Shows
Board Game Biz podcastEp 7 - Reality Check: Can You Earn A Living From Board Games Making a living through board games or tabletop games might seem like a dream come true, but is it truly feasible? In this episode, we dive deep into the economics and realities of the board game industry. We'll explore what it takes to turn your passion into a full-time career, from designing and publishing your own games to working within the industry in various roles. The episode is hosted by our very own Games business veteran Steve Reece, who has worked in the business of Board Games since the turn of the millennium, thus proving t...2024-11-2623 min
Board Game Biz podcastEpisode 5 - How To Sell Board GamesWelcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast your go-to source for insights into the board games industry. In this episode, renowned expert in the commercialisation of Board Games, Steve Reece, takes us through How To Sell Board Games. Today, we'll explore the essential steps to successfully market and sell your board game. From understanding your target audience and crafting compelling pitches to leveraging social media and maximizing retail opportunities, we'll cover all the bases. We'll also discuss common pitfalls and how to avoid them, ensuring that your game not only reaches the market but thrives. 2024-11-1815 min
Board Game Biz podcastEpisode 4 - 5 Common Reasons Why People Fail To Get Their Game To Market Welcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast where we delve into the fascinating intricacies of the board games industry. In this episode, host (and well known Board Games Industry Expert) Steve Reece, talks us through "5 Common Reasons Why People Fail To Get Their Game To Market." Bringing a board game to market can be an exciting yet challenging journey. Many aspiring game designers face obstacles that prevent their game from reaching store shelves. Today, we'll explore the top five reasons why these efforts often fall short. From common pitfalls in game design and production issues to m...2024-11-1819 min
Board Game Biz podcastEpisode 3 - The Many Benefits Of Playing Board GamesWelcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast, where we explore the fascinating business of (non-digital) Games. Our host is Board Games business expert Consultant, Steve Reece, and in today's episode, we're delving into The Many Benefits of Playing Board Games. Board games are not just about fun and entertainment—they offer a multitude of benefits that can enrich people's lives in various ways. From fostering social connections and improving cognitive skills to reducing stress and enhancing creativity, the impact of board games goes far beyond the gaming table. We'll uncover how playing board games can strengthen fa...2024-11-1816 min
Board Game Biz podcastEpisode 2 - Understanding How Board Games Retail WorksWelcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ podcast where we delve into the intricacies of the board games industry. Host, and Board Games industry expert, Steve Reece, takes us through today's episode - Understanding How Board Games Retail Works. Navigating the retail landscape can be complex, but it's essential for the success of any board game. From selecting the right distribution channels to understanding retail pricing strategies, we'll cover it all. We'll also discuss how to establish and maintain relationships with retailers, the importance of packaging and shelf appeal, and how to leverage retail data to boost...2024-11-1816 min
Board Game Biz podcastAn Overview of The Board Games BusinessWelcome to the first episode of The BOARD GAME BIZ podcast where we dive deep into the business of board games (also including Card Games, Tabletop Games and any other physical i.e. non-digital Game formats!). The host of the show is renowned Games industry veteran and expert on the commercial side of the world of Games, Steve Reece. In this inaugural episode, we're starting with a comprehensive overview of the Board Games business. We'll explore the key components that drive the board game market,. Whether you're an aspiring game creator, a Game entrepeneur, a seasoned professional, o...2024-11-1819 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 110 - So You Invented A Board Game, Now What? How To Commercially Launch Your GameIn this episode, board games business expert Steve Reece of www.KidsBrandInsight.com runs through the steps in completing a commercial launch of a board game (also includes a card game or other cardboard based Games). If you are wondering what you need to do next after you came up with the idea of a Game and made a Gameplay mechanic, then this episode is for you.2024-09-2523 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 108, Toy Biz India Trade Show ReviewThis episode reviews the Toy Biz trade show event in Delhi. This time round more than 400 exhibitors were at the show. Host Steve Reece runs through his experience at the event, and discusses the many opportunities for Toy & Game companies in India.2024-07-1518 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 106 - Board Games: 10 Key Success Factors AKA What I learnt Working On The Best & Worst Selling Games Of All TimeIn this latest episode host Steve Reece shares 10 Key Success Factors for Board Games based on decades working with and on some of the most iconic Games of all times, including Hasbro's stable of Family Games such as Monopoly. Clue/do, Risk, Game of Life and many more. Unusually Steve also acknowledges working on the worst selling board game of all time, as well as the best. If you are in the business of Games this is a must listen episode. Sign up for our free email newsletter on the Toy & Games industry he...2024-02-2224 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 104: 2024 Global Toy Market Outlook, Another Year Beckons2020 and 2021 were unexpectedly boom years for the Toy business overall as locked down families invested out of season in play activities for their homebound children. 2022 and 2023 were significantly worse years for the Toy trade. The question now is what happens in 2024? Host Steve Reece talks through the factors affecting Toy market performance in 2024 in this latest episode. For more Toy business analysis, check out our Linked In newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/toy-industry-journal-6910540635838013441/2024-01-0530 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 103 - Why Product Selection Is Critical For Toy Companies (AKA Why I Turned Down Settlers of Catan)In this episode we take a look at how choosing the right products to launch is the fundamental success factor for Toy & Games companies. Host Steve Reece uses an example of when he turned down a now famous & massively successful product as an example of how sometimes turning away good products is necessary in order to focus on what will work best for your company and the business model and market positioning of your company. For more analysis & insights into the global Toy market, check out our Linked In newsletter which has 5000+ subscribers (including readers f...2023-11-2919 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 