Blogs

Powerful Questions By Nancy Zwiers I love the new chapter in my career—executive coaching.  I had always loved mentoring—giving advice to help people meet the challenges and opportu...

When Brian Volk-Weiss created the docuseries The Toys That Made Us, he created an accessible and entertaining way for anyone to learn about the history of their favorite toys. In each episode of The T...

    You started your career in Israel, where you grew up. Tell us about that.   My industrial design career actually started in Germany, where I worked for a studio that specia...

The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker, Ph.D., a two-time Ironman finisher and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association, is a s...

Glass Toys +Venice + VDP Venice, Italy is a place many people dream of. Located in Northern Italy, Venice is a place known for the many waterways which magically dance around the masses of land and t...

AWARD-WINNING EDUCATIONAL TOY COMPANIES – LEARNING RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, AND HAND2MIND – BRING LEARNING TO LIFE WITH $1.7M IN PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN 2022 As...

Creative Fold is happy to announce that Edoardo Kulp has joined the company as its Director of Business Development and co-owner. Edoardo has consulted with Creative Fold for over a year and, together...

Create the Space By Nancy Zwiers   In 2011, when I was struggling to bounce back from breast cancer, I found myself depressed and adrift.  I knew I had to make some changes, but I didn&rs...

A Q&A with Ric Scott, Sr. Product Manager at Educational Insights Interview by Clark Nesselrodt of Glorious Story   “You never know where life will lead you, especially if you keep...

The Top 22 Featured POP Articles of 2022 Thank you and congratulations to the authors of these most viewed articles of 2022!   Top 10 most iconic Barbie dolls of the 1980s 60 Years of Dreams:...

The Top 22 POP Profiles of 2022! Marvin Glass Theo Coster and Ora Coster Merle Robbins Elizabeth Werner Jim Pressman Peggy Brown  Matt Nuccio David Yakos Nancy Zwiers Dan Klitsner Robe...

Another year, another collection of memories to think back on and grow from.    When working in the kids space that means looking back on another year of product launches, thoughts from co...

How to Turbocharge Your Mindset for Success in 2023 By Nancy Zwiers I saw this on Twitter and thought to myself:  How true!!! Most important battle we all have to win is ….Not with your...

  You\'ve been in the toy industry for over twenty years. Were you always interested in toy design?   I\'ve been tinkering with toys since I was a child: I used to de-construct vehicles, a...

AIRPORTS - ROME, ITALIA- PLAY AREAS IN AIRPORTS AROUND THE WORLD Do you ever go to airports and wonder what you are expected to do with all your free time? Well, your options are limited, no? You can...

With Christmas approaching, it is natural to want to make sure we are buying good quality toys that are going to last well and be safe for our children to explore. Play is a key part of how children l...

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In A World Without Reality: Inside Marvin Glass’s Toy Vault, Bill Paxton takes readers on a journey through the life of Marvin Glass and his legendary toy design company, Marvin Glass and Associ...

    Imagine naming toys for over three decades, hundreds of styles, multiple brands and the words just roll off your tongue.  Then one day, your new creation sits there, and th...

Out of Breakdowns Come Breakthroughs By Nancy Zwiers   “Out of breakdowns come breakthroughs.”   I learned this phrase during my entrepreneurial training and have found it a...

PEOPLE OF PLAY ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL YOUNG INVENTOR CHALLENGE  In-Person Judging And The Awards Ceremony Took Place at Radio Flyer Headquarters in Chicago    CHIC...

Kids are struggling with their mental health and parents are worried. This is the consensus of conversations that have been happening around the country between multitudes of retailers and parents. ...

    For Bop It! Inventor Dan Klitsner and his wife Alicia this Thanksgiving holds special meaning. Not only are they celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bop It!, they are also celebratin...

Mark Schlichting’s Understanding Kids, Play, and Interactive Design: How to Create Games Children Love is more than a comprehensive guide, it is both a map and a treasure chest of information on...

Mary Kay Morrison’s Legacy of Laughter is helpful, heartwarming, and everything a grandparent could need in guiding them to having fun and learning with their grandchild. The book is split into ...

Award-winning New Zealand entrepreneurs Anthea Madill and Helen Townsend are shining a light on the global toy industry’s impact on climate change by establishing World Sustainable Toy Day. &nb...

PEOPLE OF PLAY ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF THE TOY & GAME INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (THE TAGIES)  Daryl Andrews, Bang Zoom Design And SG Labs Receive Top Awards In The Toy and Game Innova...

It is 2022 and the Monster High ghouls are set to sashay away from the grave and back out onto store shelves. Will Frankie and friends once again catch lightning in a bottle?   I wasn’t m...

Collaborative Invention: A Lower Risk Way to Invent By Nancy Zwiers     Imagine how we can grow the industry with a larger pool of successful inventors!    It can take a lot ...

My name is Kedar, I am one of the past winners of the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (CHITAG for short). At the start of the pandemic, I met Mr. Gene Murtha, a veteran in the toy industry, and a very res...