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From the editors behind the Toy Book, the Pop Insider, and the Toy Insider comes a new series of podcasts focusing on toys, games, pop culture, and entertainment. Series' include The Toy Report — inspired by our weekly news roundup from the Toy Book, the leading trade magazine covering the toy industry; and the Power Kid Podcast, hosted by Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design, which features in-depth interviews and conversations with some of the brightest stars in the toy, game, and family ent ...
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In the latest episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Kevin Daniels, President and Co-Founder of Fun In Motion Toys to the show. Fun In Motion is the four-time Toy of the Year (TOTY) finalist behind mesmerizing toys including Shashibo, Spin Ball, and Wandini. On the show, Daniels explains how an activity…
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In the latest episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Kyle Cosgrove, Territory Manager at Goliath Games to the show. A sales vet with experience at Crazy Aaron's and Monkey Fish Toys, Cosgrove is focused on expanding Goliath's footprint across independent toy and game stores. On the show, he and Albritto…
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In the latest episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Tom Delaney, Executive Vice President of MUKIKIM to the show. A seasoned toy industry veteran, Delaney has held roles at Mattel, The Walt Disney Co., JAKKS Pacific, and ran his own company, Homegrown Toys. On the show, Delaney shares insight into the …
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Power Kid Podcast: Pat Linden | Playmates Toys - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
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Go Ninja! Go Ninja! Go! In the latest episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Pat Linden, Vice President of Marketing at Playmates Toys to the show. Ahead of this week's release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Linden shares insight on his experience working with every iteration of the Tee…
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In the latest episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Leah Ringelstein, Director of Impact at Zigazoo to the show. Ringelstein is on the front lines of the world's biggest social media network for kids and leverages her background in classroom education and curriculum building in her work. Zigazoo has be…
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design goes LIVE from the show floor at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in Columbus, Ohio. Check out mini interviews featuring Adam Hocherman (Fat Brain Toy Co.), Karen Hermann (Hand Craft), Julien Amundsen (Fantasma Toys), Chrissy Fagerholt (EAP Toys and Games), Jan Ma…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Alan and Christine Blumberg from RGB Sales and Lea Culliton (ex-HABA, ABC Kids Expo) to the show to discuss the launch of The North East Toy Show (NETS). "The Northeast connection to specialty" opens its doors in February 2024 for its inaugural show,…
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Talia Filippelli, founder of Starr Therapy, to the show. Filippelli is a Genius of Play Ambassador, an award-winning “Top Doc,” and has served as an advisor for Sesame Workshop. Most recently, she developed The Genius of Play’s Emotional Wellness Pla…
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lauren Derse, CEO of Learning Express Toys & Gifts to the show. Derse leads the largest franchised toy store chain in the U.S. and has vast experience with store ownership and oversight. Learning Express is known for its expert staff, localized selec…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Chris Cote, founder and president of Scentco to the show. On the show, Cote unpacks the exact moment the idea of scented pencils struck him and what he did next. He shares the complexities involved in finding the perfect scent for every product, and …
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Evan Katz and Josh Roberts of Very Special Games to the show. On the show, Katz and Roberts deliver intel on the guerrilla warfare tactics required to self-produce games. They launched their first successful game, Charity Party, on Kickstarter in 201…
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Power Kid Podcast: Lee Allentuck | RN Branding & Licensing, Melissa & Doug, Blue Marble, The Last Gameboard
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lee Allentuck to the show. Over the course of his career, Allentuck has done it all, from leading Global Gaming at Hasbro to serving as Licensing Market Lead for LEGO to founding Raising Nerd. He currently serves as an Innovation Scout for Blue Marbl…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Jeanie Crone to the show. Crone has a wealth of experience spanning toys, fashion, and education. She previously served as the senior manager of specialty at Schleich, sales manager at Ojo, and Chairman of the Board at the American Specialty Toy Reta…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Project Genius CEO Brandi Pinsker to the show. Project Genius is a Texas-based crew of "thinkers, tinkers, and inventors" that creates brainteasers and games. Pinsker previously served as a buyer at Go! Retail Group's Calendar Club and is an expert i…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Steve Wampold to the show. In 2002, Wampold founded Big Mouth Inc. and grew the company to become a leader in the swim and inflatables space where it still enjoys much success today. A few years ago, after selling Big Mouth to a private equity firm, …
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Anand Dhirmalani to the show. Dhirmalani is an expert in the As Seen On TV space and is collaborating with Albritton on the launch of a new brand: Lil Wish Lanterns. On the show, Dhirmalani shares his journey from Fushigi to Pillow Pets and his recen…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Karen Kilpatrick of Kaypin Media and Genius Cat Books to the show. Kilpatrick helps brands and creatives navigate the publishing industry with a focus on creating kids' books. On the show, Kilpatrick explains how telling nighttime stories to her kids…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Chrissy Fagerholt of EAP Toys & Games to the show. EAP produces a range of games — including You Who?, Friend or Faux, and The Lunch Room Game — that pair a hint of strategy and humor into a play pattern that requires a little luck. On the show, Fage…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Bill Nichols and Peter Cmiel of Blip Toys to the show. On the show, the Blip Toys duo explains how some decisions they made early in their careers guided them to where they are today. The conversation veers toward the success of the Squinkies collect…
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Nick Christensen of Threepipe Reply to the show. Christensen is a managing partner and head of Amazon at the company, helping clients like TOMY, VTech, and Mookie Toys maximize their Amazon selling strategy. On the show, Albritton and Christensen dis…
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 pl…
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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/Lic…
