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
#13: Staying At Home Part 2 Brainstorming and Playtesting Virtually
April 15, 2020 18:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBThis episode is part 2 of the mini-series aimed at guiding inventors on how to nurture their creativity and develop their ideas while stuck at home. In this episode learn how to make a game of brainstorming and developing your idea with friends and family. You'll also learn how to playtest and vet your toy concepts from home. Learn the best ways to use video chats, online surveys, and snail-mail to keep your concept development moving while the rest of the world is on pause. Azhelle introdu...
#12: Staying Inspired While Staying at Home Part 1
April 08, 2020 20:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBEPISODE DESCRIPTION With 42 states practicing either partial or statewide stay at home orders, our lives are looking very different than they were just a few weeks ago. We're spending a lot of time at home, and attempting to use technology to maintain our relationships and workplace productivity. All this change makes it the best and worst time to innovate, all at once. This episode is Part 1 of a 2 part series aimed at guiding inventors on how to nurture their creativity and develop their...
#12: Staying At Home Part 1 Problem Solving And Inventing
April 08, 2020 20:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBWith 42 states practicing either partial or statewide stay at home orders, our lives are looking very different than they were just a few weeks ago. We're spending a lot of time at home, and attempting to use technology to maintain our relationships and workplace productivity. All this change makes it the best and worst time to innovate, all at once. This episode is Part 1 of a 2 part mini-series aimed at guiding inventors on how to nurture their creativity and develop their ideas while stu...
#11: Predicting Toy Market Trends After Coronavirus
April 01, 2020 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBLet's be honest, the market is changing. We're in the midst of a serious shift in the way we live, and life and business as we know it is changing drastically each and every day. Having the ability and know-how to pivot and adjust your business to fit market needs is paramount in assuring long term success. So in this episode, The Toy Coach dives into a detailed conversation exploring how the current coronavirus pandemic has and will continue to affect the toy industry. What categories wil...
#10: The Modern Marketing of Toys With Steve Starobinsky
March 25, 2020 04:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBThere’s no avoiding the impact that social media has had on the marketing of toys and games. Before You-Tube stars and Instagram influencers, networks like Nickelodeon and Disney influenced toy buying trends. But today, toy buying trends are influenced by social media personalities, major television ad campaigns, and disruptive social ad campaigns. During today’s episode, The Toy Coach interviews Steve Staronbinsky, the CMO if Diverse Marketing. Steve shines a light on the toy industry’s w...
#9: Top Toy Companies That You Should Know
March 18, 2020 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBThere's nothing more important to the success of your product pitch than really knowing the company that you're pitching to! Showing a great inventor item to the wrong company is almost as bad as not showing it to anyone at all. If your toy invention does not fit the target demographic of your potential manufacturing partner, you run the risk of losing their interest altogether. So for today's episode, The Toy Coach dives into a conversation about 6 top toy companies in the industry. We div...
#8: 3 Stages of the Toy Product Development Life Cycle
March 11, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBHave you ever proceeded down the path of developing your toy or game idea, to only realize that you weren’t sure what step comes next? If you’ve rushed down the path of sample making or prototyping your toy concept or invention, only to find yourself stuck in the process, then this episode is for YOU! In this episode The Toy Coach breaks down the 3 stages of the toy product development life cycle. This episode names and details the following three stages in the life cycle; 1. Product develo...
#7: Finding Quality Sample Makers For Plush, Paper, and Plastics
March 04, 2020 13:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBHave you ever gone to a product pitch meeting with a less than perfect prototype? Did you ever have an excellent concept fall flat because a prototype failed to capture the hearts of your audience? In order to present your toy product to potential investors, buyers, or licensors, you will first need to produce a prototype. The quality of the prototype you present is going to have a direct effect on the perceived value of your product. It's important that the quality of your prototype adequ...
#6: What To Do When You Don’t Achieve Your Toy Fair Goals
February 27, 2020 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBAfter attending The New York Toy Fair (NYTF) as an exhibitor, you'll definitely need a few days to recover. Your back may ache, your feet may be swollen, and your ego may be bruised. While the wins at NYTF are easy to share with family and friends, and celebrate, the losses we tend to keep to ourselves and not confront. So in today's episode, we walk through how to handle 4 less than perfect scenarios you might have experienced at New York Toy Fair, and how to turn them positive. This episo...
#5: Everything You Need To Know About New York Toy Fair
February 20, 2020 01:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBThe New York Toy Fair (NYTF) is the LARGEST toy show in North America. Over 1,000 exhibitors attend to showcase over a hundred thousand products at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. With the 2020 fair only days away, The Toy Coach pulls back the curtain to give a little insight on what to expect if you attend this industry event in the future. If you are currently developing or selling a toy or game product, and you have not exhibited at NYTF, then THIS is the perfect epi...
