What does it take to turn a bubble toy into a sellout success and a two-time TOTY nominee? In this episode, we dive into the award-winning retail and demo strategy behind Poppin Colorz’ Galactic Color Bubble Machine.

From open-box packaging to live demos that pulled shoppers off the sidewalk, Ron Weizman of South Beach Bubbles shares how they turned a classic play pattern into a shelf-stealing hit.

Cast your vote for the Poppin Colorz Galactic Bubble Machine, nominated for Outdoor Toy of the Year! Open to Toy Association members and media.

What if kids could learn about sports, INSIDE SportsCenter? Well 27 licensing deals, 7 TOTY nominations, and 1 incredible host all led to this incredible feat of edutainment.

For 2025, Abacus Brands teamed up with ESPN and a roster of elite athletes to create the ESPN Virtual Reality Headset. This fully immersive toy is nominated for Educational Toy of the Year and delivers sports history, rules, trivia, and facts in a way kids have never experienced before.

What started as an inventor's pitch, evolved into a collectible phenomenon. Sky Castle Toys is showing us what happens when you combine viral content with collectibility…and it’s Sticki Rolls. 

Sticki Rolls is nominated for Collectible Toy Of The Year, and if you ask me, they should be the ones taking home the TOTY (sorry Lego!) Sky Castle built a brand, demand, and a community from scratch, and they’re only continuing to grow. Driven by viral content and partnerships with niche artists, the Sticki rolls brand is one of the few toys that can get kids excited about putting down their phones…even if it’s just to cover them with stickers. 😏

You’ve heard of the Oscars and Emmys… but have you heard of the TOTYs? In this episode, we’re breaking down why the Toy of the Year Awards are such a big deal, how to get nominated, and how a TOTY nod can boost your sales, press, and SEO. Plus, I’m sharing what really goes down at the black-tie gala and how finalists can turn their moment into a marketing win. If you're a 2026 finalist, check the nominees here and claim your promo spot before your category sells out!

Can 3D printing really replace traditional toy manufacturing? One founder says “absolutely” and she’s got the award to prove it.

In this episode, I’m chatting with the amazing Courtney Peebles, founder of Solobo Toys, about how she won a TOTY Award for her hit plush toy, Emotional Baggage, and how rising manufacturing challenges pushed her to transform her business using 3D printed toys.

Courtney shares how 3D printing helped her cut costs, improve margins, and build a profitable direct-to-consumer brand. We’ll also cover how she handled safety testing, embraced sustainable manufacturing, and scaled her business without relying on overseas factories.

If you’ve ever dreamed about taking your toy idea from sketch to shelf without a big factory or warehouse, you need to hear this one! 

Listen now and let Courtney’s story inspire your next step in the toy industry.

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 Making It In The Toy Industry!

In this episode, Jayson Esterow, President of License 2 Play Toys, shares how he turned a viral trend into a major licensing deal with Jeep. If you’ve ever heard of Jeep Ducking, you know how passionate Jeep owners are about their community. Jayson saw an opportunity to take this organic, fan-driven movement and transform it into an officially licensed toy line.

Gavin Lawler, Creator of Deddy Bears, fresh off his TOTY win for Collectible of the Year, opens up about the challenges of breaking into the toy industry and how he used his F.B.O. (First, Best, Only) formula to develop a product that stands out. Plus, we dive into his major collaboration with Liquid Death and why identifying white space in the market is the key to launching a toy brand that captures attention and drives sales.

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!

In this episode, host Azhelle Wade shares the four key lessons, inspired by her previous interview with Ron Weizman, that will help you launch and scale your toy business—even if you’re working full-time. 

If you’re dreaming of creating your first toy or looking for strategies to grow, this episode gives you the tools to take your toy business to the next level, one small, strategic step at a time!

A Toy Of The Year Award (TOTY) nomination can boost sales and recognition of the brands lucky enough to earn one. 

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, shares how his team turned classic bubble play into the never-before-seen Poppin Colorz line, and how it made its way to be nominated for a TOTY® Award. If your eye is on a future TOTY nomination, this episode is one you can’t miss.