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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. Ki…
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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 b…
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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 aroun…
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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 citie…
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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 educati…
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In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes David Gardiner, founder of Well Played Toys. Gardiner began his career at Hasbro and has since held executive roles at Basic Fun!, MEGA Brands, and more. As founder and president of Well Played Toys, Gardiner is developing products for kids and colle…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Paul Weibel, manager of consumer sales at Trend Enterprises. Over the course of his career, Weibel — a former sea captain — has held positions at a variety of toy and game companies, including MindWare, The Manhattan Toy Co., Asmodee, Hansa Creation,…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Blinger creator Angie Cella to the show. In 2014, Cella devised an invention that lets kids easily add sparkle to their hair. Through further development, Kickstarter campaigns, and self-funded experimentation, Cella scored a deal with Wicked Cool To…
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Power Kid Podcast: Toys "R" Us Canada Owner Doug Putman Talks Toys, Retail, and Distribution
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Doug Putman, the new owner of Toys "R" Us Canada and Babies "R" Us Canada. Putman's latest venture places the iconic retailer into a portfolio that includes Everest Toys, Sunrise Records, Alex Global Products, and FYE. On the show, Albritton asks Put…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Joel Morris and Mike Horn, co-founders of Cubles — sturdy, paperboard characters that are made in the U.S. On the show, Albritton asks the duo about engineering the unique articulation of their Cubles figures and the challenges of creating an environ…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Melissa & Doug's Chief Commercial Officer, David Henderson to the show. Henderson, who previously held roles at Hasbro, Coca-Cola, and Newell Baby brands, joined Melissa & Doug last year as the company entered a new chapter of growth. On the show, He…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes award-winning producer, director, composer, John Papa to the show. Papa is the co-founder and executive producer at Massimoto Media, a New England-based production outfit that creates commercials, films, and videos for clients including Hasbro, TOMY,…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes WowWee's Vice President of Brand Development and Creative Strategy, Sydney Wiseman. Since joining WowWee, Wiseman has helped shape the company's new product portfolio across innovations including Fingerlings, Lucky Fortune, and this year's Got2Glow F…
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Power Kid Podcast: Skateboarding Legend Johnny Schillereff Talks The Heart Supply's Jakks Pacific, Target Deal
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes The Heart Supply's Johnny Schillereff to the show. Schillereff founded Element Skateboards in 1992 and built a world-renowned brand known for manufacturing high-quality skateboard decks, apparel, and footwear. After reaching more than $200 million in…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Hape CEO Peter Handstein to the show. Since its founding in 1986, Hape has become known as a premier designer and manufacturer of high-quality wooden baby and kid's toys. Hape's products are sold in more than 100 countries and are crafted from sustai…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Learning Resources' Senior Product Manager Michael Blaustein to the show. Blaustein's career in electronic toys includes experience at Tiger Electronics and VTech prior to joining Learning Resources and helping to launch award-winning products, inclu…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lev Nelson, co-founder of Sky Castle Toys. Over the past decade, Nelson held positions at OzWest and Zing prior to founding Levelhed Creative and co-founding Sather & Fun Toys. Now, Nelson has teamed up with Josh Loerzel for Sky Castle Toys, a new co…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lizzy Newsome, owner and curator of Kappa Toys in Las Vegas. Newsome's design-minded stores carry a wide array of hard-to-find international toys and collectibles combined with a carefully curated selection of nostalgic retro classics for kids and ad…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Patti and Jonathan Becker, the duo behind Anjar Co. and Becker Associates. Anjar and Becker Associates have licensed more than 1,000 products, generating more than $2 billion in sales in more than 85 countries, and in recent months they've been all a…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Adam Borton, founder of Creating Unique Toys and the newly launched Toy and Game School — a digital education platform is designed to teach students the fundamentals of the toy and game industry. On the show, Albritton and Borton discuss the choice t…
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In this week’s episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Paula Monteiro, head of marketing for Wikitude. Wikitude is the worlds leading augmented reality (AR) software development kit with over 1 billion installs. On the show, Monteiro discusses how her background with the United Nations and education give…
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In this week's mega-sized episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Richard Levy, a multi-hyphenate with more than 40 years of experience spanning the entertainment, toy, publishing, and licensing industries. On the show, Levy —who once worked in marketing for Paramount Pictures — shares stories of his ear…
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In this week's episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Martin and Alysha Horstman, the creators of Pixicade, an innovative new platform that kids can use to transform their drawings into playable mobile games. On the show, Albritton chats with the husband and wife duo about how Martin's tech skills and A…
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In this week's episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Monsterfoot Productions' Ahmet Zappa to the show. Zappa is a multihyphenate whose work spans publishing, TV and film, music, and more. He produced Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green and created the Star Darlings property, and now he's gearing up …
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In this week's episode of the "Power Kid Podcast," host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes CreateOn's Steve Rosen and Aaron Singer to the show. CreateOn's partnership with Magna-Tiles is rapidly expanding to included licensed building sets from iconic brands, including Sesame Street, Dr. Seuss, The World of Eric Carle, Build-a-Bear Worksho…
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