101, How To Run A Successful Tech Toy Start Up With HoloToyzIn this latest episode host Steve Reece talks to Kate Scott & Declan Fahy, the Founders of Holo Toyz. Their company aims to inspire creativity and imagination via augmented reality technology. Kate stated "At our core, we believe that children should be able to experiment, play and learn through emerging technologies in a kid-safe environment away from the open web, whilst not losing touch with the physical world." We discuss this proposition, and the path from starting the business, through raising funding to achieving distribution for HoloToyz products. This episode is a must listen f...2023-09-2642 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 100 - How To Recruit Good People & Find New Job Roles In The Toy BusinessJoin Steve Reece in a deep dive into the toy industry's recruitment nuances. Drawing from over a decade as a consultant, Steve unveils key strategies for companies to recruit effectively and tips for candidates to land their ideal roles. Whether you're hiring or job-hunting, discover invaluable insights to navigate the toy business world. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are: Export Sales Consultancy - let us...2023-08-0827 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 97 - Unchanging Fundamentals Of The Toy & Game BusinessWe are living through times of massive change and disruption. Technology is advancing at a frighteningly quick rate, and the very fabric of society has been changed by our adoption and development of new technologies. However, despite that there are 5 unchanging fundamentals of the Toy & Games business. In this podcast your host Steve Reece takes a look at what has not changed in his nearly 25 years in the Toy business, and what is unlikely to change looking forward another 25 years into the future. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We ha...2023-04-1218 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 96, 5 Characteristics Of Best Selling Toys & GamesThere are some recurring characteristics of best selling Toys & Games. In this episode we run through the 5 most important features. This is not so much creative inspiration as it is a ticklist for new Toy & Games products in development. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are: Export Sales Consultancy - let us help you sell more of your products overseas. Growth Consultancy for start u...2023-03-2319 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 95, How To Sell More Toys & Games InternationallyRegardless of which country is your home market, the opportunity outside your borders is greater...in this episode we take a look at some simple ways to significantly increase your export sales of Toys & Games. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are: Export Sales Consultancy - let us help you sell more of your products overseas. Growth Consultancy for start ups with funding 'Traditional' d...2023-03-1518 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP94 - 5 Key Tips To Find & Validate New Toy FactoriesEp 94 - 5 Key Tips To Find & Validate New Toy Factories In this episode host Steve Reece talks about his experience helping more than 100 Toy & Game companies find manufacturing around the world, and he shares 5 key tips for finding & validating new Toy factories. We look at why most companies make a massive mistake by focusing on manufacturing cost as the primary assessment factor for a new Toy & Game factory, and much more. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in t...2023-03-0917 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 93 - Excess Inventory Kills Toy & Games CompaniesExcess inventory bleeds Toy & Games companies to death, unless the company makes bold steps to reduce the size of the problem. In this episode we cover in detail the issues caused by excess inventory, why inventory represents a recurring challenge which needs to be constantly managed and we look at some case studies of best and worst practise. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are:2023-03-0217 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 92 Spielwarenmesse-Nuremberg 2023 Toy Fair ReviewThis episode reviews the 2023 Spielwarenmesse Toy Trade show in Nuremberg. This show is the biggest trade show covering the Toy business in the world. This show marked Steve's 21st visit, and in this episode he talks through how the show went, the outlook for the Toy business in 2023 and much more. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are: Export Sales Consultancy - let us h...2023-02-1519 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 91 - UK Toy Fair 2023 Report & UK Toy Market Update...Report on UK Toyfair 2023, with a short UK Toy Market update based on newly available year end 2022 Toy market performance. Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as well as 100+ startups and small businesses. Our main areas of business are: Export Sales Consultancy - let us help you sell more of your products overseas. Growth Consultancy for start ups with funding 'Traditional' distribution Consultancy for companies who launched with success on Amazon and want a fast track a...2023-01-3013 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 90, Global Toy Business Outlook 20232022 was a tough year for the Toy business. But finally that's over...now we can look ahead to what 2023 will bring. In this podcast we look at the 4 key factors driving 2023's Toy market: 1. RETAIL INVENTORY LEVELS 2. CHINA'S RE-OPENING 3. INFLATION RATE & CONSUMER DISPOSABLE INCOME 4. TOYETIC MOVIE SLATE We explain in full detail on this episode of the podcast... Our business is a Consultancy to Toy & Games companies. We have worked with more than half of the biggest Toy companies in the world, as w...2023-01-1922 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 89, The Future Of Toys Part 4: Toy ManufacturingThe Toy industry does not spend enough time worrying about available production capacity. For decades we have presumed that we can get our Toys & Games produced from the same old factories in China...but things have changed... ...and the pace of change may be set to accelerate. We discuss what Toy manufacturing will look like in the future in this episode.2023-01-0223 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 88, THE FUTURE OF TOYS: PART 3 - CONSUMERSIn the third episode of this podcast series we take a further look at The Future Of Toys, this time looking at Toy & Game Consumers. We discuss what areas could see the most change, the areas which will most likely stay the same as well as identifying one massive threat to the Toy industry and at the same time one massive opportunity.2022-12-0121 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 87, The Future Of Toys: Part 2 - ProductIn the 2nd in this series we take a look at the most fun part of the Toy business - Products! Most people who work in the Toy business do so because they love Toys, most of us have a collection of the Products we have worked on around us as we work. The podcast looks at some fundamental factors of Toy products which are unlikely to change, even far out into the future, and