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
#226: This Toy Delivers Real Mail Every Week To Kids Across The Globe with Wendy Lattimore
Can Snail Mail Still Captivate Today's Tech-Savvy Kids?
Are today's digital-native children still charmed by the simple pleasure of receiving a physical letter? In Episode 226 of the "Making It in the Toy Industry" podcast, Virginia Lette engages with Wendy Lattimore, a successful graduate of the Toy Creators Academy (TCA), to explore this fascinating topic. Wendy's inspiring journey from traditional mail to innovative toy creation will challenge your perceptions of outdated communication methods.
From Executive Assistant to Innovative Toy Creator
Meet Wendy Lattimore, an executive assistant and innovative toy entrepreneur. Her journey began with her son's reluctance to engage in reading, which sparked the innovative idea of mailed letters from his beloved stuffed animals. This led to the creation of "Sunny the Mail Snail" and "Mailbox Mutts," engaging children with weekly personalized letters that spark joy and imagination.
Key Insights for Aspiring Toy Entrepreneurs
This episode dives into Wendy’s transition into entrepreneurship, detailing her initial challenges and creative breakthroughs. Listen to her firsthand experiences and learn how she balanced a full-time job with her startup aspirations, leveraging her TCA education to navigate the complexities of the toy industry. Wendy’s story is a blueprint for anyone dreaming of turning a simple idea into a thriving business in today’s competitive toy market.
3 Key Takeaways From This Episode:
- Necessity is the Mother of Invention: Wendy creatively used letters to engage her son, proving that necessity can drive the most innovative solutions.
- Validation through Community: Wendy stresses the significance of mentorship and peer validation for bolstering confidence and refining one’s product.
- Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Her mantra, inspired by her character Sunny, is all about focusing on quality and taking thoughtful steps rather than rushing to the market.
For the links mentioned in today's episode, visit thetoycoach.com/226
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