Making It in The Toy Industry

Like any good season finale, I'm putting it all on the table. Episode 10 marks the END of our season all about the Impact of AI on The Toy Industry. In this week's episode we're revisiting everything we covered this season from the environmental and mental impact of AI usage, to it's organizational benefits and need for a human touch. Then, I'll be sharing the results from my survey on AI Usage in The Toy Industry. So if you're here for the chisme, start poppin' that popcorn now, and turn the volume up because I'm sharing every bit of juicy data from this industry wide survey. And then FINALLY the moment I've been waiting for all season. I'm introducing you to a tool that utilizes AI to help you find qualified toy stores where your product fits the demographic, the vibe, and the audience to thrive. This new AI sales tool is called The Toy Matchmaker and you don't need to know anything about AI or have a single AI subscription to use it. 🔗 Limited availability for The Toy Matchmaker is opening soon. Get on the list: https://thetoymatchmaker.com/ 📅 Free AI Tools for Business Masterclass with me on April 15th: thetoycoach.com/ai Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

I once told CNN that some AI toys feel like a wolf in sheep’s clothing because it can be hard to tell how much privacy you’re giving up. While I'm a fan of AI use in business, I’ve been skeptical of AI toys for a while. But in today's interview, the Sticker Box genuinely changed my mind. Instead of using AI to keep kids on a screen, or to get them to develop a relationship with a robot, instead, Sticker Box uses AI to help kids turn their ideas into something physical, creative, and hands-on. In this episode, Arun Gupta, co-founder of Sticker Box, shares how his team built a product that feels more like a tool for creation and not consumption. Mentioned in this episode: Sticker BoxToy Creators Academy Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

What if I told you Dan Klitsner discovered AI 30 years ago and used it to invent Bop It? Well, he didn’t. But I did ask Dan how AI might have influenced the creation of his hit game if it did exist when he was first starting out. Dan’s breakout invention sold over 50 million units, and those numbers put the “song” associated with the game at Diamond status. (Dear music industry, he’s still awaiting his plaque.) This week on the podcast, I’m sharing a chat with Dan Klitsner, the inventor of Bop It. We talk about the upcoming 30 year anniversary, how he’s been celebrating milestones over the years, and we dive into a chat about AI, execution, and what it really takes to create the next classic toy. We get into how inventors can use AI as a tool, why execution can sometimes become the real invention, and what originality means in a world where ideas are easier than ever to generate. If you’re a toy inventor, designer, or product creator trying to figure out where AI fits into your process, this episode is for you, my friend! Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

AI is changing fast, but for the first time in a while I'm feeling that we've hit a moment of "stability". That means NOW is the perfect time to learn to apply the latest AI tools to your toy business. In this mini reset episode, I break down why so many people are getting mediocre results from AI, and announce a free live masterclass where I'll walk you through the three AI tools + new-ish features that every toy company needs to know: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. You'll also get a sneak peek at Toy Biz Backup, my upcoming AI support team built specifically to help your toy businesses, and hear an important update about the Toy Coach Showcase at ASTRA 2026. In this episode you'll hear about: Mentioned in This Episode: Free AI Tools for Business Masterclassthetoycoach.com/aiToy Coach Showcase at ASTRA 2026learn.thetoycoach.com/showcaseHiggsfield AIhiggsfield.aiSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

1.5 million people left Chat GPT and went running to Claude for all the wrong reasons. Claude isn’t just the more ethical AI tool. It’s THE tool built for serious businesses. One of the most popular topics of conversation right now is Claude Code. I myself have been obsessing over it lately, finding myself dreaming of code to the point where I wake up thinking I’ve finished a debug. The bigger question isn’t just HOW to use Claude Code but it’s really, SHOULD you be using it? I’m estimating it’ll take a good 200 hours of use before you start to “get it”, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some pretty cool things along the way. This week’s episode dives into Claude Code, how I used it, what you can do with it, and how to get started. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: https://claude.aihttps://claude.aihttps://www.toymatchmaker.comhttps://www.toycreatorsacademy.comhttps://www.thetoycoach.comSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

