Advertise on podcast: Making It in The Toy Industry

Like any good season finale, I'm putting it all on the table. Episode 10 marks the END of our season all about the Impact of AI on The Toy Industry. In this week's episode we're revisiting everything we covered this season from the environmental and mental impact of AI usage, to it's organizational benefits and need for a human touch. Then, I'll be sharing the results from my survey on AI Usage in The Toy Industry. So if you're here for the chisme, start poppin' that popcorn now, and turn the volume up because I'm sharing every bit of juicy data from this industry wide survey. And then FINALLY the moment I've been waiting for all season. I'm introducing you to a tool that utilizes AI to help you find qualified toy stores where your product fits the demographic, the vibe, and the audience to thrive. This new AI sales tool is called The Toy Matchmaker and you don't need to know anything about AI or have a single AI subscription to use it. 🔗 Limited availability for The Toy Matchmaker is opening soon.  Get on the list: https://thetoymatchmaker.com/  📅 Free AI Tools for Business Masterclass with me on April 15th: thetoycoach.com/ai Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

I once told CNN that some AI toys feel like a wolf in sheep’s clothing because it can be hard to tell how much privacy you’re giving up. While I'm a fan of AI use in business, I’ve been skeptical of AI toys for a while. But in today's interview, the Stickerbox genuinely changed my mind. Instead of using AI to keep kids on a screen, or to get them to develop a relationship with a robot, instead, Stickerbox uses AI to help kids turn their ideas into something physical, creative, and hands-on. In this episode, Arun Gupta, co-founder of Stickerbox, shares how his team built a product that feels more like a tool for creation and not consumption. Mentioned in this episode: StickerboxToy Creators Academy Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

What if I told you Dan Klitsner discovered AI 30 years ago and used it to invent Bop It? Well, he didn’t. But I did ask Dan how AI might have influenced the creation of his hit game if it did exist when he was first starting out. Dan’s breakout invention sold over 50 million units, and those numbers put the “song” associated with the game at Diamond status. (Dear music industry, he’s still awaiting his plaque.) This week on the podcast, I’m sharing a chat with Dan Klitsner, the inventor of Bop It. We talk about the upcoming 30 year anniversary, how he’s been celebrating milestones over the years, and we dive into a chat about AI, execution, and what it really takes to create the next classic toy. We get into how inventors can use AI as a tool, why execution can sometimes become the real invention, and what originality means in a world where ideas are easier than ever to generate. If you’re a toy inventor, designer, or product creator trying to figure out where AI fits into your process, this episode is for you, my friend! Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

AI is changing fast, but for the first time in a while I'm feeling that we've hit a moment of "stability". That means NOW is the perfect time to learn to apply the latest AI tools to your toy business. In this mini reset episode, I break down why so many people are getting mediocre results from AI, and announce a free live masterclass where I'll walk you through the three AI tools + new-ish features that every toy company needs to know: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. You'll also get a sneak peek at Toy Biz Backup, my upcoming AI support team built specifically to help your toy businesses, and hear an important update about the Toy Coach Showcase at ASTRA 2026. In this episode you'll hear about: Why most people get bad results from AI and what's actually going wrongWhat projects, gems, and skills are (and why they're the new baseline for AI use)Why now is finally the right time to commit to learning AI toolsWhat's covered in the free AI Tools for Business Masterclass (April 15th, 12 to 1PM ET)A sneak peek at Toy Biz Backup, an AI support team built for toy businessesThe Toy Coach Showcase at ASTRA 2026, only 2 spots left! Mentioned in This Episode: 🎓 Free AI Tools for Business Masterclass (April 15, 12 to 1PM ET) thetoycoach.com/ai🆕 Toy Coach Showcase at ASTRA 2026 (only 2 spots left!) learn.thetoycoach.com/showcase🥊 Higgsfield AI (multi-tool AI platform mentioned) higgsfield.aiSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

