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Making It In The Toy Industry is your secret weapon for showing up like a pro in the toy and game industry.

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S6E10 | The AI Toy Sales Tool Smart Toy Companies Are Already Using

Like any good season finale, I'm putting it all on the table.

Episode 10 marks the END of our season all about the Impact of AI on The Toy Industry. In this week's episode we're revisiting everything we covered this season from the environmental and mental impact of AI usage, to it's organizational benefits and need for a human touch.

Then, I'll be sharing the results from my survey on AI Usage in The Toy Industry. So if you're here for the chisme, start poppin' that popcorn now, and turn the volume up because I'm sharing every bit of juicy data from this industry wide survey.

And then FINALLY the moment I've been waiting for all season. I'm introducing you to a tool that utilizes AI to help you find qualified toy stores where your product fits the demographic, the vibe, and the audience to thrive. This new AI sales tool is called The Toy Matchmaker and you don't need to know anything about AI or have a single AI subscription to use it.

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S6E09 | Why Stickerbox Changed My Mind About AI Toys

I once told CNN that some AI toys feel like a wolf in sheep’s clothing because it can be hard to tell how much privacy you’re giving up. While I'm a fan of AI use in business, I’ve been skeptical of AI toys for quite some time. But in today's interview, the Stickerbox genuinely changed my mind.

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S6E08 | The Inventor of Bop It on AI, Execution, and Creating the Next Classic Toy

What if I told you Dan Klitsner discovered AI 30 years ago and used it to invent Bop It?

Well, he didn’t. But I did ask Dan how AI might have influenced the creation of his hit game if it did exist when he was first starting out. Dan’s breakout invention sold over 50 million units, and those numbers put the “song” associated with the game at Diamond status. (Dear music industry, he’s still awaiting his plaque.)

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S6E07 | The Best AI Platforms for Toy Businesses in 2026

AI is changing fast, but for the first time in a while I'm feeling that we've hit a moment of "stability". That means NOW is the perfect time to learn to apply the latest AI tools to your toy business.

In this mini reset episode, I break down why so many people are getting mediocre results from AI, and announce a free live masterclass where I'll walk you through the three AI tools + new-ish features that every toy company needs to know: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

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S6E06 | What Is Claude Code? And How To Use It

1.5 million people left Chat GPT and went running to Claude for all the wrong reasons. Claude isn’t just the more ethical AI tool. It’s THE tool built for serious businesses.

One of the most popular topics of conversation right now is Claude Code. I myself have been obsessing over it lately, finding myself dreaming of code to the point where I wake up thinking I’ve finished a debug.

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S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu

My friend (and On Brand with Jimmy Fallon co-star) Pyper Bleu is joining me on the podcast today to share her perspective on the effects of AI and the algorithm on retail.

If you're feeling a little AI overwhelmed, this podcast is your safe space. Cozy up with a warm cup of tea and give it a listen.

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S6E04 | 5 Foundations Your Toy Company Needs BEFORE Integrating AI (Custom GPTs, Automations & More)

So I finally convinced you that you can't ignore AI… and you're ready to implement it in your toy business. Go you. Love that for you. But before you go trying to haphazardly plug AI into every little task, you need to build your AI foundation. Your AI foundation is a series of files, records, strategy, and frameworks that you as a business use on a day-to-day basis.

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S6E02 | Is Amazon AI Selling Your Products Without Consent? with Angie Chua

Amazon’s new “Buy For Me” button sounds helpful… but is it quietly rerouting your customers and sales without your consent? In this episode, I’m joined by Angie Chua of Bobo Design Studio to break down how this Amazon AI feature actually works, how it showed up on her shop without her opting in, and what every small business, maker, and toy brand needs to watch out for.

If you sell on your own website, Etsy, Shopify, or anywhere online, you need to understand how features like Amazon Buy For Me could impact your margins, your customer data, and the future of your business.

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S6E01 | The Hidden Cost of AI In The Toy Industry

With every major advancement in science or technology, there is bound to be pushback. AI is no exception. Season 6 of this podcast will focus on the impact of AI on the toy and game industry. In 10 episodes we’ll explore how to use AI while maintaining your taste, trusting your judgement, protecting your IP, and actually saving time.

This first episode is the foundation for the coming weeks. Before you dive any deeper into AI, let’s get real about the risks of operating it with little to no guardrails.