we also look at how Technology will facilitate deeper play experiences and interactions with Toys.2022-11-1522 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 86, The Future Of Toys, Part 1: RetailIn the 1st of a series of podcasts looking at the future of the toy business we begin with a look at Retail - how it's evolved, how it affects the toy business today and what future changes we can expect to see. Many fundamentals stay the same, we discuss these key areas in this podcast, but we also look at how technology is evolving constantly and affecting Toy Retail as a result.2022-11-0112 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 85, The 5 Hard Learnt Truths About The Toy & Game BizHuman beings tend to learn best by making mistakes. In this podcast we look at the 5 big learnings that toy & game people have to make...ideally as inexpensively as possible! There are 5 big areas where toy & games companies can really mess up, listen to the podcast to find out more about what they are.2022-09-2816 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 84, LOCALISATION: THE UNDERVALUED SALES DRIVER FOR TOYS & GAMESLocalisation is normally the poor cousin to the more exciting and glamorous parts of developing a toy or game product and bringing them to market. Yet localisation is a critical functionality and process for maximising the commercial success (or otherwise) of our products. In this episode we look at the key elements of localisation, and I share a few amusing anecdotes which show how localisation done badly can cause unintended consequences & commercial failure.2022-09-1521 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 83, The 5 Key Ingredients Of Massive Hit Toys & GamesProducts tend to vary from category to category, but at the heart of any top selling you will normally find most or all of the 5 key ingredients we run through in Episode 83 of the Playing At Business podcast. We discuss successful products such as Spin Master's Paw Patrol ranges, Monopoly board game & the truly iconic Rubiks Cube. This episode is for anyone who hopes to develop & launch a top-selling toy or game.2022-07-2013 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 82, How To Manage A Drop In Consumer Demand For Toys & GamesIt's looking like 2022 is panning out to be a tough year in the toy & game biz! The question is what companies can do in the face of a drop in consumer demand. The reality for most companies is that they have not faced a significant drop in market size, at least not for a very long time. For sure companies revenues will have gone up and down due to competition and the quality of their own product lines, but most of us have not had to deal with a strong decline in the toy market. In this...2022-07-1321 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 81, How To Manage A Toy Company In An Ever Changing WorldThe world has changed so much in the past couple of decades. Sometimes the rate of change can be bamboozling...but there are some underlying fundamentals of managing toy & game businesses which haven't changed. Listen to Episode 81 to find out more...2022-07-0618 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 80, Why Big Toy Companies Morph Into Entertainment CompaniesOne of the major trends in the toy business in the last decade or more is the morphing of the major toy companies into cross platform entertainment companies. In this episode of the Playing At Business podcast we take a look at this trend, and we also look at what smaller companies can do to try to compete in the entertainment world to capture the opportunities to sell more toys!2022-07-0118 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 79, The Key Success Factor For Board Games Is...There is one fundamental success factor for board games which is overwhelmingly present in the most successful board games of all time. From Chess to Clue/do, and from Monopoly to Mousetrap, any board game which sticks in the market features this one fundamental feature at the very core of the gameplay mechanic. It isn't glitzy marketing, it isn't necessarily a beautiful looking game box, but what it is reaches to the very heart of human existence. We reveal what this factors is at the start of this podcast... 2022-06-2416 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 78, Consumer Playtesting. The Secret Weapon Of Successful Toy & Games CompaniesToy & games companies generally don't test their products enough with consumers. We all know how much testing goes into ensuring products are compliant with safety standards, but what about testing to see if they are compliant with functionality, fun and general appeal to kids & their parents? Consumer research playtesting is the not so secret, but shamefully under-utilised weapon of toy & game companies. All the major global toy companies have extensive consumer research programs, but as we discuss in this podcast, research doesn't necessarily have to be expensive to be useful.2022-06-1416 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 77, The Impact Of Inflation On The Toy & Games BusinessInflation is very high in most western markets right now. This is a challenge for the toy industry to manage, because our products are discretionary purchases, and when mandatories such as food and heating increase in price, this can reduce the amount of available funds consumers have to buy toys. In this episode we look at the current drivers of inflation, we look at the time it is likely to take for this inflation to diminish and we look at how toy & games companies can best navigate the muddy waters of inflationary times!2022-06-0717 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 76, Electronic Toys, The Biggest Fundamental Failure FactorElectronic Toys are not new. The toy business has a long history of dumbing and pricing down electronics & tech in general into toy formats and toy price points. In the end though, whether these tech toys work or not in the market doesn't come down to the tech/electronic itself. Listen to Episode 76 to find out what really matters even more!2022-05-1614 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 75, The Creative Play Category: Key Success FactorsCreative Play toys have been around for a long time, but this isn't an easy space with so many generic stationery products and 'Me too' generic kits for sale straight from the factory gate in China. In Episode 75, we take a look at the key success factors, and how companies can build brands in this space & win over the long term.2022-05-1216 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 74, Nearshoring For Toy Manufacturing: A Reality CheckWith soaring container shipping prices, Covid lockdowns and rising costs in China, many toy companies have begun to look at 'Nearshore' option for manufacturing. We run through the pros, cons and realities of Nearshoring in this episode of the Playing At Business podcast.2022-05-1022 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 73 - The Intersection Between Toys & Video GamesNot that many people know that the video game business was considered to be part of the broader toy business for quite some time before it