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PODCAST

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business

Azhelle Wade | The Toy Coach | Toy Creators Academy

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

26:58

#293: How I Landed On Brand with Jimmy Fallon and...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/11/05

In spring 2025 I was invited to join On Brand with Jimmy Fallon as 1 of 10 creatives selected to pitch national campaigns to major brands on national TV. Since the episodes aired, my DMs have been full of the same questions: how did I get on the show, what was it really like, and what do I think of Jimmy Fallon?This week on Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my wild ride as a contestant on On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. Week after week I dreamed up campaigns, plane wrap

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33:37

#292: Toy Creators Academy Accelerator Coaching Call...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/10/29

You’ve got a product idea that means the world to you… maybe it’s cultural, personal, or rooted in your own childhood traditions. But making it retail-ready without losing your mission? That’s the challenge.In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m coaching Durrat, Toy Creators Academy alum, Accelerator grad, and founder of Dcraftsource, a culturally-inspired craft kit brand built to celebrate every kid and every culture.It all started with one handmade Ramadan kit for her daughter. And

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53:01

#291: Toy Creators Academy Coaching Call with Melanie...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/10/22

Your toy is 90% done… for the fifth time. You keep playtesting, tweaking, second-guessing, and you’re convinced it’s not ready. But what if all that perfectionism is what’s actually holding you back? In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m coaching Melanie Palmer, Toy Creators Academy alum and founder of Emmers, a joyful toy brand designed to help kids build emotional skills through stories, games, and play. With a psychology degree from Duke, an MBA from Harvard, and over a dec...

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54:35

#290: Toy Creators Academy Coaching Call with Melissa...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/10/15

Big feelings deserve a safe space and sometimes, that space looks like a soft, huggable friend with swappable expressions and a whole lot of heart…eyes!In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, we’re opening up another coaching call episode featuring Toy Creators Academy alum Melissa Brody, a licensed therapist, entrepreneur, and new mom who turned her passion for emotional wellness into Emotipals, a plush toy line designed to help kids understand and express their feelings through

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23:38

#289: The TCA Journey Behind a Toy Empowering Kids to...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/10/08

A toy doesn’t need to be loud or flashy to leave a lasting impact. The most meaningful ones teach kindness, spark empathy, and build something real in a child’s heart. That belief is what led today’s guest to create a toy that’s about so much more than play.In this special replay episode, we’re passing the mic to guest host Virginia Lette, who sits down with Jana Hallam, a Toy Creators Academy alum who felt the same way and turned that feeling into a mission-driven brand. After struggling to align

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27:25

#288: How an Industry Veteran Rebuilt His Toy...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/10/01

Every once in a while, I meet a toypreneur whose journey reminds me why I started this podcast… and today’s guest is one of those people. In this episode, we’re bringing back the story of a Toy Creators Academy grad who went from leading sales at Mattel to launching a heartfelt plush brand that’s changing bedtime for kids everywhere. Meet Gerardo Davila, the creator of Angelitos Mágicos, a magical line of plush guardian angels that deliver encouraging messages to children overnight. What star...

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20:00

#287: Looking Back at a TCA Alum’s Journey as a Game...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/09/24

You know I love celebrating a toypreneur's full-circle moment and today’s episode is just that.We're revisiting the incredible journey of TCA alum Chrissy Fagerholt of EAP Toys and Games, from her very first appearance on this podcast to her latest game launch and ongoing success in self-publishing.This episode is a special highlight reel of Chrissy’s growth: from pitching her very first ideas at our Toy Creators Academy Virtual Pitch Event, to getting a game into Barnes & Noble, and

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32:13

#286: 3 Surprising Ways To Use AI To Save Money In...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/09/17

Toy people, I see you. You’re trying to run your business, deal with tariffs, build your brand, pitch your ideas, and maybe even answer customer questions at 3AM. But what if I told you that AI could actually help you make the most out of your time and money as you build your toy business?In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, I’m breaking down 3 powerful and unexpected ways to use AI tools to save money, reclaim your time, and scale smarter even if you’re just getting started.Here’s what

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63:09

#285: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Michael Harring

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/09/10

Should you launch your toy on Kickstarter? That’s the question that we’re going to explore today. TCA alumni Michael Harring, launched Wayward Ghouls and his line of Squeaks toys on Kickstarter as what he says is “just a test.” With the goal of $49,000, Michael’s almost at 50% with a $19,000 pledge but he shared in our interview that for some reason, pledges have stalled. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear a real coaching call between Michael and myself, where we dig into what’s actually working,

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36:00

#284: What the End of De Minimis Means for Toy Creators

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/09/03

For years, international toy sellers had a semi-secret shortcut to ship goods under $800 tariff free. That shortcut? Gone. And if you’re not prepared, your business could feel it fast. As of August 29th, the De Minimis Exemption was officially eliminated for many international shipments to the U.S. The change, quietly confirmed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, caused immediate disruption. Over 25 countries (including the UK, Germany, and Japan) paused shipments to reassess compliance