1.5 million people left Chat GPT and went running to Claude for all the wrong reasons. Claude isn’t just the more ethical AI tool. It’s THE tool built for serious businesses. One of the most popular topics of conversation right now is Claude Code. I myself have been obsessing over it lately, finding myself dreaming of code to the point where I wake up thinking I’ve finished a debug. The bigger question isn’t just HOW to use Claude Code but it’s really, SHOULD you be using it? I’m estimating it’ll take a good 200 hours of use before you start to “get it”, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some pretty cool things along the way. This week’s episode dives into Claude Code, how I used it, what you can do with it, and how to get started. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: Claude & Claude Code – https://claude.aiClaude Max plan (used while building) – https://claude.aiThe Toy Matchmaker (beta) – https://www.toymatchmaker.comToy Creators Academy – https://www.toycreatorsacademy.comThe Toy Coach – https://www.thetoycoach.comSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

My friend (and On Brand with Jimmy Fallon co-star) Pyper Bleu is joining me on the podcast today to share her perspective on the effects of AI and the algorithm on retail. Our conversation starts with Pyper peeling back the curtain on how she built a platform of 400K subscribers on her YouTube channel Lyfe of Pyper, and why she decided to shift offline and open a retail shop — plus she explains how they're so different. We also get honest about AI in our day-to-day — from using it to soften angry emails (there's humanity in that) to realizing AI-written "thank you" messages feel worse than no reply at all. Pyper shares why she stopped using AI for correspondence and actually got faster, and I open up about using AI to learn rather than just get answers. Plus, Pyper drops a killer tip about packaging that every toy inventor needs to hear. If you're feeling a little AI overwhelmed, this podcast is your safe space. Cozy up with a warm cup of tea and give it a listen. 💜 Welcome, Toy People! 👋🏽 Thanks for being part of this playful community. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: https://pyperbleu.com/ Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

So I finally convinced you that you can’t ignore AI… and you’re ready to implement it in your toy business. Go you. Love that for you. 👏🏾 But before you go trying to haphazardly plug AI into every little task, you need to build your AI foundation. Your AI foundation is a series of files, records, strategy, and frameworks that you as a business use on a day-to-day basis. You may already have it documented somewhere, living in your head, or is just something your team knows how to execute. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly: What you need to documentHow to pull that information togetherWhat you’re actually going to use it forAnd how to use it to benefit your process TODAY.I’m also sharing a tool I made that will help you build this foundation a whole lot faster. I know I say this all the time, but… DO NOT miss this episode! Key Moments: 01:00 – Why you cannot layer AI on top of messy data and undocumented processes02:00 – Foundation #1: Your Golden Data (sales data, product list, customer profile)11:00 – The brand voice problem that makes AI sound generic (and how to fix it)14:00 – Foundation #3: Your tech stack audit17:00 – Foundation #4: SOPs (yes, you must have them)21:00 – Foundation #5: Folder structure + the “Chief Operations Officer” promptMentioned in This Episode: AI Blueprint thetoycoach.com/aiToy Coach Showcase https://learn.thetoycoach.com/showcaseConnect With Me If you’re ready to implement AI into your business and you want it done for you, email me at: [email protected] The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

My new AI agent completed 2 months of research and idea development work in 20 minutes! And the cost? About $5. If you bumped into me at New York Toy Fair you already know how excited I am about the AI integrated automations I am currently building. The ability to utilize AI reasoning in everyday business tasks will soon be the defining rift between thriving modern businesses and those struggling with ancient processes, overworked employees, struggling to keep up with workload. If you are one of those companies whose employees are struggling with the number of products on your line list, or the number of POs they’re processing daily, you cannot afford to ignore this episode. Before you lose your talented team because you’re overworking them with tasks way below their paygrade, listen to this episode and learn how you can give them back more time to be creative, feel inspired, and LOVE their work. Let AI handle the research, and let your creative team flow in their zone of genius. In this episode I’m sharing a few AI agents I’ve created that are doing just that for me. Giving me more time to write, design, plan, and build my business and that of my clients. If you plan to be in business in 10 years, you absolutely need a personalized team of AI agents. And this episode is how to get started. 💜 Welcome, Toy People! 👋🏽 Thanks for being part of this playful community. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: thetoycoach.com/ai Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

