How do you go from a dreamer with comic book aspirations to a toy industry legend and award-winning toy designer? Today’s guest shares his incredible journey as an artist, parent, and toy designer from the 1990s until now. His toy journey will inspire you to take a risk, put in your all, and go that extra mile. David Vonner’s original dream was to be an illustrator for Marvel Comics. However, his family and those surrounding him encouraged him to go down a path that would ensure a good career. A...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep 162•Transcript available on Metacast Think of a time when you were shopping for a product and just thought to yourself, “Ugh, all of the options are boring, or not that cute, or they don’t work the way I need them to.” You’re creative, so you probably thought of a great way to improve that product at that moment. But, maybe you wondered if you could really do everything that goes into creating a successful product in the toy industry. Keep listening to learn the inspiring story of someone who did just that. Josh White is an award-w...
Jan 25, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever dreamed of creating your own neighborhood toy store? Even if that’s not your toy industry dream, today’s episode is full of valuable tips for any toy industry entrepreneur. Today’s guest started a toy store in her local community with her dad, and turned into a successful family business over the eight years it has been open. Listen to the episode to find out about the differences between starting a digital business and a brick-and-mortar business and how a business plan can give y...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep 160•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jan 11, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast I bet that YOU can generate a high resolution concept image of your toy idea for free, and in seconds. The use of AI art exploded in recent months, with the search term “AI art” spiking in the US this past December. The breakout AI tools have been Midjourney, Lensa, and DALL-E. Since then, there has been considerable and understandable backlash against AI art from real human artists across the globe. In this episode we explore three things, 1) how AI can help the development process of your toy ...
Jan 04, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations. During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any toy biz wisdom they’...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations. During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any toy biz wisdom they’...
Dec 21, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast In December of 2022, The Toy Coach Team ventured out to the windy city to set up a live podcast recording booth at Chicago Toy and Game Week, also known as CHITAG by Mary Couzin and People of Play. This annual, public toy and game fair is where toy and game brands connect with the consumers who love their products, debut new lines, and marketing activations. During this 2 day fair, I interviewed 10 toy and game creators during this fair to learn about their toy journeys and ask them to share any...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever had an idea for a character that you could envision becoming a globally recognized brand? Today, one of the important ingredients to building a licensable brand is authenticity. Building an authentic toy and entertainment brand means that you’ve got to be crystal clear about the reason WHY you created that brand in the first place. You’ve got to dedicate your time and energy to growing AND supporting your community, and meanwhile you’ve got to make sure the whole world knows it’s h...
Dec 07, 2022•52 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time ever, The Toy Coach is releasing a holiday gift guide featuring her top toy picks for the holiday season. The focus of today’s episode is to share a preview of this gift guide AND to educate you on what you need to get featured in any toy gift guide in 2023. This episode begins with a countdown of the top 12 toys you should gift this holiday and ends with a mini toy lesson on the top 5 things you MUST submit to publications if you want your product featured in Holiday Gift gui...
Nov 30, 2022•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast It is a myth that toys are shallow or don’t make an impact on kids. Today’s guest was inspired to leave a tenured position as the top professor in her field to create a meaningful line of dolls. Listen to today’s episode to discover what inspired her and how she made it happen. Dr. Lisa Williams started off her career as the first black person to receive a doctorate in logistics from The Ohio State University. She became the top professor in her field, had a tenured position, and even had a mult...
Nov 23, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s episode is special for two reasons. First, it is the first-ever live broadcast of an episode of Making it In the Toy Industry. Second, today’s guest gives a raw view into all the ups and downs of being a toy industry entrepreneur, how it can affect your mental health, and how to keep going with your ideas even when it seems like things haven’t gone your way. Marjorie Spitalnik is the founder and CEO of Little Rebels, a popular plush doll collection that seeks to educate kids about histor...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Only adults can make amazing toys right? Wrong! Kids play with a lot of toys so it only makes sense that they would come up with some incredible toy ideas. Today’s guest has come up with a sensational toy at only 11 years old. Well, she was actually 5 when she came up with the idea and started developing the product. Now she is bringing her insights as a seasoned kidpreneur to today’s episode of Making it in the Toy Industry. Mia Monzideliz came up with the idea for the Power Pony when she got a...
Nov 09, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 yo...
Nov 02, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. If you have questions on whether this program is right for you, wondering when the class will reopen, or if you can take the program on your own time...
Oct 26, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s podcast episode was inspired by several conversations I’ve had with my biz besties around health and mindfulness, as well as conversations with my colleagues in the toy industry. This is the exploration of a growing category in the toy industry called Comfort & Wellness. These toys are marketed to make us feel better, sleep better, and even think better…but overall the consistent theme of Comfort & Wellness toys is to reduce our anxiety. While this category seems to have most of ...
Oct 19, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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…keep reading. In this episode we cover 4 ways y...
Oct 12, 2022•25 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast “The games category is too competitive!” “You shouldn’t even try to get a card game into Target!” If Kiara Imani had let those thoughts dissuade her from trying, she may have never gotten her Like U card game into one of the biggest retailers in the United States. Today, my podcast guest Kiara shares how she came up with, designed, manufactured and sold her conversation starting card game, Like U. In a world where we’re always trying to put people in boxes, the Like U card game helps players to ...