eventually became clear that the Video Games business was a bigger beast than its parent! In this episode of the Playing At Business podcast we talk through the differences between the Toy and the Video games business models, as well as looking at other points of intersection between the two.2022-05-0422 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 72, HOW TO FIND & VALIDATE GOOD TOY FACTORIESToy companies (both big & small) rely heavily on the factories they work with. Every time they produce a toy your reputation and potentially your business rest on the factory & their complying with safety, ethical and quality standards. Competitive pricing is also a concern of course, manufacturing spend is the biggest cost for toy & game companies, so comparatively small savings in percentage terms can add to up to significant money. In Episode 72 of the PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast we take a look at how to find and then validate good reliable toy factories. We have worked with many d...2022-04-2819 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 71, The Inevitable Rise Of India As A Toy Manufacturing HubThe toy business is moving from a single hub (China) sourcing model to a multi-hub model. India is the only other country with comparable population size, with abundant cheap production line labour and existing industrial capacity and domain expertise in plastics. There are many more reasons though why India's rise in toy manufacturing is an inevitability. The current manufacturing solutions in India are not perfect, but as the toy business begins to clamour for ever more production capacity outside of China, only India has the potential to scale up capacity to levels like we have seen develop i...2022-04-2024 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 70, The 10 Commandments Of The Toy BusinessThere are some core fundamental practises that successful toy & games companies follow. If you look at any company operating in the toy biz with longevity and success, they will no doubt be following these 10 'Commandments'. 2022-04-2021 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 69, HOW TO MAKE TOYS KIDS WANTSometimes toy companies get so lost in their own internal processes and stakeholder conversations that they forget to think about what their end consumer i.e. children will want out of a product. We run through how to make toys that kids will want in this episode of the Playing At Business podcast.2022-04-1419 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 68, Understanding The Toy Market In France With Yann FresnelFrance is one of Europe's 'BIG 3' toy & game markets. In this episode we speak to Yann Fresnel (of Toy Influence), who has extensive commercial experience in the French toy market. We discuss his career in toys, what companies need to understand about the market in France and also look at how his company helps with market entry in 'La Republique francaise'. This episode contains a lot of very useful and insightful information - for example we discuss how the Games category accounts for nearly one fifth of the entire toy market in France. For more key...2022-03-3052 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 67, How To Acquire New Retail CustomersSelling your products into Retail is rarely easy, but getting into those accounts in the first place is one of the hardest elements of starting a toy or game business. Even for established companies persuading new customers to come on board can be tough. In this episode of PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast we take a look at this topic and look at some fundamentals of acquiring new customers.2022-03-2315 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 66, The 10 Biggest Changes In The Toy BusinessThe only constant is change! The toy & game business is ever evolving. Over time we have observed many fundamental changes in the business itself but also in the world around us which also affects the world of toys. In this episode we run through the 10 biggest changes we have observed over time, and how that helps us predict & prepare for the future.2022-03-1624 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceADVERTORIAL - OUR CONSULTING SERVICES EXPLAINEDThis not a podcast episode, instead it is an advertorial in which host Steve Reece talks at length about his own experience in the toy & game business and how our Consultancy business came about. We wanted to put this recording up to explain how we work and what we do in more detail for anyone who is interested. We talk through each of our Consultancy services in detail. Normal service on the PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast will resume very soon!2022-03-1429 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 65 - The Business Of Licensed ToysLicensed products are a major feature of the toy & games business. In this episode we take a look at the key elements of licensed toys & games in terms of standard deal terms to acquire licenses, the do's and dont's of licensing and we take a look at what a healthy approach to licensing looks like for toy & games companies.2022-03-1024 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 64 - How To Approach The European Toy MarketEurope remains a major region for the toy business, but it is a very fragmented region with more than 40 countries/territories, along with many languages, cultures and peoples. In this episode we discuss how to approach this potentially lucrative but highly fragmented market.2022-03-0326 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 63 - Key Elements Of Successful Collectable ToysThe Collectables toy category has been a major pillar of the toy business for a long time now. But the costs and risks of trying to enter this category can be high, while product launches tend to be very hit or miss. In this episode of The PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast we look at the key success factors for Colelctable toy product lines.2022-02-2523 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEP 62 - Effective Toy Packaging - Best PractiseToy & Game packaging is often more important than the product within in terms of motivating someone to buy the product in the first place. There are some fundamentals of effective toy packaging, as well some very common mistakes. We run through all of this in Episode 62 of The PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast.2022-02-2519 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 61 - Making It As A Toy Inventor With The Toy Coach - Azhelle WadeInventors are critically important to the toy & games business. On this episode we talk to Azhelle Wade - The Toy Coach - about her work helping Inventors to get their toys & games to market. Azhelle's positive energy shines through in this episode. We discuss the top tips she shares with Inventors and her Toy Creators Academy which helps inventors to develop commercially viable products and bring them to market. For any budding or established toy inventors this is a must listen episode!2022-02-1847 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 60, How To Succeed In The Board Games