Amazon’s new “Buy For Me” button sounds helpful… but is it quietly rerouting your customers and sales without your consent? In this episode, I’m joined by Angie Chua of Bobo Design Studio to break down how this Amazon Buy For Me feature actually works, how it integrated her shop without her opting in. Plus we dive into what every small business, maker, and toy brand needs to watch out for when Amazon “digitally dupes” your product. If you sell on your own website, Etsy, Shopify, or anywhere online, you need to understand how features like Amazon Buy For Me could impact your margins, your customer data, and the future of your business. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: What the Amazon “Buy For Me” button is and how it’s using AI to complete ordersHow Angie discovered strange “@buyforme.amazon” emails and what they meant for her shopWhy this feature is a potential wolf in sheep’s clothing for indie brands and toy businessesSteps you can take to protect your customer relationships and pricingHow to think strategically about marketplaces vs your direct-to-consumer channels For the links mentioned in this episode visit: www.thetoycoach.com/602 Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

With every major advancement in science or technology, there is bound to be pushback. AI is no exception. This season is for toy and game creators navigating AI in the toy industry. In 10 episodes we’ll explore how to use AI while maintaining your taste, trusting your judgement, protecting your IP, and actually saving time. This first episode is the foundation for the coming weeks. Before you dive any deeper into AI, let’s get real about the risks of operating it with little to no guardrails. In this episode, we’ll talk about: digital amnesiathe environmental impact of AIthe hidden ways AI is already showing up inside your tool stackAI use cases that dull your brain and personalitySeason 6 begins now. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

After 299 weeks of toy talk, our 300th episode marks the closing of one chapter and opening another. This little podcast that started as “let’s see what happens” has turned into a full-on resource library for toy inventors, toy entrepreneurs, and creative creatives like you who just can’t shake that pull toward the toy industry. In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons from 5+ years of episodes: why most toy ideas don’t fail because they’re “bad,” how confidence actually follows clarity, and why community and the right mentors matter more than “perfect” artwork or prototypes. This year I was on national TV with Jimmy Fallon, landed some truly incredible clients, and became a mom for the first time. So with all those big life shifts, it was time to take a reflective look at this podcast as well. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

Before Swift Clicks ever hit the shelves, the team at Make It Real was staring down the brutal math of the craft aisle: rising costs, shrinking margins, and kids who expect faster, cooler results than ever. So how did her team turn that pressure into a Creative Toy of the Year finalist bracelet maker that Swifties can’t stop talking about? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I sit down with Gena Lavallee, VP of Global Brands at Make It Real, to reveal the story behind Swift Clicks, the Make It Real Heishi Bracelet Maker. From the “clicky pen” inspiration to the clever refill system, hidden funnel, built-in storage, lefty/righty-friendly design, and even how to actually tie a jeweler’s knot, you’ll hear how Gena’s team transformed a slow, fiddly craft into a fast, inclusive, and insanely satisfying play experience. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Make It Real reinvented a classic bracelet-making play pattern to prioritize speed, ease, and fashion-forward resultsWhy the team designed Swift Clicks to work for both right-handed and left-handed makersThe “razor and razor blade” strategy behind refills—and how Make It Real solved the refill placement problem at retailThe smart hidden features inside the product—funnel, aligning tool, built-in storage, and more—that most consumers never noticeHow Swiftie culture, influencer content, and viral videos helped turn Swift Clicks into a breakout hitWhat today’s craft brands can learn about pricing, margins, and marketing in a tough category 🔗 Links & Resources Vote Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet Maker for Creative Toy of the Year and People’s Choice at ToyAwards.org (see show notes for direct link)Learn more about Make It Real and Swift Clicks at MakeItReal.comWatch Azhelle’s full Swift Clicks toy review on The Toy Coach YouTube channel (companion episode airs the same day as this podcast!)Hit play to join this bracelet-making party and get inspired to rethink your own toy or craft line through the lens of speed, inclusivity, and smart design. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

