The Toy Book Podcasts by Adventure Media & Events

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Cassidy Smith, president of the Uniche Collective to the show.

For 18 years Smith served as vice president of sales and marketing at Hape International. Now, as president of its new specialty division, the Uniche Collective, Smith and his team scour the globe to find and develop products exclusively for savvy specialty customers.

On the show, Albritton and Smith discuss the origins of the ever-president doctor's office staple: the beaded maze. From there, the duo discusses the nuances of developing product for the specialty market and how Uniche Collective brands, including Trido, Korko, Kruselings, Senger, Fair & Green, and Jaq Jaq Bird fit into the equation.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Choon Ng and Jake Minor of Rainbow Loom to the show.

Following a quick recap on the backstory of the TOTY and TAGIE-winning Rainbow Loom, Albritton, Ng, and Minor delve into the empowering nature of Rainbow Loom play and the social capital that kids build with it. Rainbow Loom is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and Ng and Minor discuss how they've worked to keep the brand fresh and reveal several new additions to its product line.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Steve Markey, vice president of sales and marketing at Hog Wild Toys to the show. For more than two decades, Markey has traversed the toy industry with roles at Wham-O, PlanToys, Green Toys, Crazy Aaron's, and more.

On the show, Albritton and Markey discuss how brands can connect people across languages and cultures. Following  a conversation about the early days of the sustainable toy movement and the challenges faced by Green Toys, the focus turns to the hilarious toys and novelty products offered by Hog Wild Toys, including Birdie Golf, Nibblerz, and more.

The Toy Book presents a special episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” in which host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes The Toy Foundation’s Executive Director Pam Mastrota and Chairman of the Board Andy Weiner to the show.

The Toy Foundation operates underneath the umbrella of The Toy Association to provide philanthropic support and vital play experiences to kids and families under stress and in dire situations around the world. Currently, the major focus is on providing toy industry support to the families suffering amid the Russia-Ukraine War.

On the show, Albritton engages Mastrota and Weiner in a conversation that delves into the overall work of the Foundation, the importance of play, and the developmental benefits of play for kids. Then, the conversation highlights the state of current events and what the kids of Ukraine need right now.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Jamie Emmick to the show. Emmick serves as director of special markets for the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. (BHTB) and leads the CustomPlush.com side of the business. She is a Genius of Play Ambassador and was a recent finalist in the Rising Star/Licensor category of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment's Wonder Women Awards. 

On the show, Albritton and Emmick discuss how parenting can shape the way those in the toy industry view the industry, and why BHTB is a special place to work. The conversation delves into the growth of CustomPlush.com and what advice Emmick might have for anyone seeking mentorship.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Kids Industries CEO and Co-Founder Gary Pope to the show. Pope leads a team of researchers, strategists, creatives, and developers that work to help toy, entertainment, and consumer products companies better connect with families around the world.

Kids Industries has served a variety of companies and brands over the past 20 years, including Mattel, Playmobil, WWE, Disney, Save the Children, PepsiCo, Amazon, and more.

On the show, Albritton and Pope discuss Kids Industries' "Super 6" — six key components that work together to create a successful marketing campaign. Additionally, the duo discusses hot topics, including mental health and sustainability.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Spin Master Creative Director Stephanie Guo to the show. Guo oversees creative vision for key brands, including PAW Patrol, GUND, Mighty Express, Kinetic Sand, Orbeez, and Etch-A-Sketch.

On the show, Albritton and Guo discuss the unique differences between the traditional advertising industry and the toy industry. The duo delves into 2020's "PAW Patrol Years" marketing campaign with Dax Shepard and the core elements that have turned the PAW Patrol brand into an evergreen hit. Additionally, the conversation moves toward the rising trend of comfort toys and how Spin Master's GUND brand plays into that. Finally, the episode closes with some insight on the evolution and current stage of influencer collaborations and creativity within the industry.

In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Aaron Muderick to the show. Muderick is the founder of Crazy Aaron’s, the company behind Thinking Putty and Land of Dough.

Crazy Aaron’s revolutionized the putty business and currently ships more than 30 unique colors to retailers and consumers around the world from its manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. Aside from carrying the flag for U.S. manufacturing, Crazy Aaron’s also employs a number of individuals with disabilities.

On the show, Muderick shares his origin story — the early days of formulating putty in his home. From there, he and Albritton discuss the growth of his company and the pivot into toys along with the differences in marketing Thinking Putty and Land of Dough. Additionally, Muderick offers some tips for budding inventors and entrepreneurs before sharing details on the biggest vat of putty ever!

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Diverse Marketing CEO and owner Wes Hardin to the show.

Since 1959, Diverse Marketing has served the retail industry with a curated catalog of toys and games, gift items, and sporting goods. The company maintains dedicated showrooms in multiple cities and had a staff of nearly 200 representatives that work to help retailers stock their shelves with products that consumers will love.

On the show, Hardin and Albritton discuss the origin of Diverse Marketing and how the company has created opportunities from disruption. Additionally, the duo delves into the four distinct product segments that Diverse Marketing services and how the sales rep experience evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, Hardin shares insight on some big trends that retailers should keep an eye on.

In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Jamie Beaumont, chief operating officer at SoapBox Labs.

SoapBox Labs is focused on the growing technology of voice recognition and how it can best be used for kids in a variety of sectors. SoapBox Labs licenses its technology for use in K-12 education and by edtech, entertainment, and toy companies.

On the show, Albritton and Beaumont discuss the complexities of creating software that can understand kids and decipher the complex nuances of kids' speech. Additionally, the duo delves into the inventor-friendly nature of SoapBox Labs and some of the opportunities that might be available.