building that identity is going to be the content you create. So that’s why I reached out to Albert Lawrence, an experienced show host who has interviewed Oprah, Dolly Parton, and Kermit The Frog throughout his media caree...
#56: How To Be A Game Inventor With Eric Slauson Creator of Tattoo Stories
February 09, 2021 21:00 - 58 minutes - 40.6 MBHave you ever thought about inventing or designing a game? There are two markets you can create games for. The mass market and the hobby market. And on today’s podcast episode, we have Eric Slauson, an accomplished game designer who specializes in designing social and party games. Eric shares with us the process he uses to develop his game concepts, and this process is proven and works! As the creator of two popular games, Tattoo Stories, and MonsDRAWsity, Eric jumps into a valuable conver...
#55: Funding Your Toy Business with Terri-Nichelle Bradley of Brown Toy Box
February 03, 2021 05:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBGet your notebook and pen toy people, because we’re about to get down to business. In today’s podcast episode, we talk about the grind of obtaining funding for your toy business. My guest is Terri Nichelle Bradley, the founder, and CEO of Brown Toy Box. Terri’s toy company, Brown Toy Box, makes STEAM culturally representative, accessible, and fun. In 200, Terri was named one of Inc’s 100 Top Female Founders, her company received $10,000 as a part of Targets Accelerator program and was also a...