By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Toy inventors can get the opportunity of a lifetime, as People of Play’s Inventor & Innovation Conference kicks off on November 6.
Registered inventors can make appointments now with representatives from more than 80 toy and game companies including Disney, Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master and Moose Games. This year’s conference, sponsored by Mattel, Moose Games, Longshore, The Michael Kohner Corporation and TradeShowBooth.com, will be held November 6 through 9 at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois.
Attendees and registered inventors can get ready to learn, pitch and network their way to success with some of the most recognizable brands in the toy and game industry, with more than 50 companies and 20 countries represented so far. All attendees will receive a reusable gift tote with treats from Moose Games.
As well, People of Play has announced toy industry movers and shakers who will be speaking or leading seminars at what is the largest and longest-running events for toy inventors, including the four keynote speakers.
Azhelle Wade, the Toy Coach, will be this year’s emcee, while the keynote speakers will include Sharon Price John, Chairperson, President & CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop; Geoffrey Greenberg, Vice Chairperson, Co-CEO, Just Play; Anne Carrihill, Director, GM, Category Leader, Toys & Entertainment at Amazon; and Greg Ahearn, CEO and President of the Toy Association, who will act as Moderator.
The conference, which acts both as a networking and pitch opportunity for inventors, includes an educational component with industry experts providing valuable insights for those entering the booming toy and games industry.
The lineup of speakers include:
- Dougal Grimes – Founder of EightyTwo
- Leah Zalinski – Operations Consultant & Growth Strategist
- Rachele Harmuth – Head of Commercial at CrunchLabs
- Amy Friedland – Executive Vice President at Freeman Public Relations (recently acquired by Carve Communications)
- Christopher Byrne – The Toy Guy
- Azhelle Wade – The Toy Coach
- Jason Keener – Intellectual Property Attorney with Irwin IP
- Reid Huefner – Senior Attorney at Irwin IP
In addition to the various seminars, the conference includes a full day of mentoring opportunities.
Each New Inventor and University Design Student is paired with one of the Product Acquisition Executives, and will also be given a list of mentors to schedule meetings with, including industry experts such as Nancy Zwiers, Steve Rad, Joe Campos, Amy Friedland, Robert Coleman, Rachel Griffin, Rob Yusim, Lisa Wuennermann, Jason Keener, and many more still to be announced.
“If you have a product idea, you need to be at this conference,” said conference founder Mary Couzin. “We pride ourselves in creating the right environment so that both new and professional inventors can learn from each other, make the right connections and move forward, whether they have a winning idea, or if it’s a stepping stone to the next one.”
Conference participants can choose from four tracks available during the event, depending on their role and experience. These include the New Inventor/Innovation Track; the Professional Inventor Track for those with prior industry experience; the Product Acquisition Executive; and the University Design Student.
Conference Committee Chairperson Hasbro’s Angus Walker says the event is a highlight of his year, in an industry where innovation is quite literally the bedrock of success for toy companies.
“I look forward to the POP Inventor Conference and the TAGIEs every year,” Walker said. “The toy and game community is an amazing group of people. This event amplifies all that is great about it.
“Where else can creators, inventors, manufacturers, retailers, and toy & game companies all come together for a few days to learn, share cool ideas and, if lucky, make that connection that leads to the next big thing?
“The energy is so positive, and it reminds us of how lucky we are to do what we do,” Walker added. “The POP inventor conference is not just about feeling good and celebrating our great industry though. It’s an essential component of Hasbro’s external innovation strategy.”
Registration details can be found on the ChiTAG website. Conference tickets also include The Toy & Game Innovation Awards (The TAGIEs) on November 8 at 6 p.m. at Joe’s Live, a gala celebrating the outstanding innovations by people in the toy and game industry.