BusinessThe board games category has increasingly low barriers of entry. Whereas toys may require significant tooling investment, cardboard games basically require a great gameplay mechanism & some eye catching graphic design...but surely there is more to it than that? In this latest episode of the PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast we take a look at the key factors for success for board games companies of all shapes & sizes.2022-02-0718 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 59, Why Working In The Toy Biz Is A Great Thing To DoFor most people working in the toy business, the day to day focus is on the nuts and bolts of their role in the company they work for. Few take the time to consider just how much good the toy & game business does in the world at large. That's what we discuss in this episode of the PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast - coming straight from the heart we take a look at all the good the toy business as a whole and the people within it do.2022-02-0721 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 58, How To Successfully Enter New Toy CategoriesFor any company who has been in business for a while, entering into new product categories becomes an obvious but not entirely risk free move. In this episode of the PLAYING AT BUSINESS podcast we take a look at why companies choose to enter into new product areas, how self-awareness is one of the most important things to consider and how successful companies enter new product categories and minimise the risk of failure in doing so.2022-01-2620 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve Reece5 Key Success Elements Of Presenting & Selling Toy ProductsEffectively presenting products is one of the most critical skills for people in the commercial departments of the toy industry. In Episode 57 of the Playing At Business podcast we take a look at 5 key success elements of effectively presenting toy products. It isn't just a case of showing how the product works (although that's part of it). There is much more to presenting products well enough to sell them. Check out this week's episode to find out more!2022-01-2026 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 56 - The Enduring Appeal of Spider-ManSpider-Man has been around since first appearing in comic books back in the early 1960s. Today Spider-Man is a mighty movie and entertainment franchise - the 5th biggest grossing movie franchise of all time in fact, with the most recent instalment: Spider-Man No Way Home heading towards the Top 10 grossing movies of all time. Spider-Man has also been a strong presence in toy aisles for decades. In this episode of the Playing At Business podcast we take a look at the factors driving the enduring appeal of Spider-Man and why Spidey is such a good fit with t...2022-01-0419 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 55, The Growing Importance Of Toy CollectorsOnce seen as a slightly strange thing to do, today toy collecting is very much a thing. Major companies like Hasbro and Mattel have extensive programs and platforms to nurture, grow and monetise fans and collectors of their brands and products. In this episode, we talk about all things toy collectors, and why they are of increasing financial importance to the global toy business.2021-12-1516 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 54, Why Toy Trade Shows Are Your No. 1 Selling OpportunityTens of thousands of visitors, thousands of exhibitors - toy trade shows represent the biggest opportunity to get face to face with the most people who can advance your toy & game business. In this episode we discuss trade shows and how to get the most out of them, as well as taking a look at the major toy trade shows coming up soon.2021-12-0716 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 53, How To Find Alternative Toy Manufacturing HubsToy sourcing has never been more challenging than it is at the time of publishing this episode. Shipping costs have soared. Factories which have been supplying toy & games companies for decades are shutting in China. Alternative toy hubs are lacking in capacity as demand soars for toy manufacturing away from China. China will still have a key role, but it will be a lesser role over time, as some production ebbs away. In this episode we discuss all these things and look at the pros and cons of particular toy manufacturing hubs including Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Eastern Europe and...2021-12-0120 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 52, From Target Toy Buyer To Toy Salesman with Paul DixonPaul Dixon has had an amazing career, and amassed huge life wisdom. He talks us through his career and shares some deep insights into life on Episode 52 of the Playing At Business podcast. Paul worked as a Toy Buyer for major mass market retailer TARGET. He has run his own consumer products business, and also worked as a Toy salesman. He offers strong insights into how toy retail buying works, and explains how he managed having moved to become a sales man. He also discusses having been in New York on 9/11/2001, and the impact that terrible event...2021-11-2650 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 51, How To Access Asian Toy Markets with Matteo VezzosiMatteo Vezzosi is the Executive Director at the Asia Toy & Play Association. In this episode we discuss with him the toy markets of Asia, and how toy companies can access those markets. For anyone interested in distributing their toy products across Asia, this is a must listen episode.2021-11-1641 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 50, The 2022 Movie Slate & The Toy BusinessWe never expected to get to 50 Episodes but we did! Celebrate with us as we review our experience of interviewing people from across the toy business for the last 3 years. We also discuss the massive 2022 movie slate, packed full of toyetic blockbusters & what the likely impact is on the toy business.2021-11-1018 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe 4 Lifestages Of Toy & Game CompaniesThere are 4 distinct lifestages of toy companies. The product development and marketing initiatives the company chooses to run, the company strategy and management are all influenced by, if not defined by the lifestage. In this episode, Steve Reece takes his usual approach of strategic thinking with a no nonsense, no corporate speak delivery to explain the key differences between companies at each stage of growth, and how each tends to or needs to operate differently.2021-11-0420 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceEp 48, Global Toy Industry Outlook for 20222021 has been an 'interesting' year for the global toy business. 