At Toy Fair University, we ignite creativity, encourage meaningful dialogue, and inspire innovative solutions for the business of play.
Explore essential industry topics such as the metaverse, licensing, business development, sustainability, and more, guided by expert speakers and panelists – all from the comfort of your screen and the convenience of your schedule.
Hunter Finlay, Klugonyx Group, LLC
Jason Klug, Klugonyx Group, LLC
Understand the challenges of building a new product in this digital session. Whether you're a new or experienced founder, learn the importance of proactive decision-making and forward-thinking to enhance your product's success and profitability.
Hamutal (Tula) Schieber, Schieber Research
Discover how personalization, fueled by Gen Alpha’s expectations and advanced technologies, can transform your business across product innovation, retail, e-commerce, content, and marketing in this session.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Trends track.
Philippe Guinaudeau, Brand Trends
Join this panel discussion to uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and explore essential success factors in the U.S. toy market, from children's preferences to parent shopping behaviors.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Research track.
Rebecca Blumberg, Paramount
Kathleen Campisano, Beacon Media
Josh Eisinger, My Blockboard
Cristina Liquori, The Lego Group
Samantha Mefail, Beacon Media
Join our panel with industry leaders from The Lego Group, Paramount, Beacon Media, and BlockBoard, as they discuss the dynamic media mix landscape and its impact on marketers in 2024, covering topics like fragmented media, data precision, in-app gaming, media-breaking moments, and upcoming trends.
Stephanie Bailey, Paramount
Billy Langsworthy, Mojo Nation
This panel offers key insights into designing exceptional licensed toys, emphasizing authenticity and opportunities for inventors. Hosted by Mojo Nation's Billy Langsworthy and Stephanie Bailey, VP of Global Toys at Paramount, it explores the success of iconic brands like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the industry.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Licensing track.
Aimee Crane, NASA
Patricia Moore, NASA
Maureen O'Brien, NASA
Dive into the intersection of pop culture, space, and toys with NASA's Artemis missions, offering new opportunities to incorporate STEM and space content into play. This panel features NASA's plans for moon exploration and their guidelines for partnering with toys and brands.
Steve Reece, Kids Brand Insight
This session discusses the transformation from a China-centric sourcing model to multi-hub approach in the toy industry, uncovering the driving forces behind the shift and learning how to assess manufacturing geographies effectively.
Joe Burke, VICTURY Sports - Maker of Ollyball
Uncover the impact of authenticity, innovation, and humility in the toy industry in this session. Explore authenticity's influence from clicks to communities and discover the art of staying authentic and innovative with a 'survival mindset.’
Lynne Corry, Giving Friends
Pam Mastrota, The Toy Foundation
Nancy Molenda, Mattel Children's Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy
Deb Silver, Jazwares
Laurie Stongin, Hope for Henry
The Toy Foundation strives to bring comfort, joy, and the transformative benefits of play to children in need worldwide. Join this panel discussion on their mission of ensuring every child's opportunity to play.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Foundation track.
Kristin Morency Goldman, The Toy Association, Inc.
Bryan Mundell, Adventerra Games
Jessica Jama (Rodgers), hand2mind
Craig Skinner, Crayola LLC
This panel discusses the trend of authentic, sustainable toys and how companies can meet the demands of conscious consumers, fostering positive change.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Sustainability track.
Maura Regan, Licensing International
In a distracted entertainment landscape, brand building is vital to engage kids. Discover the $315-billion global licensing industry and learn how to grow your toy and game properties through various licensing strategies and brand collaborations.
Lisa Orman, KidStuff Public Relations
This session explores how specialty toy stores utilize marketing and PR to foster customer loyalty, boost product sales, and create a sense of community, resulting in increased sales and positive testimonials.
When presented at Toy Fair, this session was a part of the Retail track.
Callie Christensen, Slumberkins
Kelly Oriard, Slumberkins
Learn how Slumberkins co-founders scaled their children's education and emotional health brand from a $200 loan to a cross-category brand while expanding rapidly and staying true to their mission through partnerships with companies like the Jim Henson Company and Apple.
Hunter Morris, Boogie Board
With social media & a variety of other external factors fueling an influx of toy trends, it can be difficult for brands (especially smaller ones) to balance innovation and efficiency. This discussion will show viewers how they can innovate around their core technology (vs. starting fresh each time) in a way that still allows for category inventiveness, reaching nuanced audiences and delivering tailored benefits and play outcomes.
Jonathan Alexandratos, 239 Play / Dan's Parents' House
Reina Mia Brill, 239 Play / Dan's Parents' House
Johnpaul Ragusa, Imperial Castle Toy Shop
Dan Treiber, 239 Play / Dan's Parents' House
Hear top independent toy shops in the Tri-State Area discuss their origin stories, community contributions, manufacturer needs, and their vital role as connectors between producers and their unique customer base, strengthening industry relationships for post COVID-19 recovery.
Sherri Langburt, BabbleBoxx
Learn how to efficiently utilize top kid and toy influencers into your marketing strategies, reducing costs while maximizing effectiveness, with real-world examples from Spin Master, Moose Toys, and Disney illustrating how influencers elevate toy brand marketing across various channels.