My friend (and On Brand with Jimmy Fallon co-star) Pyper Bleu is joining me on the podcast today to share her perspective on the effects of AI and the algorithm on retail. Our conversation starts with Pyper peeling back the curtain on how she built a platform of 400K subscribers on her YouTube channel Lyfe of Pyper, and why she decided to shift offline and open a retail shop — plus she explains how they're so different. We also get honest about AI in our day-to-day — from using it to soften angry emails (there's humanity in that) to realizing AI-written "thank you" messages feel worse than no reply at all. Pyper shares why she stopped using AI for correspondence and actually got faster, and I open up about using AI to learn rather than just get answers. Plus, Pyper drops a killer tip about packaging that every toy inventor needs to hear. If you're feeling a little AI overwhelmed, this podcast is your safe space. Cozy up with a warm cup of tea and give it a listen. 💜 Welcome, Toy People! 👋🏽 Thanks for being part of this playful community. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: https://pyperbleu.com/ Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

So I finally convinced you that you can’t ignore AI… and you’re ready to implement it in your toy business. Go you. Love that for you. 👏🏾 But before you go trying to haphazardly plug AI into every little task, you need to build your AI foundation. Your AI foundation is a series of files, records, strategy, and frameworks that you as a business use on a day-to-day basis. You may already have it documented somewhere, living in your head, or is just something your team knows how to execute. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly: I’m also sharing a tool I made that will help you build this foundation a whole lot faster. I know I say this all the time, but… DO NOT miss this episode! Key Moments: 01:0002:0011:0014:0017:0021:00Mentioned in This Episode: AI Blueprint thetoycoach.com/aiToy Coach Showcase https://learn.thetoycoach.com/showcaseConnect With Me info@thetoycoach.comSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

My new AI agent completed 2 months of research and idea development work in 20 minutes! And the cost? About $5. If you bumped into me at New York Toy Fair you already know how excited I am about the AI integrated automations I am currently building. The ability to utilize AI reasoning in everyday business tasks will soon be the defining rift between thriving modern businesses and those struggling with ancient processes, overworked employees, struggling to keep up with workload. If you are one of those companies whose employees are struggling with the number of products on your line list, or the number of POs they’re processing daily, you cannot afford to ignore this episode. Before you lose your talented team because you’re overworking them with tasks way below their paygrade, listen to this episode and learn how you can give them back more time to be creative, feel inspired, and LOVE their work. Let AI handle the research, and let your creative team flow in their zone of genius. In this episode I’m sharing a few AI agents I’ve created that are doing just that for me. Giving me more time to write, design, plan, and build my business and that of my clients. If you plan to be in business in 10 years, you absolutely need a personalized team of AI agents. And this episode is how to get started. 💜 Welcome, Toy People! 👋🏽 Thanks for being part of this playful community. 🧸 Mentioned In This Video 🧸 🔗 Resources: thetoycoach.com/ai Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

Amazon’s new “Buy For Me” button sounds helpful… but is it quietly rerouting your customers and sales without your consent? In this episode, I’m joined by Angie Chua of Bobo Design Studio to break down how this Amazon AI feature actually works, how it showed up on her shop without her opting in, and what every small business, maker, and toy brand needs to watch out for. If you sell on your own website, Etsy, Shopify, or anywhere online, you need to understand how features like Amazon Buy For Me could impact your margins, your customer data, and the future of your business. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: For the links mentioned in this episode visit: www.thetoycoach.com/602 Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 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

With every major advancement in science or technology, there is bound to be pushback. AI is no exception. This season is for toy and game creators navigating AI in the toy industry. In 10 episodes we’ll explore how to use AI while maintaining your taste, trusting your judgement, protecting your IP, and actually saving time. This first episode is the foundation for the coming weeks. Before you dive any deeper into AI, let’s get real about the risks of operating it with little to no guardrails. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Season 6 begins now. - - - - 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 Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show 🔴 Want to add to the conversation? Join the live premiere of this week's episode on YouTube at 12pm EST to ask follow-up questions, share your thoughts, and chat with other toy people. Click here to join the LIVE YouTube premiere.