Can a $5 squishy toy really outsell the competition and take home a Toy of the Year award? Schylling’s CEO Paul Weingard is betting on it and honestly, the numbers are on his side. The NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl isn’t just another sensory stress ball. It’s a Specialty Toy of the Year finalist that’s been an Amazon best seller, is selling out in stores, AND building real emotional connection with kids and adults worldwide. The CEO shared with me that they’ve gotten handwritten letters from kids, therapists, and even college students sharing how this tiny cube helps them relax, reset, and focus. Retailers can’t restock it fast enough and during this interview I’m on a mission to find out why. Join me in the Schylling office where I sit with Paul Weingard to unpack the exact strategies that turned a simple sensory ball into a branded, collectable empire that’s dominating on Amazon, thriving in toy stores, and blowing up organically online. You’ll learn how they scaled sales without leaning on trends, built retail momentum through independent stores, and created a $5 product that buyers and therapists can’t get enough of.  If landing a TOTY nomination is on your vision board, or you're trying to get retailers to reorder faster than you can ship, this episode will show you what it really takes to turn a small idea into a big win. Vote for NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl in the Specialty Toy of the Year category. Voting is open to Toy Association members AND members of the media. Cast your vote for NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl in the Specialty Toy of the Year category!  If you're in the media (like an industry influencer) and you aren’t registered to vote, contact the toy association at [email protected] for details. Listen for these Important Moments: [00:01:30] – Find out how Schylling transformed a simple squishy ball into a multi-million dollar brand with over 50 SKUs.[00:11:30] – Discover how NeeDoh tapped into the specialty retail channel to test and scale — with 10X reorders in 30 days. [00:18:40] – See how organic fan content and surprise use-cases (from therapy to dental offices!) shaped the Nice Cube’s evolution.[00:26:05] – Hear how the team designed packaging that sells itself, with irresistible shelf appeal and built-in trial moments.[00:33:20] – Unpack what a TOTY nomination really does for sales and why Paul says you need to be ready to airfreight inventory if you win.Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

They sold out before summer, got emails from retailers and industry outsiders, and scored a back-to-back TOTY nomination… so how did they do it? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I talk with Ron Weizman of South Beach Bubbles about the strategy behind their hit product, the Galactic Color Bubble Machine. We cover what it takes to stand out in a saturated market, how packaging and demos drove retail success, and why award wins matter more than you think. Listen in and see why this toy is taking over the bubble aisle and… don’t forget to vote for it in the Outdoor Toy of the Year category! Voting is open to Toy Association members and media. Not registered? Reach out to [email protected] for access. Listen for these Important Moments: [00:01:30] – Learn how to pitch your toy in 30 seconds or less, as Ron shares the quick-hit sell for a product that became a TOTY nominee two years in a row.[00:03:10] – Thinking of adding tech to your toy? This breakdown of how the Galactic Bubble Machine works will spark ideas for simple, affordable "wow" moments.[00:06:03] – Discover how to make your product stand out in a crowded category  Ron explains the strategy behind going beyond a standard bubble machine.[00:11:04] – Get inspired by the R&D story behind Poppin Colorz, and learn how chemistry, persistence, and a little creative obsession turned into a category-disrupting toy.[00:21:08] – Hear how one toy’s demo power translated into real retail impact including sidewalk traffic, trade show buzz, and in-store conversion. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

What does it really take to make an ESPN-licensed toy? Imagine teaching kids about sports from inside SportsCenter. That’s exactly what Abacus Brands pulled off after 27...yes, twenty-seven licensing deals, seven TOTY nominations, and one incredibly ambitious idea. For 2025, Abacus Brands teamed up with ESPN and a roster of elite athletes to create the ESPN Virtual Reality Headset. This toy turns a 148 page sports book into a fully immersive experience so kids can learn rules, history, and the why behind the game from inside SportsCenter alongside anchor Arda Öcal. It took 27 separate licensing deals to pull this off, and in my latest episode of Making It in the Toy Industry I sat down with Abacus CEO Steve Rad to talk about working with Disney and ESPN, the wild cost of big name athletes, why Jordan was the one they could not land, and the prototype moment that stopped him in his tracks. If you are a Toy Association member or in the media, you can (and should) vote for the ESPN VR Headset for Educational Toy of the Year. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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