Oct 05, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Searching for a unique way to promote your toy product or toy brand? The ASTRA Toy Boat may be it! On February 20th, 2023 the first ever toy trade show on a boat will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and make its way to the Bahamas. In just a few days you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your latest products, promote your services, or find the next hit toy to fill your store. The ASTRA Toy Boat is designed for retailers, manufacturers, and inventors to come together for a networking event ...
Sep 28, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast On September 19th 2022, the WiT Empowerment Day made it possible for over 100 inventors and creators to pitch their ideas and products in 1:1 meeting with the major retailer Walmart and dozens of toy companies including Spinmaster, Jazwares, Hasbro, Educational Insights, and many more! In today’s podcast episode get a play by play of what happened at the 2022 WiT Empowerment Day and learn why you should seriously plan on attending the next WiT Empowerment Day pitch event. Curious about what each...
Sep 21, 2022•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast You have to be an adult to start your own business and make your toy ideas real, right? Today’s guest proves that completely wrong. At just 7 years old she recognized an important gap in the toy industry and, with the help of her mom, created a line of toys to empower young black and brown girls. Now 10, today’s guest offers toy industry experts and newbies some sage advice. At 7 years old, Zoe Oli’s mom bought her a black doll. There was just one problem. The doll had straight hair. Zoe wanted ...
Sep 07, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Toyspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a song, a play, a theatrical release or even the world of fashion. In this podcast episode, The Toy Coach dives deep to share a creative process with an unusual source of inspiration. If you’re currently struggling with designing a package for your toy or game idea, this is the episode for you. Or, if you have a toy or game brand with the packaging you’ve been meaning to refresh, make sure you give this episode a listen! In this episode, you’...
Aug 31, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Being a toy industry entrepreneur or toy inventor doesn’t have to be a solo project. Working with a partner can help you to think outside of the box. In a mentor/mentee context, both parties can learn a lot from each other. 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 an industrial designer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and creator of Marmals, a line of beautifully desig...
Aug 24, 2022•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kickstarter is just a platform for product presales? Right? Wrong! Sales is an important aspect of the platform, but today’s episode is all about how Kickstarter can actually help you develop an authentic community for your toy or game idea. Today’s guest launched a Kickstarter and funded his original game idea in just 4 days. Then he went back and launched another successful campaign for an expansion pack for the game! Today you will hear from Joe Slack, a board game designer. In addition to de...
Aug 17, 2022•34 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Which comes first? Your product or your mission? In today’s episode you will learn the benefits of creating your business’s mission before your toy or toy brand. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t develop your toy or game if you haven’t defined your mission. However, defining the purpose of your business will guide you on the creative journey, and doing so can give you a powerful reason to invest so much time and money into your toy ideas. Today we have two podcast guests—Janene Russell a...
Aug 10, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Small toy companies and toy inventors that only want to order a small amount of product can’t work with factories in China, right? Wrong! Today’s episode is so practical and essential for anyone who wants to manufacture a toy or a game. You will get concise insider knowledge of how to work with a Chinese factory, manufacturing pitfalls to avoid, and tips to maximize your success. Today’s podcast guest is Kate Khvorostianova. She is an account manager with LongPack Toys, a toy and gift factory in...
Aug 03, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast When asked what it takes to create a small toy store, today’s guest answered: “Well, you have to be crazy, but that’s fine. I’m crazy.” What he meant by that was that you have to be willing to take chances, willing to try something new, willing to learn new skills, and willing to get creative. In today’s episode you’ll learn about what it is like to start a small toy store, toy brand, and a new manufacturing technique. In today’s podcast episode, find out what it really takes to open a toy store...
Jul 27, 2022•49 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast What happens after you go viral? How do you go viral in the first place? There is no perfect formula to make something go viral on social media, but there are things you can do to make it more likely. Today’s guest had a viral post on social media that opened up opportunities for a book deal and a line of plush toys. Today’s guest is Danielle Murrell Cox. She self-published an uplifting coloring book called Black Queens & Kings. She then went viral on social media which led to a publishing d...
Jul 20, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Becoming an entrepreneur looks different for each person who chooses this path. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to it! However, one thing that can help any entrepreneurial project is putting yourself, including your background and your history, into the story and finding a meaningful motivation for your ideas. That meaning may drive your mission in interesting and new directions, like it did for today’s podcast guest. Keewa Nurullah, today’s podcast guest, is the founder of Kido Chicago, ...
Jul 13, 2022•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast As a toy entrepreneur it’s pretty likely that your cost of doing business is high. From manufacturing the perfect toy or game, to going to trade shows, building a website, nurturing an email list, dealing with returns, and damaged goods…you may be finding it’s hard to do anything for free, even if you do it yourself. Today’s podcast episode is going to share how you market your toy or game product for free. Now look, we know nothing is truly free in this world, so these marketing tactics will co...
Jul 06, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
