Toys as art? Absolutely. ✨ If you think toys are just for kids, think again. As SuperHeroHype’s Luke Y. Thompson shared with us, toy collectors, especially adults, aren’t simply looking for nostalgic keepsakes. They’re after fine art. Whether it’s a sculpted masterpiece from McFarlane Toys's Spawn series or a figure as unique as Jacob Marley, the modern collector is driven by creativity and craftsmanship. Luke’s own journey from playing with Star Wars figures as a child to photographing his collection today reflects how deeply these pieces inspire. But here’s the challenge for brands: it’s not enough to just put out toys. Fans expect more. In fact, some of the biggest frustrations collectors have today are packaging that hides the product and prices that don’t align with perceived value. 🧠 How can brands win back the trust of collectors? 💡 Luke suggests: 1. Be transparent about product quality (literally—let collectors see what’s in the box!). 2. Offer value, not just through price points, but through thoughtful design and packaging. 3. And most importantly, create toys that collectors can proudly display as the art they are. Want to hear more of Luke’s insights on the toy industry and how brands can improve their game? Dive into our full conversation and explore the world of toy collectors 👉 https://lnkd.in/gnzg5z-p #toysasart #collectorsmarket #brandstrategy #customerexperience #fanloyalty #creativedesign #EQL #tech
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Toys vs. Plush Toys 🧸✨ David Horvath The cofounder of UglyDolls explains it best, toys are restricted to play patterns and have a lifespan. Plush toys, on the other hand, align with lifestyle brands, they become part of your daily life. A Beppe cactus plush, for instance, isn't just a toy, it’s a way to hold and live the ARCHIPALS brand. Adult art toys are different again. 🎨✨ They’re collectibles, not about play but about display. When creating, consider this are you crafting for play, for collecting, or as a lifestyle brand? Each path connects differently. 🚀 *Image is the first ever resin 3D print of Beppe the Cactus #archipals #ToysVsPlush #PlushToys #ArtToys #LifestyleBrand #DavidHorvath #DesignTips #Collectibles #ToyDesign #ArtAndDesign #BeppePlush #BrandBuilding #characterdesign #brandmascot #tradecharacter
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A couple of sales related tactical things toy companies have been doing for years that work extremely well especially if the franchise is popular or a huge part of the collective conscious, pop culture, sub culture and more. 🚘 The Box will have a mystery toy and it's called the mystery box. You don't know what you're getting but the mystery keeps the quest alive. Plus when you get doubles, you can barter with friends. It builds a community even if for a little while. 🎠 The Box will have another piece of another character so this keeps you curious and you end up buying 5 out of 6 because the remaining 5 had all the parts for the sixth one. 🕵♂️ Minifigures. Get them all without buying the entire set. Keep playing with the packet to guess what's inside. Lego did this extremely well. 🎨 The packaging and Box will be designed in the same language as the show, the movie, the OTT series, the comic, the game and the typography, elements, decals, stickers, graphics keeps the continuity going. 🥚 Easter Eggs. Leaving crumbs, eggs, hints, clues, objects, parts, posters, art offline and online, this generates hype, builds curiosity and is the first part of affinity. There are just a few, there are many more. What can you remember from your collection? #Toy #Toys #ActionFigure #ActionFigures #Collectibles #Collecting
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Play-Doh originally wasn't invented to be a kid's toy?? The truth is that Play-Doh initially had a very different purpose other than to be a toy. In fact, it began as a solution for dirty walls, specifically to clean soot off wallpaper. Back in the late 1920s, the idea originated when Cleo McVicker and his brother Noah McVicker aimed to revive the Kutol brand (a failing Cincinnati soap company). They created an early version of Play-Doh to address the need for a new wallpaper-cleaning product. But instead of shaping it into fun designs, adults used the off-white dough to roll across their dirty walls to collect soot. However, after Cleo died in 1949, his son and son-in-law decided they needed to reinvent their company after a decline in the demand for their wallpaper cleaner. This happened due to changes in the market when vinyl wallpaper that could be easily cleaned with soap and water was invented. Besides, there was a growing popularity of oil and gas furnaces resulting in people not buying their wallpaper cleaner as much anymore. Cleo's son, Joseph McVicker, saw potential in repurposing the product after discovering its use in a nursery school for the children to make Christmas ornaments in the early ‘50s. By 1956, Kutol became Rainbow Crafts Company Inc. and started manufacturing Play-Doh as an off-white modeling compound sold in one-gallon cans. Eventually, they started selling smaller containers in the colors blue, red, and yellow, and it quickly became a nationwide success. To date, Play-Doh’s current parent company, Hasbro, says they have sold more than 3 billion cans in 80 countries around the world. Play-Doh is just one of the famous companies today that have pivoted their products or services over the years to achieve success. This demonstrates that companies can be adaptable and evolve over time, finding new avenues for growth and innovation. So, if one day your business does not do well in the market for its initial product or service, would you be open to reimagining its purpose? Share your thoughts on this story. #playdoh #kidstoys #marketing #businessstrategy #business Source: https://lnkd.in/gthaZQGf *Image by LMoonlight from Pixabay
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I am posting some anecdotal Toy Stories about a number of my favorite toys I've worked on in my career. Toy Stories Chapter 2: Farting Ren & Stimpy The challenge with a property like Ren & Stimpy is how do you capture its essence while maintaining traditional decorum in toys. The answer is to say “screw it” and make toys that fart and say “you fat bloated eediot!” There were also executional challenges in our farting line, however. Stimpy wasn’t a problem. He farted in nice round tones. Ren’s early prototypes, on the other hand, sounded more like a duck’s quacking, because the only place for the bladder flap (the fart-sounding whoopee rubber device) was in his head. After several attempts, our engineer (now Mattel Bigwig) Scott Goodman suggested we insert the bladder in the tail, provided Marketing was OK with the variance from the style guide, as it would results in a flat tail. I was. With that, Scott then pointed out afterwards that there would be an added effect in that Ren’s tail would flap as he broke wind. A wind-win! (see what I did there?) Stylistically, we sculpted Ren’s face to look like he was pinching one off, and designed the package to look like a toilet. Ren’s package was supposed to be a litter box, but the Ren approach was much more clear. Interestingly, we got more pushback from Ren’s chosen sayings in the talking toys than we did from these farting toys, because, you know, the price-point was more attractive. #mattel #nickelodeon #toys