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#286: 3 Surprising Ways To Use AI To Save Money In Your Toy Business

Toy people, I know you’re juggling it all,  building your brand, pitching your ideas, managing costs, and answering emails at 3AM. But what if AI could help you do it smarter? In this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, I’m sharing 3 powerful ways I’ve used AI to save money, cut my ad costs in half, boost sales with chatbots, and even simulate playtesting with ChatGPT. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this episode will help you make the most of your time and money and if you’re ready to take it further, join my AI-powered toy bootcamp on Sept 23 at learn.thetoycoach.com/bootcamp.

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Episode #199: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Promotion Process With AI

How is AI reshaping the toy industry? In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the world of AI and its transformative impact on toy design and creation. Discover how tools like Adobe Firefly, Canva, and Amazon are integrating AI to enhance their services and change the game for how consumers experience products and how professional toy creators promote them.

In episode 199, The Toy Coach explores the practical applications of AI in the toy industry, from speeding up the toy invention process to navigating legal considerations. Learn about Adobe Firefly's approach to copyright issues and get tips on effectively using AI tools for generating compelling content and designs.

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Episode #198: Speed Up Your Toy or Game Invention Process With AI - Part 1

Have you ever wondered how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the toy industry? From speeding up the toy invention process to comparing traditional and AI-assisted methods, AI is transforming how we create and innovate. Dive into this engaging exploration of AI’s role in the toy industry.

In this episode, join The Toy Coach as she shares insights from her talk at the People of Play Innovation Conference. Discover how AI can enhance market research, ideation, product visualization, and even prepare you for your next big pitch. Get ready to be amazed by practical AI applications that are reshaping the toy development landscape.

This episode is brought to you by Publisher Services, Inc. (https

://www.pubserviceinc.com)

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Episode #173: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 2 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI

Are you curious about how AI can revolutionize the toy industry? Do you want to know how AI can help in designing and marketing a toy product? If so, then this podcast episode is for you. Join The Toy Coach in this insightful episode as she explores the potential of AI in toy design and marketing.

In this episode of the Making It In The Toy Industry Podcast, The Toy Coach shares her experience in using an AI language model called Agent GPT to generate ideas for a toy product. From creating a unique toy name to identifying edgy influencers for marketing, Agent GPT proved to be a valuable tool in the toy industry. One interesting thing that was learned is how AI can save time and resources in conducting research and analysis, ultimately leading to faster and more responsive product development. Teased in this episode are insights on using mid-journey, an AI tool for generating high-quality images, and a mind map on the future of AI in the toy industry.

Overall, this episode provides a fascinating look into how AI can help with various aspects of toy design, from generating new ideas to finding social media influencers to work with. Listeners will gain a better understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of AI in the toy industry and how it may shape the future of toy design. Don't miss this episode if you're interested in the intersection of AI and toy design.

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Episode #172: AI-Powered Toy Design [Part 1 of 2] Building a Million-Dollar Toy Line with the Help of AI

Are you curious about how AI can revolutionize the toy industry? Do you want to know how AI can help in designing and marketing a toy product? If so, then this podcast episode is for you. Join The Toy Coach in this insightful episode as she explores the potential of AI in toy design and marketing.

In this episode of the Making It In The Toy Industry Podcast, The Toy Coach shares her experience in using an AI language model called Agent GPT to generate ideas for a toy product. From creating a unique toy name to identifying edgy influencers for marketing, Agent GPT proved to be a valuable tool in the toy industry. One interesting thing that was learned is how AI can save time and resources in conducting research and analysis, ultimately leading to faster and more responsive product development. Teased in this episode are insights on using mid-journey, an AI tool for generating high-quality images, and a mind map on the future of AI in the toy industry.

Overall, this episode provides a fascinating look into how AI can help with various aspects of toy design, from generating new ideas to finding social media influencers to work with. Listeners will gain a better understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of AI in the toy industry and how it may shape the future of toy design. Don't miss this episode if you're interested in the intersection of AI and toy design.

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Episode #159: How AI-Powered Chat GPT Can Generate Toy and Game Concepts

With AI-Powered Chat GPT, generating toy and game ideas has never been easier. If you are in the process of developing a toy or a game but are stuck in the concept phase, this week’s episode is one you cannot afford to miss. AI-Powered Chat GPT can generate “creative” toy & game ideas quickly and easily - and all you need to get started is a single sentence. Chat GPT was released in November of 2022, and is known for its ability to code, write stories, and even music. But today we’re giving this clever chatbot a new challenge…to come up with a concept for a toy or game. Curious to know how it did? I bet you’ll be shocked by the results.

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