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PODCAST

Making It in The Toy Industry

Azhelle Wade | The Toy Coach

How do I bring my toy ideas to life? How can I pitch my toy concept to top toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, or Goliath Games? What does it cost to make a prototype, and where can I get one made? Are there toy manufacturing options outside of 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

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

26:22

#262: NY Toy Fair 2025 Exclusive Interview with...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/03/19

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to run a business with your spouse? Is it all fun and games, or does every dinner conversation turn into a boardroom meeting? Do you get to celebrate the wins together, or do you find yourself debating packaging details at 10 PM on a Friday night?I was so curious about this dynamic that I sat down with Alex and Whitney Kimerling, the husband-and-wife team behind Hootenanny Games. But instead of just interviewing them together, I decided to interview them

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41:08

#261: NY Toy Fair 2025 Exclusive Interview with Thin...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/03/12

Are tariffs here to stay or not? That was the hot topic at New York Toy Fair 2025, and trust me—it’s still got the toy industry buzzing. In Q1 of 2025, the Trump administration announced a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, and with 80% of all toys made in China, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are all bracing for impact.So, who's really going to absorb these extra costs? Will factories take the hit? Will retailers adjust their pricing? Or will consumers end up paying the price?Inspired by

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28:51

#260: NY Toy Fair 2025 Exclusive Interview with...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/03/05

After four days of running (literally) from booth to booth, taking meetings, and soaking in the latest trends, I’m here to give you an inside look at what went down at New York Toy Fair 2025. If you missed New York Toy Fair or couldn’t see everything, check out this first episode of NY Toy Fair 2025 Exclusive Interview Series.Over the next month and a half, I’ll be taking you inside the show floor for exclusive interviews with toy designers, licensors, CEO’s, entrepreneurs and inventors who are

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42:18

#259: How to Maximize Your Experience at Toy Fair New...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/02/26

So, you’re going to Toy Fair New York this year, but you aren’t sure you’re making the most of your trip? It’s true, without a solid plan, walking into Toy Fair New York can be completely overwhelming. You can easily get lost in a few friendly conversations, pass too much time playing with toys at welcoming booths, and end up missing opportunities to grow your business, or sell your ideas. Once you walk through the doors of the Javits Center, the impact of the show is bound to hit you. So let’s take

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21:50

#258: 3 Ways To Grab Buyer Attention and Land More...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/02/19

Let’s be real—Toy Fair is chaotic. Buyers are rushing from booth to booth, seeing hundreds of products. If you want them to stop, pay attention, and actually care about your toy or game, your pitch needs to do more than just explain your product—it needs to demand attention.In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m breaking down 3 simple strategies that will help you:✨ Grab buyer attention in seconds (without feeling salesy)🎉 Make your pitch an experience they won’t forget👀 Spot buyer

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47:16

#257: How To Win Over Buyers at Toy Fair with Barry &...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/02/12

New York Toy Fair is just around the corner and if you’re preparing to launch your toy or game at this event, learn this lesson: it WON’T sell itself! Buyers see hundreds of pitches, and even the best ideas can get lost in the noise.The real secret? It’s not just what you pitch, but HOW you pitch it. So, how do you make buyers stop, pay attention, and want to play? That’s exactly why I’m bringing back an episode with Barry McLaughlin & Jason Lautenschleger, who share how to pitch and stand out

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33:38

#256: Why We’re Not Surprised About The DEI Rollbacks

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/01/29

Polarizing topic incoming... DEI. When The Toy Coach was picking up steam, many people told me a focus on DEI and being black would be to the benefit of my business. There were so many opportunities to speak on and about diversity and struggle as a person of color that it was hard to feel justified looking the other way at those opportunities.My instincts told me that the DEI initiatives and opportunities offered, while tempting, were not solid ground to build a business upon….and unfortunately, I

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28:30

#255: 5 Lessons to Take You From Hidden Genius to...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/01/22

Let’s face it: toy brands get almost ALL the glory, but the inventors behind the product—people like you—deserve the spotlight too. In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m sharing 5 lessons to take you from hidden genius to rising star, inspired by my own experience and my recent convo with Tim Walsh, inventor of ‘Blurt!’.We’re talking about why advocating for yourself matters (yes, you can request your name on the box), how to time your ideas to ride the perfect trend wave, and why

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49:13

#254: This Game Unites Boomers to Gen Alpha and It...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/01/15

What if a simple classroom activity could unite generations across decades? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, we’re celebrating 30 years of Blurt with its inventor, Tim Walsh, and uncovering the incredible story behind the game that connects Boomers to Gen Alpha.Discover how a third-grade classroom exercise—reading dictionary definitions aloud—sparked the creation of a timeless game that’s built kids’ vocabularies, brought families together, and even supported memory retention for

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26:08

#253: 4 Key Lessons to Launch and Scale Your Toy...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/01/08

Building your dream toy business while working a 9-to-5 might be overwhelming, but with the right mindset and a dash of creativity, you can take small, actionable steps to turn your big ideas into reality! It’s all about getting scrappy, seeking unfiltered feedback, and spotting opportunities to stand out from the crowd.In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade shares the four key lessons inspired by her previous interview with Ron Weizman, the co-founder of South Beach

