Does this sound like you? You have a life outside the toy industry, but you have ideas. Maybe you are a lawyer, a baker, or even a mechanical engineer. But there’s something from your daily life or playtime with your family that has inspired an idea for a toy or game. How do you take that from inspiration to product?

In today’s episode, I share stories from my students who took their products from idea to reality with the help of The Toy Creators Academy. Learn how a developmental child psychologist, a TV producer, and a “dragon lady,” all conceptualized, developed, and pitched products that stemmed from an idea from their daily life. I hope this episode will inspire you to get that idea you have in your notes app into the real world.

After 11 years in the Toy Industry and working with more than 100 students as The Toy Coach, I’ve seen so many different kinds of people turn their background or expertise into a toy or game. Listen to this episode to find out what kinds of ideas have worked and why, and hear a few inspiring stories of toy industry success.


EPISODE CLIFF NOTES

• Learn the inspiration behind the early childhood education toy line, Ruby Rae Society  [00:05:09]
• Find out how an illustrator student of mine went from creating IP products like characters to designing mechanical products. [00:07:58]
• Learn which stores a student got her products placed in after doing a mini-pitch at the TCA Pitch Event. [00:12:59]
• Learn how experience in other industries can translate to the toy industry. [00:14:20]
• Find out how you can create a product even if you never have before. [00:17:01]
• Learn how it’s possible to focus on one specific product and find success. [00:20:34]
• Learn how just walking into a store can help sell your product. [00:23:10]
• Find out how one student used qualities from her cultural upbringing to create a unique product. [00:24:31]
• Find out how one of my students turned a fun idea between friends into a licensed game. [00:25:36]
• Learn ideas for everyday activities that could be turned into a toy or game. [00:29:32]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

For the links and resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the episode page at www.thetoycoach.com/113

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