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27:35

#283: 3 Costly Mistakes That Toy Creators Make with...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/08/27

I’ll never forget the time I asked a factory to “just move the pen and scissors down a little” on a packaging layout. What came back? A sample where the entire arrangement was totally rearranged and the design I’d worked so hard on was completely off. Communicating with factories is one of the most exciting parts of the toy-making journey, but one vague email can lead to total toy-making mayhem.If you’re not specific, clear, and intentional with your feedback, even tiny comments can snowball into

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49:03

#282: Why Toy Companies Are Switching to...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/08/20

Even with the recent increased tariffs on India, many of my clients and students have been seeking out new factory partnerships in this country. For decades, China has been the go-to destination for toy production, and they are indisputably the best at producing high quality goods quickly, but what happens when rising costs, shipping delays, and shifting global policies force toy makers to look elsewhere?That’s the exact question that international toy expert and Source 4 India co-founder Joshua

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59:47

#281: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Carrie Shaked

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/08/13

Building forts is a rite of passage for most kids and often the bane of organized parents. I can still picture my mom, coming home late from running her business, to find chairs flipped sideways, blankets draped across them, boxes forming doorways, and my brother and I, tucked away inside playing. It was 100% an eyesore to my parents and 1000% a safety hazard.That universal problem is exactly what architect and TCA Accelerator student Carrie Shaked, founder of Design Laughter, set out to solve. Her

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44:13

#280: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Courtney...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/08/06

Ever wondered why all baby toys are so bright and loud? all primary and neon colors? Aesthetic-focused moms are craving a change. In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, I’m bringing you a powerful coaching session that spotlights someone who's filling that market opportunity. Playcor is a brand on a mission to make toys that look as beautiful as the homes they live in.Courtney Smithee, an interior designer turned toy inventor and student of Toy Creators Academy, is the founder of

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52:36

#279: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Kieche...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/07/30

The most innovative toy ideas I’ve ever seen come from people outside the toy industry. When I met Dr. Kieche O’Connell, the creator of Catoms, I was completely blown away. She found a way to merge her love of science and the periodic table into a collectible plush toy line. Kieche’s deep understanding of chemistry and the unique traits of each element gave her the ability to create an expansive world of characters with complex personalities and traits that drive her brand’s storytelling forward.In

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53:25

#278: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Manish Punwani

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/07/23

Ever feel like your toy or game idea is too niche or catch yourself wondering if you’ve really got what it takes to break into the industry? Maybe you’ve been sitting on a killer concept, or you’re already knee-deep in prototypes and second guesses.In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m chatting with TCA alum and current Accelerator student Manish Punani, who proves that with the right guidance and a whole lot of passion, even the most unexpected game themes can find their place in

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64:42

#277: Game Pitching Tips From a Toy Industry Insider...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/07/16

Have you ever had a game idea pop into your head and thought, “This could be huge… but how do I even pitch it?” Or maybe you’ve been sitting on a finished prototype, wondering if it’s really “good enough” to get in front of a big toy company. If you’ve been dreaming of turning your game concept into a real product on shelves, this episode is made for you.In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, we’re bringing back an oldie but a goodie conversation that I had with Tanya Thompson, the Senior

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43:38

#276: TCA Accelerator Coaching Call with Joanna of...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/07/09

If you've ever wished you could sit in on a real coaching call inside Toy Creators Academy, today’s your lucky day. This episode is part of a special behind-the-scenes series where I bring you inside the TCA Accelerator for a one-on-one strategy session with Joanna, the creator of Fren Forest.Joanna is a sculptural artist with a love for cozy characters, whimsical storytelling, and dreamy desk décor. She went from quietly crafting mini clay creatures in her studio to fully funding a collectible

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17:35

#275: 3 Unmissable Lessons to Turn Your Hobby Into a...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/06/25

Can your hobby become the next best selling board game? If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your weekend hobby into something magical and marketable, this episode is your cheat sheet.In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m unpacking the gold that Elizabeth Hargrave, the brilliant mind behind Wingspan, dropped in our conversation from last week’s episode so you don’t miss a thing.You’ll discover why designing around real-life experience is the secret to a standout game, how Elizabeth’s

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47:26

#274: Turn Your Hobby Into a Best-Selling Board Game...

Making It in The Toy Industry | Start A Toy Business ·

2025/06/18

What are your hobbies? I personally enjoy dance, specifically latin dance and often I wonder, “What if I could translate salsa dancing into a toy or game?”. Well today, we’re going to explore that possibility. Today my guest shares how she turned her hobby into a best selling board game!In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m joined by Elizabeth Hargrave, award-winning board game designer and co-founder of the Tabletop Game Designers Association. You might know her from her hit game

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