2022 looks set to be another challenging year with various head winds and disruptive factors affecting the toy business., but with some accompanying tailwinds. In this episode, Steve Reece explains his analysis of the prospects for the toy category for 2022 based on more than 2 decades of analysing and working within the toy business. Overall, the outlook is positive, but it yet again won't be plain sailing! Listen in for more toy market analysis on 2022.2021-10-2721 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe Biggest Sourcing Mistake Most Toy Companies Are MakingThese are turbulent times for supply chain managers in the toy business. Some of the challenges though could have been more easily managed if toy companies had avoided the one major mistake they seem to make by default. Aside from container shipping being exorbitant and timings unreliable, there have been many other issues along the way which make Sourcing harder. By taking a more strategic approach toy companies can get out ahead of the problems and resolve them with less stress and less impact. This is a must listen episode for anyone involved...2021-10-1919 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe Effectiveness Of Toy Trade Press with John BaulchJohn Baulch's Toy World magazine has just celebrated 10 years in business. We talk to John in this episode discussing how toy trade magazines can help toy & game companies of all size communicate to the toy trade and make better progress. We discuss trends and changes in the toy business which John has observed in his nearly 40 years in the business and we discuss the forthcoming trade show cycle. John Baulch is one of the best connected people in the world of toys & games, so for anyone wanting to know more about what really happens in the toy business, this...2021-10-1545 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceAll About Toy Licensing with Anita CastellarAnita Castellar has a wealth of experience in the world of Licensing having worked for Lucasfilm, Hasbro and The Walt Disney Company. We discuss trends in licensing and the state of the licensing business today. For those who are interested in toy licensing this is a must listen episode!2021-10-0537 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceWhat's Going On In The U.S. Toy Market with Lutz MullerLutz Muller is a leading Consultant to financial companies looking to understand what is going on in the toy business. In this episode loves comments on everything he sees going on in the toy trade this year.2021-09-2937 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceTalking Toys & Games with Tim Walsh - The Play Maker!Tim Walsh has a wealth of experience and insight about the toy & game business. Having come into the market with hit game Tribond, he has worked on many successful products over time. He has also come to the fore in recent times for his YouTube channel featuring origin stories of iconic toys & games. This is a fascinating interview with someone who deeply understands our business.2021-09-2246 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceUnderstanding The UK Games Business with Ben Hogg of Vivid GoliathBen Hogg has been working in the toy & games business since childhood, thanks to a family owned toy retail business. In this episode we talk about how his adult career in the Games business started and we discuss his work across all sides of the UK games business, from specialist niche games through to his being part of the team that successfully launched smash hit game Dobble in the UK. We discuss the marketing model for games and how TV advertising can still work but also look at how organic growth can create long term success in the games...2021-09-0245 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve Reece5 Ways To Waste Toy Marketing BudgetsThe toy & game business is generally speaking marketing driven. In this episode Steve Reece discusses the bewildering array of marketing tools, platforms and media open to toy & game companies today. We also look at the 5 easiest ways to completely waste your marketing spend, and in doing so highlight the best way to get maximum value from marketing spend. For toy & game companies interested in increasing the impact of their marketing on their business this is a must listen episode.2021-08-0626 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceKids Know Best with Joel SilvermanKidsKnowBest is a fast growing digital media agency focused on children. In this episode we interview co-Founder Joel Silverman about the company, their approach to creating compelling content and insightful understanding of how kids think. We also discuss his journey from hairdresser to celebrities in London's ritzy Mayfair to heading up a growing force in the toy & games business. For anyone interested in understanding digital marketing for the toy industry today, this is a must listen episode.2021-07-2949 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReecePuzzling Around with Amanda Chaplin of Gibson GamesThe Puzzles category has had a great time during the pandemic, new generations of puzzlers have been 'born' out of all the lockdowns around the world. In this episode of our Playing At Business podcast we talk to Amanda Chaplin of Gibsons Games to delve deeper into the world of puzzles and to discuss Gibsons' perennial classic games - their portfolio includes 2 of our all time favourite games - Diplomacy & 221B Baker Street! Amanda is clearly passionate about puzzles and games, and also about Gibsons position as a more than 100 year old board games company thriving in...2021-07-2346 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve Reece7 Key Lessons From Working In RetailIn this episode, Steve Reece shares 7 key learnings from his time working in the toy & seasonal department of a major retailer. This episode looks at the importance taking a practical approach to merchandising, takes a look inside a decision by a retail buyer to delist a brand, and outlines key timeless learnings from the world of retail. 2021-07-1321 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe Joy Of Toys with Peter Jenkinson of ToyologyPeter Jenkinson is Mr. Toys, a man who is well known to those within the European as one of the most passionate advocates for toys & games, both on an individual product basis and for the industry overall. We discuss what is going on with the toy trade nowadays and get Peter's insights into major trends including sustainability, the Kiddult category and so much more!2021-07-0741 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceUnderstanding The Current Shipping Chaos: What's Happening & What To Do About it - Episode 36The toy & game business is currently facing massive challenges with shipping. Shipments are delayed, and container shipping costs have soared to plainly ridiculous, unviable levels. In Episode 36 of the Playing At Business podcast we take a look at what's currently going on, how long this disruption is likely to last for & what toy & game companies can do about it. 2021-06-2425 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceInside An Indian Toy Factory with Chintan Parekh, Episode 35India is a fast rising toy manufacturing hub. In this episode of the Playing At Business podcast we interview the owner of a leading toy factory in India. There are cost savings to be made by switching some toy manufacturing from China to India, and in this episode we take a look at what drives those cost savings. We also find out about iTech Plast, the factory owned and operated by Chintan Parekh. For anyone wanting to find out more about how toy manufacturing