Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed where we interviews John Ellis, a seasoned entrepreneur and optical engineer. John shares his journey from a liberal arts graduate to leading a team of physicists at Optics for Hire. We discuss the intersection of optical engineering and the toy industry, revealing behind-the-scenes stories of innovative products like the XBox Kinect and a Barbie doll with a built-in camera. John also delves into his experience with licensing and creating new products, including a candy-integrated toy and a knife sharpness tester. Tune in for valuable insights on navigating product design and licensing in the toy industry.

⭐️Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Toy Business Unboxed

00:42 Meet John: From Optical Engineer to Toy Innovator

02:14 The Role of Optical Engineering in Toys

06:24 Challenges and Successes in Toy Development

11:02 Innovative Products and Licensing Strategies

16:50 Optics in Consumer Products: Knife Sharpness Sensor

22:02 Latest Invention: The Tape Edge Finder

27:45 Advice for Aspiring Toy Inventors

29:38 Conclusion and Farewell

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