Ways to Work With The Toy Coach
Product Development and Retail Sales Support
You are not just trying to “make a toy”.
You are trying to bring a story, a toy, or a community to life in a way that is honest, fun, and sustainable.
My job is to help you do that without getting lost in factory terms, retailer demands, and all the what ifs that keep you stuck.
Below are four ways we can work together, from learning it yourself to handing it off. If you’re a larger company, contact me about special projects.
Toy Creators Academy® 8.0
🎓 GROUP COACHING • COHORT STARTS JANUARY 5, 2027
The #1 program for launching your own toy business is back and completely revamped. You get more hands-on coaching, expert reviews of your actual work, and a simplified roadmap that can take you from idea to pre-launch in as little as 4 months.
Includes:
An onboarding call to set you up for success
Two live group workshop sessions every month
Up to four personalized project reviews from toy industry experts
Video lessons covering how to develop and launch a toy that will sell
4 months of support from The Toy Coach Team in our online community
Best for: anyone with an original toy, game, collectible or playful product they plan to manufacture and sell themselves. That includes career professionals finally ready to focus on a long-held idea, and artists whose followers keep asking to buy what they’ve made. Made for those launching or re-launching their toy brands.
Not for you if: you only want to license your idea to a toy company, or you want someone else to build it for you.
Early access to prelaunch pricing.
The Accelerator ⚡️
🤝 DONE-WITH-YOU • LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Private 1:1 coaching for creators who are serious about getting a product into the world and want expert eyes on every decision.
Includes:
1 onboarding call to set you up for success
As-needed 1:1 strategy calls with me
Async Slack support between calls, always open to discuss your toy’s development
Support from my larger team
Design and factory management and coordination
2 studio hours per month
Your project management dashboard, so you always know the next move
A clear plan for what to do next, at every step
This program is coaching, guidance, and connections, with some done-for-you support built in.
Best for: creators who want to stay hands-on and own the process, with a proven guide making sure they never waste time or money.
Not for you if: you’re still deciding whether your idea is worth pursuing, if that’s you, start with Toy Creators Academy.
Meet with Azhelle to discuss your progress so far and determine fit.
Toy Studio
🏭 DONE-FOR-YOU • VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY
A fully managed engagement where my team and I run your product development directly. You get me as your Chief Product Officer, plus my larger team to help execute and keep your product on track. We work with the factory, handle packaging, and create your plan drawings and product specification packages, so you can stay focused on running your business.
You pay your factory, tooling, and sample costs directly, at cost, with no markup from me. Whether you have a single product or a full line, we scope the right engagement together on our call.
How I work:
I tell you the truth about your product, even when it’s not what you hoped to hear.
I move fast and keep your product moving in development.
I bring the whole toy industry to your side of the table: factories, vendors, and years of knowing what actually sells.
Best for: brands who would rather hand the build to a team that has done it before, and stay focused on running the business.
Not for you if: you want to learn every step yourself. The Accelerator keeps you in the driver’s seat.
Meet with Azhelle to discuss your progress so far and determine fit.
The Toy Coach Showcase
NEXT SHOWCASE: ASTRA in Pittsburgh, PA • June 6-9, 2027
The smartest way to do your next trade show is not alone. Get a spot in my shared booth that looks legit, coaching around the show from someone who knows the buyers, and a real chance to make a profit.
Best for: brands with a finished product that are ready to sell to stores.
Not for you if: Make them match: “Not for you if: you’re looking to pitch ideas for licensing.
How I Treat My Clients
Common Questions
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My programs range from about $3,500 to $21,000+.
The Toy Coach Showcase, my seasonal trade show booth and coaching service, sits at the low end.
Toy Creators Academy, my group program, is about $6,000.
The Accelerator, my 1:1 done-with-you program, falls in the middle and includes a small revenue share, so I win when your product sells.
Toy Studio, my done-for-you program, sits at the higher end, with monthly billing and a 6-month minimum or a pay-in-full discount. We’ll go over exact pricing on your discovery call.
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Never. You pay your factory, tooling, and sample costs directly, at cost.
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It depends on materials, size, and order quantity, and that’s one of the first things we map out together.
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In the Accelerator and Toy Studio, most clients are working with a factory on their first sample within about 3 months. By month 6, our goal is to have you signed up for your first trade show, with a booth and a plan, where you’ll have the chance to land your first sales. Depending on the time of year, that show may happen within those 6 months or shortly after. Either way, you’ll be booked and ready.
In Toy Creators Academy, the roadmap can take you from idea to pre-launch in as little as 4 months. -
You won’t need a separate one. Every program comes with an agreement that defines the scope of our work, protects your ideas, and protects our business. You can review it on the checkout page before you pay, and you’ll sign a digital copy when we start.
We use our own agreement for every client rather than signing outside NDAs.