Join Azhelle Wade as she takes you inside Toy Fest 2024, the ultimate toy industry trade show in Las Vegas. Discover the top-selling categories, emerging trends, and innovative products showcased on the floor. Plus, learn about the power of networking and collaboration in this relaxed and friendly environment where industry experts come together to share successes and learn from each other.

Right now you might feel like an outsider in the toy industry. But it’s important to remember that we ALL started out that way. The goal of today’s podcast episode is to show you how you can go from zero connections in the world of toys, to thousands! Yep, thousands.

Are you struggling to crack the networking code in the toy industry? Tune in to episode #207 of The Toy Coach Podcast: Making It In The Toy Industry as Azhelle Wade, unveils the secrets behind successful networking. Spoiler? It's easier than you think. The host debunks myths surrounding industry connections and shares invaluable tips for building meaningful relationships that drive professional growth.

Finally, this beloved toy and game innovation conference returns in person. The People of Play Innovation Conference is the largest global innovation conference in the toy and game world, welcoming over 50 companies from across 17 countries to review pitches from students, new inventors, and professional inventors. If you’re new to the toy industry and you’ve heard rumblings about POP week or the Innovation conference, and you weren’t quite sure what either were…then this episode is just what you’ve been waiting for. In today’s podcast episode, we dive into the details of how to register and why you should join the POP Inventor & Innovation conference.

Have you been considering joining Toy Creators Academy to develop your toy or game idea? Do you still have a few questions about how the program works, when it starts, or what it covers? This episode is perfect for you! In today’s podcast episode, The Toy Coach addresses the most frequently asked questions about this 12 week group coaching program. Toy Creators Academy is the only toy education and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you how to fully develop your toy or game idea like a pro — but also how to properly pitch that idea to buyers and toy companies. Are you ready to bring your toy and game ideas to life? Make it happen with the guidance and support provided by Toy Creators Academy.

Today’s episode is for those of you who are 1, just getting started in the toy industry, maybe you’re in your first few years or 2, haven’t started yet but keep looking over the fence and waiting for the perfect moment to jump in. In today’s episode, The Toy Coach discusses how you can stand out as a new creator in the toy and game industry. If the toy industry feels like a big, noisy place and you have no clue how to stand out as a new-ish creator hit play on this week’s episode.

Being a toy inventor or entrepreneur doesn’t have to be a solo project. Working with a partner can help you to think outside of the box. Today’s guests met in a Facebook group and even though they haven’t met in person yet, they have created quite the toy industry “bromance.” Jeff Lawber is a toy inventor and the founder and creator of Marmals, a line of beautifully designed magnetic toys. Alan Henry is a 2021 product design graduate and a freelance toy designer. He is also a volunteer toy designer at Marmals. They started collaborating and developed an organic mentorship that benefited both of them. In today’s episode you’ll learn how social media can lead to real friendships and mentorships. You’ll also find out why you might want to hire a fresh face or two if you’ve been in the toy industry for a while.

Listener Erika wrote in asking how you can “Make It” in the toy industry when you’re just starting out with ZERO contacts. So, for today’s episode we will dive into 3 networking strategies that will help you jump start your toy network to connect with toy brands and toy people. In this podcast episode The Toy Coach dives into the top 3 networking strategies that you can start using and implementing TODAY to grow your own toy network. To learn how to make the most of your non-toy skills, your unique toy story, and free toy communities online, tap play and listen to this episode.

Today’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.

This episode is your guide to transitioning into the toy industry even if you have no experience in it at all. You will also learn the specific steps I took over my 10 year toy career to overprepare myself for my toy job interviews. If you want to jumpstart your toy career, then this episode is a must listen.

Festival of Licensing is a virtual event, designed to combine and connect the audience that typically attends three major global licensing events that cover Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This event is an online space where Brand owners, Manufacturers, and Brands can network and build licensing relationships.

Are you feeling isolated on your journey of creating your own toy or game product? If you find it hard to connect with other passionate toy people from varying specializations, then this is the episode for you. In this episode, Azhelle Wade shares a valuable new virtual networking initiative just launched by Women in Toys Licensing and Entertainment. These 3 new virtual networking opportunities will improve your communication with toy industry colleagues, provide access to organized discussion boards, highlight toy career opportunities, offer even more educational webinars, and most importantly provide the virtual means to building relationships online.

Having a mentor can drastically change the course of your career, help ease times of professional confusion, and provide a vision for the future. Women In Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment, partnered with The Mattel Foundation to launch The Ruth Handler Mentorship Program for WIT. This virtual mentorship program is the first of it's kind for our industry. For today's episode, I sit down with the President of Women In Toys, Janice Ross, and the Executive Director, Mary Kay Russel to learn all about the offerings of this much-needed program.

Starting off in the toy industry can be difficult, and doing so while observing #stayathome orders may make it seem impossible. Well for today's episode, The Toy Coach introduces you to a non-profit organization that works in favor of the advancement of women in the toy industry. This community has continued to keep its members connected via weekly webinars, email updates, and the launch of a virtual mentorship program. If you are looking for a network of strong, supportive women in this niche industry, then look no further than Women In Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment, also known as, WIT.