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Part-Time Independent Sales Lead Chicago Toy & Game Fair | People of Play™, a division of The Toy Association™

Location: Remote with industry event presence as needed Type: Contract (Part-Time) Focus: Booth Sales & Sponsorship Support Role Overview People of Play is seeking a well-connected, results-driven sales contractor to support exhibitor booth sales and sponsorship development for the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair. This role is ideal for someone with existing relationships in the toy, game, and licensing industries who can quickly activate conversations, generate leads, and close deals. The contractor will play a key role in driving revenue growth by securing exhibitors and supporting sponsorship outreach, while working closely with the POP team to align sales efforts with overall strategy. Key Responsibilities Booth Sales (Primary Priority) Proactively sell exhibitor booth space for CHITAG Fair to toy/game/entertainment companies and related brands Leverage existing industry relationships to initiate conversations Conduct outreach to warm and cold leads from POP contact lists Collaborate with POP team to refine sales messaging and positioning Sponsorship Support (Secondary Priority) Assist in identifying sponsorship opportunities aligned with POP Contribute to sponsor relationship management and follow-ups Qualifications Proven experience in sales and/or partnerships (preferably in the toy/game industry) Existing network of industry contacts is highly desirable Strong ability to initiate conversations and build relationships quickly Self-motivated, organized, and comfortable working independently in a contract role Excellent communication and pitch skills Success Metrics Booth sales revenue and number of exhibitors secured Conversion rate from outreach to confirmed exhibitors Sponsorship leads generated and supported Pipeline activity and consistency of outreach Compensation & Bonus Structure This is a part-time, contract-based role with an anticipated commitment of approximately 15-25 hours per week, depending on seasonality, sales activity, and event timelines. Workload is expected to increase during peak sales and event preparation periods, with August through October anticipated to be the heaviest months of engagement leading up to the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair. Total contractor compensation is up to $45,000 for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year, depending on contractor start date and scope of engagement, and will be paid on an agreed monthly schedule. In addition, the contractor is eligible for a performance-based bonus of up to $10,000, tied to booth sales and sponsorship revenue generated, originated, and/or supported through the contractor’s efforts for Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair and People of Play initiatives. A stretch incentive may also be awarded if key revenue thresholds or exhibitor participation goals are exceeded, such as near sell-out of booth space or achievement of defined sales benchmarks. Any stretch incentive structure will be defined in advance.

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Game Review: Garden Variety

Garden Variety   Gameplay Garden Variety is a beautifully illustrated card game reminiscent of the classic card game War, reimagined with bees, flowers, garden gnomes, and frogs, among other things. Players roll a six-sided die to decide the rule for each round, then take turns playing cards from their hands to satisfy the rule.   To decide the rule for each round, one player must roll the die. If a 0, 3, 5, 7, or 10 is rolled, then the player who plays a card closest to that number wins. But it’s not always that simple.   The game comes with a deck of 54 cards, which is made up of Critter Cards, Wildflower Cards, and Gnome Cards, each with their own unique—and adorable—illustration. The Critter Cards are numbered 1-9, with a select few cards featuring a “0 or 10” designation. They fall into one of four categories: Blue Opossum, Red Snail, Green Frog, and Yellow Bee. Like in all ecosystems, there is a critter hierarchy. If two cards of the same number are played, players then defer to the hierarchy to determine the winner: Blue Opossum beats Red Snail, which beats Green Frog, which beats Yellow Bee, which in turn beats Blue Opossum.   Wildflower Cards are also numbered 1-9, and if a Wildflower Card and a Critter Card of the same number are played, the Wildflower Card always wins.   Then there’s the matter of the Gnome Cards. With one of these mischievous cards, you can switch up the game in your favor. They feature directions like “Reroll the dice, then play another card,” and “Take another player’s card for the round. (They have no card for the round.)” Play them wisely!   Now, if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice I mentioned the game comes with a six-sided die, but I only mentioned five of the sides. The sixth side is a “!”, which if rolled, means players must play their cards first, then roll the die again to decide the rule for the game. A plot twist, indeed!   The player who wins the round takes all the cards played for their garden—which is an on-theme way of saying discard pile. To start a new round, players refill their hand with a card from the main deck and the winner of the previous round rolls the die again. Once the deck is run through and one player runs out of cards, all remaining cards in players’ hands are added to their garden, and the most populated garden wins!   History Tee Turtle was founded by Ramy Badie in 2022. What started out as a t-shirt company based in Baltimore has since grown to include plushies (the Moody Reversible Octopus!), games, and accessories.   In 2017, Unstable Unicorns launched via Kickstarter to great success, which paved the way for Unstable Games, which is Tee Turtle’s dedicated game studio. They’ve designed games like Here to Slay, Twisted Cryptids, Happy Little Dinosaurs, and Command of Nature, in addition to Garden Variety.   Reception & Awards Garden Variety was the 2024 Winner of the Top Holiday Gifts category in the Parents’ Picks Awards!  

