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:
If 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
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
