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
#229: How Brand Experiences Can Increase Your Sales and Brand Loyalty
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Branded Giveaways Are Dead! 😵 It's time to ditch the tired swag bags and discover the magic of themed experiences that truly connect with your audience. In this episode, our toy industry insiders reveal how to skyrocket your brand loyalty and sales through unforgettable brand experiences.
Branded giveaways at trade shows are passé. Instead, themed giveaways tailored to your brand’s identity or your consumer’s persona create a more lasting impression. In this week’s podcast, The Toy Coach explores why this shift is crucial and how you can transform your approach.
Diving into the specifics, Azhelle takes you on a journey through her experience at the Hasbro Game Room in New Jersey—a spectacular activation reimagining classic games like Connect Four and Twister at an oversized scale. This isn’t just about big games; it’s about big emotions and deeper connections to unforgettable brand experiences.
To bring these insights down to earth, the episode breaks down actionable steps, from visiting dynamic pop-up museums to meticulously planning trade show experiences that resonate emotionally with consumers. You’ll learn how swapping outdated photo ops for video moments can amplify your reach.
By the end of this episode, you’ll be ready to rethink how you use trade shows and events to create more compelling, emotionally resonant brand experiences.
Episode Cliff Notes:
[Timestamp: 5:24] Learn how to make your brand giveaways unforgettable! Find out why Azhelle Wade considers traditional branded giveaways at trade shows dead and discover her strategy for turning themed giveaways into memorable brand experiences.
[Timestamp: 15:47] Find out what makes a video op more engaging than a photo op! Azhelle Wade breaks down why video opportunities are now the go-to for social media engagement and how to use them to your brand’s advantage.*
[Timestamp: 22:13] Discover the secret to successful brand tagging on social media! Learn why Azhelle Wade believes asking people to tag your brand is ineffective and how inviting them as a collaborator on your next IG Reel can 5x the results on your trade show marketing strategy.
For episode links, visit thetoycoach.com/229
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