Making It in The Toy Industry

Azhelle Wade | The Toy Coach
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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 HostAzhelle 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!

  1. S6E03 | The $5 AI Agent That Thinks Like a Toy Expert

    10H AGO

    S6E03 | The $5 AI Agent That Thinks Like a Toy Expert

    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

    53 min
  2. S6E02 | Is Amazon AI Selling Your Products Without Consent? with Angie Chua

    FEB 11

    S6E02 | Is Amazon AI Selling Your Products Without Consent? with Angie Chua

    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

    31 min
  3. S6E01 | The Hidden Cost of AI In The Toy Industry

    FEB 4

    S6E01 | The Hidden Cost of AI In The Toy Industry

    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

    38 min
  4. #300: What I’ve Learned, What’s Changing, and What Comes Next

    JAN 7

    #300: What I’ve Learned, What’s Changing, and What Comes Next

    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

    22 min
  5. #299: How Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet Maker Became A Creative Toy Of The Year Finalist with Gena Lavallee

    12/31/2025

    #299: How Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet Maker Became A Creative Toy Of The Year Finalist with Gena Lavallee

    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

    34 min
  6. #298: Why The Nee Doh Cube Nice Cube Is A Finalist For This Major Toy Award with Paul Weingard

    12/17/2025

    #298: Why The Nee Doh Cube Nice Cube Is A Finalist For This Major Toy Award with Paul Weingard

    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 info@toyassociation.org 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

    38 min
  7. #297: How South Beach Bubbles Became a 2-Time TOTY Finalist with Ron Weizman

    12/10/2025

    #297: How South Beach Bubbles Became a 2-Time TOTY Finalist with Ron Weizman

    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 info@toyassociation.org 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

    30 min
  8. #296: ESPN Virtual Reality Experience Nominated For A Major Toy Award with Steve Rad

    12/03/2025

    #296: ESPN Virtual Reality Experience Nominated For A Major Toy Award with Steve Rad

    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

    42 min
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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 HostAzhelle 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!

Information

  • Creator
    Azhelle Wade | The Toy Coach
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    304
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Toy Coach
  • Show Website
    Making It in The Toy Industry