Toy Business Unboxed

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as we dive into an insightful conversation with Enzo, the founder and CEO of CMY Cubes. Enzo shares the inspiring journey behind the creation of the CMY Cube, a unique product that blends color theory, optics, and educational play. Discover how Enzo and his partner Gabrielle navigated from prototyping during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieving viral s...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we are thrilled to have Jeff, the president of Left Justified Studio and Prolific Games. Jeff brings over two decades of experience in the tabletop game industry, sharing insights into his career journey, from working at renowned companies like Atlas Games and Fantasy Flight Games to eventually founding his own publishing venture. Jeff dives deep into his st...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as we sits down with Kevin and Laurie from Create A Castle. Discover how a vacation frustration in 2016 led to a revolutionary toy that has changed sand and snow sculpting forever. Learn about their journey from crude prototyping to winning awards, their experiences on Shark Tank, and their exciting collaboration with Disney. Kevin and Laurie share i...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we're thrilled to be joined by Ori, also known as the Kickstarter video guy and founder of Kagan Production. Ori shares his unique journey from a film enthusiast in Israel to a prominent figure in the board game industry, responsible for successful Kickstarter campaigns that have raised over $27 million. He discusses the importance of storytelling in creatin...

In our episode of Toy Business Unbox, we are excited to have Willie Wilkov, the CEO of HABA USA, who brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the toy industry. Willie discusses his career journey from advertising to his current role, emphasizing the importance of customer-centricity, clear company strategy, and financial awareness in leadership. He offers insights on managing digital and t...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we sits down with Curt Covert, the mastermind behind Smirk & Dagger Games. Curt shares his journey from a marketing agency creative to a renowned board game designer, driven by a passion for emotionally engaging gameplay. We also discuss the importance of narrative in modern board games, how early playtesting can guide marketing, and the crucial 'X facto...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we welcomes John, the Patent Professor, a renowned patent attorney with over two decades of experience. We dive deep into John's personal journey into patent law, sparked by a childhood fascination with the Rubik's Cube. John shares invaluable insights into the importance and process of securing patents, including the nuances of design versus utility patents...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we explores the profound impact of toy donations with Alyssa from Operation Christmas Child. Alyssa delves into the origins and mission of the project, which has delivered over 220 million shoeboxes filled with toys and essentials to children in need across 170 countries over the past 30 years. She highlights incredible stories of how these simple gifts can...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as our host Jason Hsieh, a toy entrepreneur since 2016, dives into the intricacies of Amazon advertising for toy and game brands. He covers the structure of Amazon advertising campaigns, keyword targeting, avoiding common mistakes, and case studies of successful brands. Jason emphasizes the importance of conversion and profit optimization, ongoing ad...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we dive deep with Ryan, the creative force behind the family-friendly card game 'What's the Point?' Ryan shares his inspiring journey, from the game's inception during his college years, influenced by a hospital stay battling Crohn's disease, to achieving the milestone of selling 17,000 copies. Discover the challenges of self-funding, the unique artistic pro...

Join us in our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, as we delves into the toy industry with guest experts Ethan and Mark from Marky Sparky. Discover how Mark began his company almost 30 years ago with the iconic California Chariot and how it evolved into the renowned Marky Sparky brand. Ethan discusses growing up under his dad's legacy and eventually taking a leading role in the company, especially du...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as we talks with Barnes, an entrepreneur and parent who created the HandMoto Dry Erase Learning Board. Faced with his own struggles with dry eye disease and his son's addiction to screen time, Barnes developed an innovative product designed to re-engage children in creative, educational, and screen-free play. Discover the journey behind HandMoto, lea...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, our host Jason Hsieh, a seasoned toy entrepreneur, shares insights on the toy industry, emphasizing the importance of passion and perseverance. Jason discusses the current issue of tariffs affecting toy manufacturing, particularly for those whose production is based in China. He offers strategies to mitigate these impacts, such as utilizing Amazon Global Log...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, join us as we dive into the world of crowdfunding within the toys and game space with Victor, co-founder of LaunchBoom. Discover how Victor and his team have raised over $150 million in crowdfunding and developed a systematic approach to ensure the success of campaigns on platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Victor shares his journey from starting a dig...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we dive into an inspiring conversation with Valerie and Cortney from Large As Life. They share how their journeys inspired them to create life-size animal puzzles aimed at bringing families together. Learn how a quest for a perfect Yellowstone souvenir led to an innovative line of educational puzzles that encourage multi-generational bonding through trivia a...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed, where we welcome Tyler Jefcoat, the founder of Seller Accountant and leader of the Seller Roundtable Mastermind Group. Tyler, with his extensive experience in e-commerce, shares insights on crucial topics like macroeconomic trends, the impact of interest rates on customer behavior, cash flow management, and building lasting customer relationships. D...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as we dive into the secrets of the toy industry. In this March 2025 webinar, we'll explore the 'Five Pillars of Digital Marketing' specifically tailored for the toy and game business: content marketing, social media marketing, digital ads, email marketing, and SMS marketing. Learn practical tips, see real-life examples, and understand how to integrat...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed as we welcome Paul, the owner and CEO of Burning Rubber Toy Company. Paul's inspiring journey in the toy industry began at the age of 15 and catapulted with his love for Hot Wheels. He shares how the die-cast market evolved, the importance of listening to your customer base, and his innovative approach to organizing inventory and managing a toy truck...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we sat down with Marty and Brett, the passionate co-founders of GoChuckle. Together, they share their inspiring journey of turning a love for baking competition shows into a successful board game company. The duo dives into the creation of their first game, Hasty Baker, and discuss the importance of playtesting, community engagement, and balancing creativity...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we chats with Kyle Mundy, a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in product development, marketing, and e-commerce. Kyle shares his journey in the toy industry, from his early days at Intex to his experiences at companies like Pacific Cycle and Banzai. The discussion digs deep into the challenges of managing seasonal products, especially with the...

In our episode of Toy Business Unboxed, join us as we unveil the secrets behind the 'Toy Launch Formula,' designed to help both new and existing toy brands thrive on Amazon. Throughout this February 2025 masterclass, we cover essential strategies such as inventory management, listing optimization, and impactful marketing. Learn from real-life case studies and get actionable tips on advertising, co...

In this episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we sit down with Lauren, a freelance toy and game designer and founder of Wise Water Studio. Lauren shares her inspiring journey from aspiring architect to successful entrepreneur, working with top brands like Pokemon, Hatchimals, and Bluey. We dive into the importance of networking and community involvement in the toy industry, and Lauren offers valuable i...

In this episode of Toy Business Unboxed, we dive into the fascinating world of tabletop board games with JT Smith, the mastermind behind Game Crafter and Component Studio. We discuss JT's journey from crafting board games at home to creating an innovative print-on-demand platform that helps aspiring game designers bring their ideas to life. JT shares insights on the importance of personal branding...

In our episode of Toy Business Unbox, we welcomed a seasoned brand strategy expert from Liithos, an IP company at the forefront of the gaming world. Together, we delve into Liithos' innovative approach including the creation of the satirical character RantCPU by founder Michael Mumbauer. We explore Liithos' unique cross-industry collaborations, impressive background in licensing, and their multi-f...

Join us in this episode of Toy Business Unboxed, as we welcome Carol, the senior customer relations manager at Mom's Choice Award. Carol brings decades of experience in business development and over five years of expertise in the toy industry. This episode dives into the significance of incorporating awards like the Mom's Choice Award into your marketing strategy and how it benefits toy brands. Ca...