works outside of China, and specifically in India this podcast episode should be insightful.2021-06-1725 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceBrand Licensing In The Toy Business: How It Works & How To Manage It Well -Episode 34Toy & game business expert Steve Reece talks through brand licensing and how it works in the toy business. He outlines some of the key opportunities presented by licensing, as well as the risks both financial and otherwise. He also discusses the key to negotiating good licensing deals. For anyone interested in toys & brand licensing, this should be an informative episode of the Playing At Business podcast.2021-06-0931 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve Reece20 Things I Learnt From 20+ Years In The Toy & Game BusinessIn episode 33 of the Playing At Business podcast, Steve Reece lists out the top 20 things he has learnt from more than 2 decades working across regions, product categories and companies in the toy & game industry. Steve has worked for, with and on some of the most iconic toy & game brands out there - including Monopoly, Play-Doh, Disney & many more. On this episode Steve runs through his top 20 lessons learnt covering topics from product development to sales, and from manufacturing to marketing. This episode should be interesting to both those who are fairly new to t...2021-06-0431 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe Future of Toy Retail with David RipleyDavid Ripley has extensive experience in the toy business, having worked as a Toy Buyer and in more senior commercial roles for major UK retailers. He has also worked for and with a number of online platforms. As such, David is very well placed to offer unique insights into a broad range of topics from how Toy buyers select products, to where Toy retail is today, we discuss major e-commerce platforms, as well as the future of toy retail. For anybody who is interested in the commercial side of the toy business, this really is a must listen episode.2021-05-2752 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceRunning Successful Toy Marketing Campaigns with Dean Weller of Generation MediaDean Weller is the expert's expert when it comes to marketing and buying media for toys & games. In this broad ranging episode of the Playing At Business podcast, we talk about how marketing has changed over time, we run through the typical weight of a toy marketing campaign today looking at the percentage of spend typically spent on TV advertising vs digital advertising, we talk about Dean's own career journey and we talk about the future of marketing. This is one of the most insightful podcast episodes we have recorded. Enjoy!2021-05-1442 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceThe Massive Growth Of Chinese Factories Developing Their Own Toys & Games - Episode 30China has played a critical role in building the global toy business as a massive hub of highly efficient toy and game production. As OEM contract manufacturing i.e. making toys for other people gets harder and harder to make a profit from, so an increasing number of Chinese toy factories are looking to move up the value chain & move towards being full toy companies themselves. with their own developed products and brands. This is one of the biggest under reported trends in the toy & games industry, find out more in this episode of the Playing At...2021-05-0518 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceReinventing Construction Toy Play with TOYI - Episode 29TOYI is an up and coming Construction Toy brand. There story is compelling - the concept started as a University project for co-Founder Elif Atmaca. From there TOYI was successfully funded on Kickstarter, and is now selling successfully around the world. TOYI's story is interesting because they are a few years into the business, with some degree of success already achieved and for those planning to start a toy business or who have recently started a toy business there story may be helpful. For experienced toy people, TOYI's fresh approach to the long established Construction Toy category...2021-04-3032 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceAugmented Reality & Toys with Wikitude's Paula MonteiroAugmented reality has been on the periphery of the toy business for some years now. Pokemon Go really brought the technology to the fore, leading to a major boost on Pokemon toy & card game sales. In this episode of the Playing At Business podcast we talk to Wikitude's Paula Monteiro about A.R. and the potential for toys. We also discuss some of the fantastic A.R. implementations Wikitude have created for world leading toy companies. Finally we also take a look at the (exciting) future of this technology This is a must listen episode f...2021-04-2140 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceHOW TO MAKE IT AS A TOY DESIGNER & INVENTOR with ADAM BORTONAdam Borton is a professional toy inventor and designer held within high regard in the toy business. Among other things he invented and licensed to Mattel the smash hit skill and action game 'Flushin' Frenzy'. In this podcast interview we talk about Adam's journey in the toy business, and about his new initiative: Toy And Game School, which aims to help those interested in how to design & make toys to get ahead in the toy business. Our favourite part of this interview is the part near the start where Adam casually discusses his 'luck' in finding freelance...2021-04-1448 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceHow To Be Successful As A Toy Retailer with Rick DerrRick Derr is a successful toy retailer with a strong social media profile, in fact, Rick puts a lot of his recent success down to his business heavily adopting social media marketing and advertising to drive traffic into store. We also discuss his winning strategy for bricks and mortar retail to work with Amazon not against them. This is a must listen episode.2021-04-0640 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceWhy Is India's Toy Manufacturing Sector Growing So Fast?India is the cause of much hype & speculation recently regarding the speed of growth of the toy manufacturing industry in India. With India being the only country in the world with a comparable population size and therefore potential workforce as China, and with low labour costs, India seems to be the primary beneficiary of the move of some degree of toy manufacturing out of China. In this podcast episode (Episode 25) we analyse what's going on, how companies can benefit from toy factories in India and what element of toy production is likely to remain in China.2021-03-2225 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReecePowerkid Phil Albritton on toy business podcasts & design innovation in toysIn Episode 24 of our Playing At Business podcast we interview Phil Albritton, founder and host of the Powerkid podcast, the original toy business podcast. Phil has been interviewing the cognoscenti of the toy industry for years now. Phil is also an innovation force in terms of the creative side of the toy business, his company Powerkid Design support toy companies on all elements of the product development process. It's always a pleasure to speak to Phil, and in this entertaining podcast episode you can find out why!2021-03-1847 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceTalking Toy Inventors & Brands Untapped with Billy LangsworthyBilly Langsworthy is Co-Founder of Mojo Nation, a company dedicated to celebrating the creativity of toy & game designers. Mojo Nation offers networking & pitch events for toy & game creators to get in front of toy companies who can license their products. We talk about toy & game inventing in this episode of our podcast. We also discuss Billy's work on their new venture: Brands Untapped, which is a news website dedicated to the business of licensing and brand extension.2021-03-0942 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceDisrupting The Board Games Business With The Fantastic FactoryThe Fantastic Factory create compelling board games. In this podcast we interview David Snow and Steve Evans, the brains behind the business. 