Leticia joins The Toy Coach in a conversation about the changes we need to make as both an industry and a society to reduce our carbon footprint. What you’ll learn in this episode is the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s concept of a circular economy. You will learn why it is more beneficial to our environment, that we re-think HOW toys are produced than WHAT they are made of.

In this episode, you’ll learn 4 tips to attract the ideal toy mentor for you. And you’ll learn how to start establishing that relationship before ever talking about the possibility of mentorship. If you follow these four tips, you’ll put yourself in a position to meet a likeminded person and create the opportunity to share your values and dreams in a way that will make industry professionals recognize you as a promising mentee. And yes, even if they weren’t looking for one.

Cas Holman from Heros Will Rise will tell us about her story as a designer, as a toy entrepreneur, and what it really means ‘to design for play’. This interview will inspire not only those who are starting in the toy industry but veterans as well. As Cas says ‘Good Toys Make Good People’ and she will tell us why. Let’s go!

In this episode, Michael and Azhelle will talk about how a licensing agent works and the importance of having one on your side when you have a product ready to be pitched. Michael will also explain his process from accepting clients to bringing a toy to the market. Are you ready to learn more about the value of having a sales partner in your toy licensing journey? This episode is for you!

In today’s episode, Azhelle explains the type of personalities that thrive as Toy Entrepreneurs and mindsets they must have to be successful and, most importantly, happy. Get ready to listen to the best and most challenging parts of the so exciting life of a toy entrepreneur.

Toy Inventors spend their days coming up with new ideas, tinkering with prototypes, and pitching their creations to potential licensees. But what exactly makes them successful? In today’s episode, The Toy Coach explains the necessary mindset behind these professionals as well as the best and worst parts of being a toy inventor.

Have you ever wondered if you are a Toy Inventor or a Toy Entrepreneur? In today's episode, The Toy Coach is back to explain the differences between the two and point out why you might be both. Azhelle walks you through the meaning of there roles at both the corporate and independent levels and explains how your toy career could benefit from seeing yourself as both!

For many of us, this is "launch season" for our toy and game products. And even though this podcast has given plenty of valuable information about launching a successful crowdfunding campaign, there is always more to learn. So The Toy Coach is back at it, asking questions and getting answers about launching a product on Kickstarter, but this time...it's with a focus on games!

When you first came up with your most recent toy idea, did you stop to consider what your target customer might think it's worth? Well, perceived value is extremely important to toy industry professionals when they are evaluating your toy product. The size of the package that holds your toy, the weight of it, and the price point are all data points swirling in the minds of your target customer as they evaluate your toy and define its value.

It's no secret that the toy industry is heavily influenced by popular media. Many people in toys compare it to the fashion industry because both are all about fast-moving trends. Thanks to the growth of social media, and the disruption of the movie industry due to the coronavirus, the toy industry is seeing heavy influence arise from influencers on YouTube, Instagram, and streaming platform originals. So in today's episode, The Toy Coach addresses the growing importance of establishing a brand identity and connecting with your target audience online.

Are you ready for an inventor story? My guest for today's episode is Karen Bonnici, creator of the Super Blanky® and the Super Towel®. This inventor mom joins Azhelle Wade on today's episode to talk about her journey inventing and licensing the popular product, currently sold at Target. This inspiring and lesson packed story starts at a sewing table and ends on the shelf! Karen shares with us the creative process she went through to conceptualize Super Blanky, her path to protecting her idea, and how she determined if she had a marketable concept in the first place!

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association aka ASTRA was founded in 1992 by store owners who noticed the value in collaborating in the specialty toy space. A big part of an ASTRA membership is the open and supportive community that it provides. Within this community, you will find the opportunity to connect and learn from buyers, manufacturers, and sales reps through the specialty segment of the toy industry.

This week's episode is fan-requested and is ALL about Licensing Week Virtual and the Las Vegas Licensing Expo. This industry event is known as the go-to destination for the biggest licensing deals of the year, and it's typically an in-person show, in Las Vegas.

Have you ever wanted to launch a Kickstarter campaign but you’ve been overwhelmed with where to start? Well in this episode of Making It in The Toy Industry, Azhelle Wade, The Toy Coach, sits down with a fellow toy creator to dive into 8 Kickstarter Secrets to 8x your funding goal. Learn the importance of having a crystal clear brand message and target market BEFORE your Kickstarter launch, clever marketing techniques and so much more. If you’re interested in Kickstarter insights, tips, and secrets, then you cannot miss this episode!

Making in impact is one of the most important parts of the job when you're a toy person. But when you first start out in the industry, making big moves to make a difference for and in our industry can seem like a daunting task. But it's important for ourselves, and our industry that we put our best foot forward and implement those seemingly overwhelming ideas.

In today's episode, we're going to tackle the very important conversation of racial bias in the toy industry. I'm going to tell you some of my personal stories, and then I'm going to tell you how you can affect change. It'll seem small at first, but once you listen to this episode you'll understand how those small actions compound into huge, positive effects.