.png)
Making It in The Toy Industry
How do I bring my toy ideas to life? How can I pitch my toy concept to top toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, or Goliath Games? What does it cost to make a prototype, and where can I get one made? Are there toy manufacturing options outside of China?
These are just a few of the questions that will be answered on this weekly podcast, Making It In The Toy Industry. In addition to mini toy masterclasses, and step-by-step guides, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action toward developing, presenting, licensing, and producing your next big toy or game idea.
Learn how to find the right factory, negotiate manufacturing costs, and use successful sales techniques to get your product noticed by major toy companies.
Meet Your Host
Azhelle Wade, aka The Toy Coach, has been in the toy industry since 2010. With 3 toy patents, multiple toy awards, and a track record of managing multi-million-dollar toy lines for companies like Toys R Us, Party City, Madame Alexander, and Creative Kids, Azhelle brings passionate and enthusiastic toy industry expertise to every episode.
Join thousands of toy creators and entrepreneurs who are making their toy dreams real with Making It In The Toy Industry!
Making It in The Toy Industry
#201: 12 SMART Goals To Launch Your Toy Idea in 2024
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Are you ready to transform your toy idea into a market-ready product by the end of 2024 but unsure where to start? Then you’ve chosen the perfect episode to dive into! In just 26 minutes, get a month-by-month blueprint, detailing 12 SMART goals to lead you into a soft launch of your toy or game by Q4 of 2024. With guidance from The Toy Coach, you'll discover the critical importance of understanding the toy market and setting specific, achievable goals.
Learn the acronym for SMART goals and how to directly apply them to your toy development process. This episode is packed with insightful tips, from identifying potential buyers to developing a brand identity and finalizing your toy prototype. Plus, get a sneak peek into the Toy Creators Academy and learn how it could be pivotal in your journey.
Episode Cliff Notes:
- Learn about SMART goals in the toy industry [00:01:13]
- Find out how to set achievable, month-by-month objectives [00:00:48]
- Discover the importance of trend research in toy development [00:06:35]
- Understand how to choose the right factory partner [00:16:01]
- Get tips on developing a strong marketing strategy for your toy [00:19:04]
- Explore the benefits of attending toy trade shows [00:08:16]
- Uncover the secrets to a successful product pitch [00:21:52]
- Learn how to build a customer list and grow your network [00:23:57]
- Discover the process of turning a concept sketch into a production design [00:12:43]
- Find out how to plan your business year effectively [00:24:48]
Mentioned In This Episode:
For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at https://www.thetoycoach.com/201
About My NEW Podcast Art:
The podcast art for Season 6 of Making It In The Toy Industry features product illustrations of toys and games I helped guide in Toy Creators Academy and TCA Accelerator. Tap the brand name below to check them out!
Playcor by Courtney Smithee
9 to 5 Warriors by Brandon Braswell
Catoms by Kieche O'Connell
The Lunch Room by EAP Toys and Games founder, Chrissy Fagerholt