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Hard Rick Digital Senior Product Manager - Game Studio

At Hard Rock Digital, we’re reimagining what online gaming can be. Backed by the legendary Hard Rock brand—synonymous with music, entertainment, and hospitality - we operate like a bold, fast-moving startup with a passion for delivering unforgettable digital experiences. Now, we’re leveling up. Our newly formed Games Studio is at the heart of this mission, dedicated to building world-class Card & Table and iCasino games that thrill players and define the next generation of online casino entertainment. You’ll be at the forefront of this journey, leading the creation of in-house Card & Table games for Hard Rock Bet Casino—games that will anchor our content strategy and become flagship experiences for our players. This is your chance to shape something from the ground up, with the backing of a global brand and the freedom of a startup. What’s the position? We’re looking for a Senior Product Manager /Producer – Game Studio to lead the charge in building the next generation of Card & Table and iCasino games for Hard Rock Bet Casino. This is a high-impact role where you'll own the product vision and contribute to the production roadmap—from first spark of an idea to full game launch. You’ll collaborate closely with the Sr. Director of the Studio, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams to guide both internal developers and external partners toward one goal: delivering best-in-class, revenue-driving game content that sets new standards in quality, innovation, and player engagement. This is more than a game product role—it’s a chance to be a creative producer, strategic thinker, and team leader, all in one. Key Responsibilities: Own the Full Game Lifecycle: Lead the development of new Card & Table games from concept to live launch. You’ll guide each title through design, production, testing, and release—ensuring quality, timeliness, and player impact. Build and Drive the Roadmap: Shape a smart, strategic game roadmap aligned with business goals, player needs, and market trends. Prioritize the right games and features to grow revenue and engagement. Champion Quality and Creativity: Oversee the creative direction and technical execution—from gameplay and math models to UI/UX and polish. Partner closely with design, development, and compliance teams to deliver standout, high-performing games. Innovate with Purpose: Bring fresh thinking to the table. Use insights from the market, player behavior, and adjacent categories to introduce innovative features like side bets, progressives, or multiplayer modes. Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with teams across the studio—product, design, dev, QA, marketing, and analytics—to keep projects moving, remove blockers, and ensure smooth execution at every stage. Optimize for Performance: Track how games perform in the wild. Adjust features, placements, or promotions to improve results, working closely with marketing and ops to keep visibility and momentum strong. Align Stakeholders and Strategy: Partner with product leaders and studio stakeholders to ensure priorities are clear, progress is visible, and the games we build deliver value for players and the business. What are we looking for? We are looking for a results-driven leader who excels in transforming creative game concepts into market-leading game products. You are passionate about gaming and possess deep industry knowledge, along with the strategic vision and operational acumen to guide a high-performing, global team in a fast-paced Studio games development in a regulated environment. The ideal candidate will have: Hands-on experience building and launching real-money card and table icasino games (e.g., blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker) for regulated markets—understanding core gameplay, math models, and compliance standards. 5+ years of experience in icasino game product development, with a focus on card and table games. A diploma or degree in a relevant field such as Game Design, Math, Business, or Computer Science. Strong knowledge of card/table game mechanics, feature development, and the unique challenges of regulated iCasino markets. A proven track record of delivering successful titles through close collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners. Solid analytical skills with the ability to turn player insights and market data into high-impact features. Excellent communication, organization, and project management abilities—able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment. A creative, solution-oriented mindset and comfort with iteration and continuous improvement. Experience in UI/UX, wireframing, or working closely with design and engineering teams is a plus. A sense of humor and a passion for building compelling, high-quality player experiences. What’s in it for you? We offer our employees more than just competitive compensation. Our team benefits include: Competitive pay and benefits Flexible vacation allowance Flexible work from home or office hours Startup culture backed by a secure, global brand Opportunity to build products enjoyed by millions as part of a passionate team Roster of Uniques We care deeply about every interaction our customers have with us, and trust and empower our staff to own and drive their experience. Our vision for our business and customers is built on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where regardless of background or beliefs you feel able to be authentic and bring all your talent into play. We want to celebrate you being you (we are an equal opportunity employer). Requirements added by the job poster • Bachelor's Degree

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Happy Milk Chocolate Day!

Word of the Day


White Space

White Space is something designers dream of using on package graphics, but toy companies have a policy never to allow.

Submitted by Peggy Brown

3 Truths & a Lie Mini-Game