Power Kid Podcast

Steve Starobinsky and the team at Diverse Marketing have a long history of tracking trends and working with the best brands in toy and gift. Tune in as Steve and I discuss how trends develop in mass and specialty markets. He also walks us the though this years fidget spinner craze. Steve is a trade show connoisseur and so I take the opportunity to ask him about all of the different shows he attends each year. This interview of FULL of unique trend insights for you as you develop your next product.

Her mother taught her probability by playing Yahtzee! This week you are invited to sit down at the game table with my excellent guest Kim Vandenbroucke and I as we discuss game design, pitching concepts and the rise in traditional game popularity. If you want a deep dive into the mind of a successful game inventor this episode is for you! Follow her blog at www.thegameaisle.com where she plays and reviews all types of games.

This week I speak to Steve Reece. Steve owns and operates the toy industry consultancy KidsBrandInsight.com. He is a wealth of knowledge from brand positioning to play testing to manufacturing. We discuss his work in the industry and the opportunities of sourcing and manufacturing in India. ••• In the second half of the show we discuss some important recent events - including his views on the Toys R Us bankruptcy and the potential Hasbro acquisition of Mattel. You won’t want to miss this one!

In this important show youth culture specialist Gregg Whitt stops by to discuss the challenges of capturing the attention of tweens, teens and young adults. He has spent his career studying this segment and helping brands to engage with them. How does your brand speak to tweens and teens? What mistakes is your brand making trying to reach this elusive market? How can the toy and game industry better engage with and win them? We cover it all here!

This week we welcome Lynn Rosenblum to the mic. Lynn is a 30 year veteran of the toy industry and is a recognized marketing and trend expert. She is an educator at the Otis College of Art and Design and is regularly called on to be an expert legal witness within the industry. Listen in as we discuss Kelly Clarkson, toy branding, boomerabilia and more!

Today we welcome Emile Kalis to the show. Emile is the General Manager of award winning game manufacturer Identity Games. We go in depth about the creation and marketing of some of their great games including Escape Room, Who's the Dude and Mouthguard Challenge. 

The owner of Toyrecruiter.com, David Fitzgibbons, stops by today and gives us powerful information about what you need to make it in the modern toy industry. He has spent his career placing top talent with great toy companies. Design, marketing, management, and sales we cover it all in this show. What does he look for when recruiting? Find out now!

This week I interview Ashley Mady. Ashley is the owner of the brand creation and licensing agency Brandberry. She also serves as the President of Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment, a global non-profit. Listen in as she shares her amazing experience and tells us about her new Kickstarter project - Mad Moves!

Ryan Stewart is a serial entrepreneur and inventor of Artsplash. Artsplash was the winner of ABC's The Toy Box and was immediately released to the market after the show finale. Listen in to hear Ryan tell where the idea came from and how his persistence paid off!

Today we interview Stephen Key. Stephen was a key contributor to some of the best loved toys and games of the past including Teddy Ruxpin and Lazer Tag. Today he and his team help thousands of people realize their dreams of licensing their inventions to manufacturers.

In this episode we interview play expert Amanda Gummer. She has spent her career researching play and child development and is an amazing resource for toy companies worldwide!

Welcome to the first episode of the Power Kid Podcast! We are dedicated to bringing you exciting interviews with amazing people making amazing things for kids. Toys, games, books, we cover it all right here. Enjoy!