Jamie Salvatori, Vat19.com
Discover strategies for manufacturers and retailers to become social media influencers, emphasizing rapid fanbase cultivation through creative content creation.
Stephanie Pottick, Pottick Law PC
Safeguard your brand or product for success in this session. Get essential tips for protecting your intellectual property when pitching, licensing, or selling. This is a must-attend for brand owners, inventors, licensors, licensees, and anyone interested in product protection.
Kenny Kiernan, Kenny Kiernan Illustration & Design Studio
Brett Klisch, Peru Meridian Studios
Carlos Mendoza III, Artisan Social Club
Louise White, Toy Design & Invention
This panel showcases the expertise of top toy packaging illustrators and designers. They present case studies and artwork-in-progress, ordering valuable insights into the creative process from the initial concept to the final finished product.
Francesco Sardone, Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP
Gain an overview of Intellectual Property protection options, from patents to trademarks and copyrights, along with their associated benefits and costs, illustrated with examples from the toy industry.
Joshua C. Harrison, Barcelo, Harrison & Walker, LLP
Gain a comprehensive understanding of copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets as they relate to toy products, ensuring the protection of your innovative ideas in the industry.
Elizabeth Dougherty, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Dougal Grimes, Spin Master
Scott Landsbaum, United Inventors Association
Trina McFarland, TinkerTini
Matt Nuccio, Design Edge Inc.
Meet the United Inventors Association (UIA) and its team, supporting toy inventors in navigating the industry and empowering inventors through education, access, and advocacy in this panel.
Discover key factors in successful toy packaging design, differentiating "mass market," "specialty retail," and "online" packaging, copy placement, sizing for retail planograms, and common design pitfalls in this session.
Christina Perla, Makelab
In this panel, explore the benefits of 3D printing in custom design, cost-effective production, and hyper-localized manufacturing.
Lisa Ryan, CSP, Grategy
Managing employees in today's competitive labor market can be both challenging and rewarding. Join this session to develop effective leadership skills that will help you retain and inspire your team. Great managers can be cultivated, not just born.
Julie Kerwin, IAmElemental
Elenor Mak, Jilly Bing
Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Healthy Roots
This panel aims to challenge traditional narratives in the toy industry, ushering in a new era of toys and play patterns while breaking barriers to enhance representation for a more inclusive world.
Dr. Zabina Bhasin, M.D., In KidZ Co
Jay Dotson, Jazwares
Dominique Mueller, Target
Courtney Oliver, Paramount Global
Mason Williams, Mattel
Learn effective strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse talent across all levels in the toy industry, highlighting its importance for growth, presented by The Toy Foundation and Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment.
Clement Chau PhD, Leapfrog
Over 60% of U.S. fourth graders are reading below grade level, with COVID exacerbating the issue. This session explores how we work with education experts to design toys that prioritize children’s needs and support early literacy.
Michael Blaustein, Learning Resources
Discover the benefits of early-age coding and its role in developing language skills and fostering STEM's 4Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) in this session.
Dr. Deborah Gilboa MD, Family Physician
Rachele Harmuth, ThinkFun
In this session you will discover how toys and games can foster children's Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) for a resilient future.
Frances Cain, The Good Play Guide
Discover the influence of independent accreditations on purchasing decisions and marketing strategies and learn how to make your products stand out from the crowd.
Melissa Hunter, Family Video Network
Robin Raskin, Virtual Events Group
Leah Ringelstein, Zigazoo
Sydney Wiseman, WowWee
Discover how the new generation of Kid-trepreneurs is reshaping the toy industry by building games, influencing others on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and turbo-charging toy brands.
Michael Adler, VeVe
Sam Drozdov, Super League Gaming
Lisa Mayer, Boss Beauties
Brian Trunzo, Polygon Labs
Sharon Weisman, PowerStation Studios
In this panel, learn how to enable your community to benefit from supporting the mission and leverage Web3 technology to create new revenue streams and forge stronger connections with your consumers.
Ben Erwin, XR & Emerging Technologies Consultant
Matthew Leopold, Alibaba
Sneh Vaswani, Miko
Learn how to leverage generative AI programs like ChatGPT and Dall-E2 in the toy industry, from concept creation to marketing. This panel will guide you in becoming a 'prompt whisperer,' putting AI to work.
Tamra Knepfer, Metabrands
Explore the Metaverse's role in brand marketing, with a focus on the success of toy brands and retailers in virtual worlds, representing the most crucial technological and marketing advancement since the introduction of the internet.
MK Bedosky, Gen City Labs
Discover how gamifying ownership and curating an interactive brand community can lead to a powerhouse of social presence across platforms, empowering community members to amplify their love for your brand, toys, or experiences in this session.
David Kleeman, Dubit Limited
Discover the significance of 'creative toys' for 8-12-year-olds and the 'iCan Generation,' exploring imaginative skills and insights on expanding physical creativity into the virtual realm from Dubit, a metaverse studio.
An engaging three-day event you won't want to miss.