After 299 weeks of toy talk, our 300th episode marks the closing of one chapter and opening another. This little podcast that started as “let’s see what happens” has turned into a full-on resource library for toy inventors, toy entrepreneurs, and creative creatives like you who just can’t shake that pull toward the toy industry. In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons from 5+ years of episodes: why most toy ideas don’t fail because they’re “bad,” how confidence actually follows clarity, and why community and the right mentors matter more than “perfect” artwork or prototypes. This year I was on national TV with Jimmy Fallon, landed some truly incredible clients, and became a mom for the first time. So with all those big life shifts, it was time to take a reflective look at this podcast as well. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Visit for The Toy Coach's toy of the year picks at thetoycoach.com/toty for the link to vote before January 7th.

Before Swift Clicks ever hit the shelves, the team at Make It Real was staring down the brutal math of the craft aisle: rising costs, shrinking margins, and kids who expect faster, cooler results than ever. So how did her team turn that pressure into a Creative Toy of the Year finalist bracelet maker that Swifties can’t stop talking about? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I sit down with Gena Lavallee, VP of Global Brands at Make It Real, to reveal the story behind Swift Clicks, the Make It Real Heishi Bracelet Maker. From the “clicky pen” inspiration to the clever refill system, hidden funnel, built-in storage, lefty/righty-friendly design, and even how to actually tie a jeweler’s knot, you’ll hear how Gena’s team transformed a slow, fiddly craft into a fast, inclusive, and insanely satisfying play experience. In this episode, you’ll learn: speed, ease, and fashion-forward resultsright-handed and left-handed makersrefill placement problem at retailfunnel, aligning tool, built-in storage, and morebreakout hitpricing, margins, and marketing 🔗 Links & Resources Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet MakerCreative Toy of the YearPeople’s ChoiceMakeItReal.comThe Toy CoachHit play to join this bracelet-making party and get inspired to rethink your own toy or craft line through the lens of speed, inclusivity, and smart design. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Visit for The Toy Coach's toy of the year picks at thetoycoach.com/toty for the link to vote before January 7th.

Can a $5 squishy toy really outsell the competition and take home a Toy of the Year award? Schylling’s CEO Paul Weingard is betting on it and honestly, the numbers are on his side. The NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl isn’t just another sensory stress ball. It’s a Specialty Toy of the Year finalist that’s been an Amazon best seller, is selling out in stores, AND building real emotional connection with kids and adults worldwide. The CEO shared with me that they’ve gotten handwritten letters from kids, therapists, and even college students sharing how this tiny cube helps them relax, reset, and focus. Retailers can’t restock it fast enough and during this interview I’m on a mission to find out why. Join me in the Schylling office where I sit with Paul Weingard to unpack the exact strategies that turned a simple sensory ball into a branded, collectable empire that’s dominating on Amazon, thriving in toy stores, and blowing up organically online. You’ll learn how they scaled sales without leaning on trends, built retail momentum through independent stores, and created a $5 product that buyers and therapists can’t get enough of. If landing a TOTY nomination is on your vision board, or you're trying to get retailers to reorder faster than you can ship, this episode will show you what it really takes to turn a small idea into a big win. Vote for NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl in the Specialty Toy of the Year category. Voting is open to Toy Association members AND members of the media. Cast your vote for NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl in the Specialty Toy of the Year category! If you're in the media (like an industry influencer) and you aren’t registered to vote, contact the toy association at info@toyassociation.org for details. Listen for these Important Moments: [00:01:30] [00:11:30] [00:18:40] [00:26:05] –sells itself[00:33:20]Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Visit for The Toy Coach's toy of the year picks at thetoycoach.com/toty for the link to vote before January 7th.