#4: Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 2
February 12, 2020 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBIn this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, we focus on Manufacturing in the USA. Learn how to use an indispensable resource for American manufacturers. We'll outline key differences in working with a factory in China versus a factory in the USA. We also cover 8 key topics and questions to discuss with the American factory you're considering partnering with. This quick start guide to finding your perfect factory is full of tips, tricks and actionable advice. Find the full transcript ...
Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 2
February 12, 2020 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIn this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, we focus on Manufacturing in the USA. Learn how to use an indispensable resource for American manufacturers. We'll outline key differences in working with a factory in China versus a factory in the USA. We also cover 8 key topics and questions to discuss with the American factory you're considering partnering with. This quick start guide to finding your perfect factory is full of tips, tricks and actionable advice. Find the full transcript an...
Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 1
February 05, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBFinally an answer to one of the biggest industry questions out there. How do I start manufacturing my own toy or game ideas with a factory in China? This podcast episode breaks down the easiest way to find, analyze, and communicate with the ideal overseas factory for YOU. Learn how to determine quality and legitimacy of factories you find online, learn the best way to protect your ideas overseas (hint: it's not an NDA), and learn 8 key questions to ask any factory you're considering partneri...
Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part I
February 05, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBFinally an answer to one of the biggest industry questions out there. How do I start manufacturing my own toy or game ideas with a factory in China? This podcast episode breaks down the easiest way to find, analyze, and communicate with the ideal overseas factory for YOU. Learn how to determine quality and legitimacy of factories you find online, learn the best way to protect your ideas overseas (hint: it's not an NDA), and learn 8 key questions to ask any factory you're considering partneri...
Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part I - Overseas Manufacturing Partners
February 05, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBFinally an answer to one of the biggest industry questions out there. How do I start manufacturing my own toy or game ideas with a factory in China? This podcast episode breaks down the easiest way to find, analyze, and communicate with the ideal overseas factory for YOU. Learn how to determine quality and legitimacy of factories you find online, learn the best way to protect your ideas overseas (hint: it's not an NDA), and learn 8 key questions to ask any factory you're considering partneri...
#3: Finding The Perfect Factory For Production: Part 1
February 05, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBFinally an answer to one of the biggest industry questions out there. How do I start manufacturing my own toy or game ideas with a factory in China? This podcast episode breaks down the easiest way to find, analyze, and communicate with the ideal overseas factory for YOU. Learn how to determine quality and legitimacy of factories you find online, learn the best way to protect your ideas overseas (hint: it's not an NDA), and learn 8 key questions to ask any factory you're considering partne...
How To Make Your Ideas More Toyetic
January 30, 2020 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBWhat exactly is toyetic? The term toyetic is thrown around alot in the industry. In this episode, we break down the true definition of toyetic and pull out 4 guiding Toyetic Principles and show you how to make your toy inventions or game ideas more toyetic and ultimately more marketable. You'll learn about the man who coined the term, you'll learn about a successful toyetic property, and what the term means today! So push play and listen, you'll master the development of a toyetic product in...
#2: How To Make Your Ideas More Toyetic - Make It Toyetic!
January 30, 2020 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBWhat exactly is toyetic? The term toyetic is thrown around a lot in the industry. In this episode, we break down the true definition of toyetic and pull out 4 guiding Toyetic Principles and show you how to make your toy inventions or game ideas more toyetic and ultimately more marketable. You'll learn about the man who coined the term, you'll learn about a successful toyetic property, and what the term means today! So push play and listen, you'll master the development of a toyetic product...
#2: How To Make Your Ideas More Toyetic
January 30, 2020 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBWhat exactly is toyetic? The term toyetic is thrown around a lot in the industry. In this episode, we break down the true definition of toyetic and pull out 4 guiding Toyetic Principles and show you how to make your toy inventions or game ideas more toyetic and ultimately more marketable. You'll learn about the man who coined the term, you'll learn about a successful toyetic property, and what the term means today! So push play and listen, you'll master the development of a toyetic product...
Unlocking Your Great Toy Ideas
January 18, 2020 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBAre you trying to come up with your next great toy idea, but you're suffering creative block? If you find it difficult to come up with an amazing new toy idea time and time again, then this is the episode for you. In this episode, Azhelle Wade breaks down her 5 Step Process To Unlocking Great Toy Ideas, sharing with you a proven strategy to come up with one of a kind toy ideas that are unique to your personality and life experience, that effectively fill market gaps and are a threat to your ...
#1: Unlocking Your Great Toy Ideas
January 18, 2020 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBAre you trying to come up with your next great toy idea for kids, but you're suffering from a creative block? If you find it difficult to come up with an amazing new toy idea time and time again, then this is the episode for you. In this episode, Azhelle Wade breaks down her 5 Step Process To Unlocking Great Toy Ideas, sharing with you a proven strategy to come up with one of a kind toy ideas that are unique to your personality and life experience, that effectively fill market gaps and are...