How to Get Your Toy Idea Sold

Selling a toy can be a complex process.

If you have an idea for a new toy or game, there are a few ways you can go about selling it once you feel that it is ready. Toys, like any other work of art, may take several years to be ready for selling, so it is important to have patience and faith in your product. While it may be challenging, never giving up can sometimes be the key to success within the toy industry.

Things You'll Need

• A strong will, a thick skin, great perseverance, and a really unique idea.

Instructions

1. Research your idea by going online and searching in industry books and magazines to see if your toy already exists. Contact the Toy Industry Association (TIA) to see if they are having any industry fairs where you can look for similar toys.

2. Continue your research once you have found that your toy idea is unique. Test your toy on children of your target age. Ask them to give you feedback, if they are able. If the toy is for very small children, ask parents for their feedback. Keep a list of all feedback and use it to figure out if there are any issues with your toy that should be fixed.

3. Contact a toy agent or toy broker. Hasbro maintains a list on their website and you may be able to get a list from The Toy Industry Association.

4. Follow the agent or broker's submission guidelines and submit your toy idea. Wait until you are contacted.

5. Sign with the agent or broker. They will likely help you improve your toy idea and then submit it to well-known toy companies.

6. Contact independent retailers or display your toy at conventions, if you'd rather not go through an agent or broker. This can help you get your toy sold at a smaller scale.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be a know-it-all.

• If you're lucky enough to get someone to listen, be sure to listen, too because toy professionals are in the business of play.

References

• Hasbro; New Product Ideas
• One Stop Invention Shop; Selling Your New Toy Invention; 2011