They sold out before summer, got emails from retailers and industry outsiders, and scored a back-to-back TOTY nomination… so how did they do it? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I talk with Ron Weizman of South Beach Bubbles about the strategy behind their hit product, the Galactic Color Bubble Machine. We cover what it takes to stand out in a saturated market, how packaging and demos drove retail success, and why award wins matter more than you think. Listen in and see why this toy is taking over the bubble aisle and… don’t forget to vote for it in the Outdoor Toy of the Year category! Voting is open to Toy Association members and media. Not registered? Reach out to info@toyassociation.org for access. Listen for these Important Moments: [00:01:30] – [00:03:10] – [00:06:03] – [00:11:04] – [00:21:08] – Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Visit for The Toy Coach's toy of the year picks at thetoycoach.com/toty for the link to vote before January 7th.

What if kids could learn about sports, INSIDE SportsCenter? Well 27 licensing deals, 7 TOTY nominations, and 1 incredible host all led to this incredible feat of edutainment. For 2025, Abacus Brands teamed up with ESPN and a roster of elite athletes to create the ESPN Virtual Reality Headset. This fully immersive toy is nominated for Educational Toy of the Year and delivers sports history, rules, trivia, and facts in a way kids have never experienced before. In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I sat down with Steve Rad, CEO of Abacus Brands, to unpack the creative, technical, and licensing marathon behind this ambitious VR learning tool and how his team managed to turn a sports encyclopedia into an unforgettable, fully immersive experience for kids. Steve reveals what it was like working with Disney and ESPN, and how they managed to feature icons like Shohei Ohtani, Kobe, and Ronaldo all while staying true to their educational mission. This toy teaches kids the why behind the rules of sports, helps kids explore games they’ve never played, and lets them learn inside SportsCenter alongside one of ESPN’s top anchors: Arda Öcal. This is edutainment to the highest level. The ESPN Virtual reality headset is nominated for Educational Toy of The Year and you can (and should) vote here. Featured in this episode: Vote for ESPN Virtual Reality Headset in the Educational Toy of the Year category. Voting is open to Toy Association members AND members of the media. Cast your vote for Virtual Reality ESPN in the Educational Toy of the Year category! Voting is open to Toy Association members AND members of the media. So if you're in the media and you aren’t registered to vote, contact the toy association at info@toyassociation.org for details. Listen for these Important Moments! [00:06:02] – [00:16:31] – [00:23:44] – [00:27:10] – [00:35:57] – Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

What started as an inventor's pitch, evolved into a collectible phenomenon. Sky Castle Toys is showing us what happens when you combine viral content with collectibility… and it’s Sticki Rolls. Sticki Rolls is nominated for Collectible Toy Of The Year, and if you ask me, they should be the ones taking home the TOTY. (sorry Lego!) Sky Castle built a brand, demand, and a community from scratch, and they’re only continuing to grow. Driven by viral content and partnerships with niche artists, the Sticki rolls brand is one of the few toys that can get kids excited about putting down their phones…even if it’s just to cover them with stickers. 😏 In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, co-founder of Sticki rolls, Lev Nelson, reveals how this TOTY-nominated toy went from concept to category disrupter in under two years. Sticki Rolls may look simple: “just stickers on a bracelet” but behind this viral collectible is a smart design, strategic marketing, and a product kids can’t stop sharing and sticking to everything and with everyone. Lev shares how Sticki Rolls launched during the pandemic, innovated manufacturing, survived the shipping crisis, built a global fan base, and YouTube-first marketing engine from scratch. (That now has over a million subscribers, by the way!) If you were considering giving another company your TOTY vote…you might want to think again after hearing this episode. Featured in this episode: Sticki Rolls earned their spot among the greats and now they need your vote to seal the deal. If this episode inspired you, if this product wowed you, cast your vote for Sticki Rolls in the Collectible Toy of the Year category! Voting is open to Toy Association members AND members of the media. So if you're in the media and you aren’t registered to vote, contact the toy association at info@toyassociation.org for details. Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