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Design Edge is Your Toy Company for Hire™—because let’s face it, who else is going to turn your wildest toy dreams into reality? For over 35 years, we’ve been the wizards behind the curtain in the toy and game industry, casting spells to bring your concepts from “just an idea” to “best-seller” on retail shelves. Whether you need us to design, manufacture, or even navigate the labyrinth of distribution, we’ve got you covered. Consider us your one-stop shop for all things toy-tastic—because transforming your ideas into reality shouldn’t be a game of chance! #ToyDesign #GameDesign #ToyIndustry #ProductDevelopment #InnovationInToys #ManufacturingSolutions #ToyManufacturing #DesignAndManufacture #RetailSuccess #CreativeConcepts #ToysAndGames #ToyDesignExperts #ToyIndustryLeaders #CustomToyDesign #ToyDevelopment #GameDevelopment #DistributionSolutions #ToyInnovation #CreativeToyDesign #OneStopToyShop #ToyBusiness #ToyIndustry
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Where do you get all your stickers? This is by far the most common question I get when I share my sticker art and I'm curious to know why that is. Do you have the same question and if so, why? I'm happy to share the answer: anywhere and everywhere stickers are sold! A few years back they were very commonly available for $1 a book at places like Target and AC Moore. Now they're a bit more expensive, but there are stickers at party stores, dollar stores, grocery stores and yes even eBay. I buy them in quantity whenever I spot a good deal or a design I haven't encountered before. So why do you think people want to know this? Are they going to make their own sticker art? I'd love that! Or is it just plain curiosity? Which is fine too. I'm happy to talk about my work and how I make it! The process of art making shouldn't be a secret. p.s. If you love my sticker art and getting to know more about my process, the best way to support my practice is joining my Patreon! And the best time to join is right now as folks that sign up for a $10 or higher tier before March 15th get my brand new limited edition, signed & numbered print as a thank you gift! Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/d4NM6zg #art #inspiration #stickers #creativityatwork
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3 Key Elements Every Amazon EBC Needs Tip 01: MAIN IMAGE CENTERED Center the product in the main image to draw attention. Tip 02: CONSISTENT QUALITY Maintain consistent image quality across all listing to build trust Tip 03: CLOSE-UPS Include close-up shorts of key features, textures, or details #amazonebc #graphicdesign #listingimage #amazonlisting #amazonbranding #productinfographic #amazongraphics
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𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝔀 :https://lnkd.in/d-d-YR6C 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻-𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝘂𝗻:🌈 Metal puzzles challenge your logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity, making them a fantastic workout for your brain.🏵️ 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀:🌈 Crafted from high-quality metal, these puzzles are long-lasting and can be enjoyed for years without wear and tear.💐 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁:🌈 Compact and lightweight, metal puzzle sets are easy to carry, making them perfect for travel or on-the-go entertainment.💐 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀:🌈 Suitable for kids, adults, and seniors, they provide a fun and engaging way to spend time alone or with family and friends.🏵️ Follow Asad Ali 🌈 #OnlineShopping #ShopFromHome #Ecommerce #ShopSmart #DealsAndSteals
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How to reduce shipping cost for Puzzles? 🎁 When your designer created a very shaped box for puzzles,are you tired of struggling with bulky packaging that eats up valuable space and inflates your shipping cost? 🌊 Our team has come up with a solution By maximizing space efficiency without compromising on quality or functionality, we're paving the way for smoother logistics and reduced costs.pls see the 3D photos as below. 🤝 Whether you're a buyer or importer of puzzles or games, this is the innovation you've been waiting for! Say goodbye to headaches caused by oversized packaging and hello to streamlined shipping processes. 📲 Get in touch with us today to learn more and revolutionize your packaging ! Send us a message or leave a comment below to start our conversation. 📞 #Innovation #PackagingSolution #SpaceEfficiency #ShippingCosts #Logistics #GameChanger #RevolutionaryPackaging #Puzzles
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It appears there's a prevailing misconception about the state of the toy train market. However, events such as The Big E Train Show, organized by Amherst Railroad, provide substantial evidence to the contrary. These gatherings draw significant crowds, indicating a robust interest in toy trains, both as collectibles and educational tools. As an auctioneer and liquidation agent, My observations directly contradict the notion of a stagnant market. Buyers seem to actively seek out trains, particularly prewar and postwar models, showcasing a sustained demand for these items. Moreover, the inclusion of modern pieces suggests that the market is not confined to nostalgia but also embraces contemporary craftsmanship and innovation. Getting more involvement in such events positions sellers at the forefront of this niche market, enabling them to witness firsthand the enthusiasm and engagement of collectors and buyers. By emphasizing the importance of thorough research and understanding, you as well can be advocating for informed decision-making within the hobby. In essence, experiences underscore the resilience and vibrancy of the antique toy train market, challenging misconceptions and highlighting its enduring appeal to a dedicated community of enthusiasts which include women and children of all ages. Lets keep building on this unique hobby .
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