'Disruptive' is an over used label these days, but there is no other way to describe the creativity lead approach of The Fantastic Factory. In a somewhat chaotic and occasionally hilarious interview we find out all about how these doyens of the board games business go about their craft. This is a must listen episode for anyone engaged in the business of creating and selling board games, but also compelling listening for anyone lo...2021-03-0542 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceHow To Start A Global Toy Trend with Choon NgIn Episode 21 of the Playing At Business podcast we talk to the creator of smash hit toy product 'Rainbow Loom'. Choon Ng has done something which very few people in the toy business have - he created and implemented a product which started a massive global toy fad. At the peak of Rainbow Loom's success, it was as big as anything out there, selling massive quantities and spurning many multi-million view YouTube videos of how to create with Rainbow Loom. On this episode of the Podcast Choon talks s through his journey in the toy business from start up...2021-02-2643 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceHow To Start A Successful New Toy BusinessNew toy businesses are the lifeblood of the industry. Today's start ups can become tomorrow's corporate behemoths. But there are a lot of hurdles and barriers in the way of success for those starting up a new toy business. In this latest podcast episode, toy industry expert Steve Reece runs through a few key areas which need to be well managed in order for new toy companies to grow profitably and to achieve success over time.2021-02-1722 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceToy Manufacturing Trends and Production Automation with Michele BovettiIn this wide ranging interview with toy manufacturing expert Michele Bovetti we discuss what's happening in toy manufacturing, we talk about how automation can decrease production costs and efficiencies saving costs for toy factories and their customers. We also talk about Michele's work in setting up numerous new factories in India & other countries. Michele's knowledge is deep and his experience broad, so anyone interested in toy manufacturing should find this podcast episode interesting.2021-02-1243 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceKid@Heart Steve Starobinsky on Toy Trends & Selling To WalmartSteve Starobinsky is a true Kid@Heart. His work as a futurist and toy trend expert has made him well known and well respected across the toy business. His work with Diverse Marketing (a leading U.S. sales agency) has given him something rare among toy trend observers - hard earned commercial grounding. In this wide ranging interview we cover anything from what are the top toy items and trends on the horizon, through to how future technologies will affect the toy business down to such toy business fundamentals as how to sell to the world's biggest toy retailer...2021-02-041h 34
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceGrowing Your Toy Business On Amazon with Asha BhalsodAmazon is an ever more important part of the toy & games business with growing market share in many major markets, and with new markets rolling out around the world. Selling via and to Amazon though is not the same as selling to a traditional toy retailer. Amazon is as much a platform as it is a retailer, in short, it needs a bespoke approach to be successful versus many thousands of other products. In this episode, we interview Asha Bhalsod of Etopia Consultancy about her work consulting with toy & game companies to help them manage their Amazon business efficiently...2021-01-2639 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceCreating Best Selling Board Games With Richard HeayesIn this episode of PLAYING AT BUSINESS we interview world renowned and highly experienced board games creator Richard Heayes. Richard talks us through his journey in the business, and about how he came to create one of (maybe THE) biggest and best selling board games brand extensions of all time. Richard's insights and sparky creative mind shine through in this interview. A must listen for involved in creating new board games.2021-01-1951 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceChina's Domestic Toy Market with Jacqueline VongChina is the world's second biggest toy market, with significant growth prospects ahead. In this episode we discuss the opportunities in the Chinese toy market with Jacqueline Vong of Playology International Inc, a leading Consultancy with expert insights to the domestic toy market in China. We also discuss content strategies, both in China and in North America. 2021-01-0539 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceSelling Toys & Games Across International MarketsIn Episode 14 of our Playing At Business podcast we give an overview of international toy markets at a topline level, and discuss why a bespoke approach to each country is likely to yield the best results. We discuss some of the Do's & Don't's of export sales for toys & games covering major markets including the USA, China, UK, France, Germany and others.2020-12-1731 minPlaying At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReeceGrowing An International Board Games Business with Emile KalisInterview with Emile Kalis, co-founder of Identity Games. The company was founded in The Netherlands in the 1990s, and has since established international reach with numerous great games achieving sales success across multiple markets. In this podcast Emile talks us through his journey in the board games business, and shares key insights he learnt along the way. A fascinating listen for anyone interested in the board games business.2020-12-1440 min
Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve ReecePlaying At Business Episode 12Playing At Business - a leading toy and game business podcast In this episode we interview Marc Fayad of Splash Toys, talking about their latest product launch: Sneak'Artz We also talk about the toy business in general and Marc's experience in the toy business. We discuss toy marketing, distribution across export markets and find out more about Splash Toys2020-12-0333 min