You’ve heard of the Emmys, the Oscars, and the Grammys... but what about the TOTYs? In this episode, we’re going to dive into the TOTY (Toy of the Year) Awards and why they’re a huge deal if you're in the toy industry. I’m breaking down exactly how to get nominated, how to time your launch for max award potential, and how a TOTY nod can boost your sales, get you press, and even give your SEO a serious lift. You'll also hear about the glamorous TOTY Gala held during New York Toy Fair, how voting works (yes, there’s a People’s Choice!), and how you can leverage a TOTY finalist spot into a powerful marketing moment. Featured in this episode: reallyIf you’re a TOTY finalist this year (or know someone who is), now’s the time to act. Public voting is open and closes January 7, 2026! Head to this year’s nominee list, find your category, and start rallying your audience. And if you’re ready to boost your visibility with a TOTY Spotlight feature on the podcast, YouTube channel, and beyond, grab your category-exclusive promo package before it’s gone. Let’s turn that nomination into a win! Listen for these Important Moments! [00:01:41][00:02:02][00:03:09][00:04:55][00:07:10]exclusive promo packagesSend The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

In spring 2025 I was invited to join On Brand with Jimmy Fallon as 1 of 10 creatives selected to pitch national campaigns to major brands on national TV. Since the episodes aired, my DMs have been full of the same questions: how did I get on the show, what was it really like, and what do I think of Jimmy Fallon? This week on Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my wild ride as a contestant on On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. Week after week I dreamed up campaigns, plane wrap designs, comedic commercials, and drink recipes, then pitched them to CEOs and CMOs of major brands. I was mentored by Bozoma Saint John and Jimmy Fallon, an experience that reshaped how I think about branding, marketing, and product launches. Every week the stakes got higher. One challenge had me mapping an NYC pop-up; another had me writing and singing jingles on a deadline. I was on national TV at 24+ weeks pregnant, keeping my energy high and my creativity flowing while still speaking the language of big corporate brands. It was a branding bootcamp that pushed me past what I thought was possible while I was also building a tiny human and becoming a first time mom. Tune into this podcast if you want all the BTS tea including: reallybeforeIf you are building a toy brand or a creative business, and want to grow your visibility this is your playbook. Listen for these Important Moments: Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

You’ve got a product idea that means the world to you… maybe it’s cultural, personal, or rooted in your own childhood traditions. But making it retail-ready without losing your mission? That’s the challenge. In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m coaching Durrat, Toy Creators Academy alum, Accelerator grad, and founder of Dcraftsource, a culturally-inspired craft kit brand built to celebrate every kid and every culture. It all started with one handmade Ramadan kit for her daughter. And now, her card-making craft kits for Eid, Diwali, Christmas, and birthdays are bringing diverse celebrations into homes, classrooms, and (hopefully soon!) retail stores. Here’s what we talked about: blew upIf you're trying to figure out how to go from maker to brand, or you're wondering how to bring more authenticity into your product line, this episode will inspire you to stop waiting and start building. Listen for these Important Moments! [00:04:52] – [00:07:18] –[00:10:34] – [00:21:47] – [00:29:13] – Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<

Your toy is 90% done… for the fifth time. You keep playtesting, tweaking, second-guessing, and you’re convinced it’s not ready. But what if all that perfectionism is what’s actually holding you back? In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m coaching Melanie Palmer, Toy Creators Academy alum and founder of Emmers, a joyful toy brand designed to help kids build emotional skills through stories, games, and play. With a psychology degree from Duke, an MBA from Harvard, and over a decade working in emotional education, Melanie had the passion and the credentials. But when it came time to create and launch a physical product? She quickly found herself overwhelmed, overthinking, and stuck in the playtesting loop. Inside Toy Creators Academy, she got the clarity, tools, and support she needed to stop spinning her wheels and finally bring her vision to life. Here’s what we dig into: hugenotreallyIf you're building something with purpose and wondering, "Am I doing this right?", Melanie’s story is proof that you don’t need to rush, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Enroll today at thetoycoach.com/tca Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail! Support the show Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps >> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<