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36:49

#252: How One Company’s Bubble Toy Got Nominated For...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2025/01/01

The highest honor your toy can get in this industry is the Toy of the Year® (TOTY®). This award is so coveted, that just a nomination alone has been said to boost sales and recognition of the brands lucky enough to earn one. A TOTY win can trigger a flood of retailers knocking on your door, desperate to get your product on their shelves.So what does it take to get a TOTY nomination? That’s what we’re breaking down in today’s episode.In this episode, Ron Weizman, co-founder of South Beach Bubbles

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32:06

#251: Write Click-Worthy Email Subject Lines For Your...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/12/25

Struggling to get your toy pitch noticed? 🚀In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade reveals the secrets to crafting email subject lines that grab attention and boost your chances of success. Learn the powerful 'Four U’s' formula—Urgent, Useful, Unique, Ultra-Specific—and discover proven tips to make your emails stand out in crowded inboxes.From real-life examples of high-converting subject lines to bonus tips on emojis and formatting, this episode is packed with

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47:45

#250: The Art Of Toy Photography with Mitchel Wu:...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/12/18

Ever wondered how toys come to life through photography? 🎨✨Mitchel Wu, an acclaimed toy photographer known for his brilliant use of motion and emotion in toy imagery, joins Azhelle Wade in this episode to unravel the magic behind his spectacular work with major clients like Marvel, Disney, and Hasbro. Learn how he transitioned from a mundane consumer products career to mastering the niche of toy photography, and get insights on making your own products come alive through powerful visuals. Tune in

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46:04

#249: 7 Tips To Improve Your Virtual Toy Pitch: Extended

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/12/11

Ready to turn your toy ideas into marketable products but feeling lost in the world of virtual pitching? 🚀 Don’t worry, this episode is definitely for you! In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade drops all the tips you need to nail your next virtual toy pitch.Discover why energy is your secret weapon, how to create an unforgettable sizzle video, and why personalizing your pitch can set you apart. Plus, we’ll discuss common mistakes to avoid, from outdated visuals to poor

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52:14

#248: Breaking Through Barriers in Children’s Book...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/12/04

Ever wonder how a kid from the South Bronx grew up to be a superstar children's book author and illustrator? 🚀In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, join host Azhelle Wade as she chats with Charles George Esperanza, the creative mind behind Boogie Boogie Y’all! 🎨📚 From dreaming of drawing comics to becoming a HarperCollins author, Charles shares his journey full of ups, downs, and plenty of surprises.He shares how he turned "no" into motivation, why his vibrant

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37:50

#247: How to Fix What’s Not Working in Your Toy...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/11/27

How do you pivot your toy business when your current model isn’t working?In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, Azhelle Wade chats with Tyler Turk, founder of Crated with Love, about his journey from subscription box entrepreneur to retail board game powerhouse. When Tyler’s subscription box business skyrocketed during the pandemic, it seemed like a dream come true—until the workload became unsustainable. That’s when he made a bold decision to pivot to selling one-off products, a shift

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37:59

#246: How AI is Making Toy Innovation and Pitching...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/11/20

Are you skeptical about integrating AI into your toy business?In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade, also known as The Toy Coach, shares her AI expertise from this year's People of Play Innovation Conference and ChiTAG - Toy and Game Fair in Chicago, where she presented her talk on 'How AI is Making Toy Innovation and Pitching Easier Than Ever Before.' You’ll see firsthand how AI can significantly 10x your toy development process with a custom GPT

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48:25

#245: Crazy Aaron’s Secret Formula for Perfect Putty...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/11/13

Have you ever wondered how a simple office toy evolved into a toy phenomenon? In this episode of 'Making It In The Toy Industry', host Azhelle Wade sits down with Aaron Muderick, the creative mind behind Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. From a child's love for tinkering to creating a renowned brand, Aaron's journey is a testament to innovation, persistence, and passion. He discusses the importance of staying connected to your audience, maintaining product quality, and the

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41:46

#244: Choosing The Right Crowdfunding Platform For...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/11/06

Have you ever wondered what it takes to successfully launch on a crowdfunding platform? Many creators go to the world of crowdfunding believing it's simply about having a great idea and posting it online. However, there's far more strategy involved than we realize. The process requires meticulous planning, audience engagement, and a strong narrative to capture backers' hearts and minds.In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, host Azhelle Wade talks with Lisa Ferland, a

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49:08

#243: Vendors VS Sales Reps: A Storytelling Sales...

Making It in The Toy Industry ·

2024/10/30

Ever wondered how to truly captivate buyers in the toy industry? Or why do some sales pitches fall flat even when the product is amazing?In today’s episode, we will talk about the magic of storytelling in the toy industry! We’ll cover how sales reps and vendors approach things differently, plus the secrets to crafting pitches that go beyond a quick sale and build lasting customer relationships. Discover how storytelling can be the key to success in this highly competitive toy market. Join us in this

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304 results

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