Peggy Brown is an independent toy and game designer. In this edition of The Friday Five, Peggy shares observations from her 35 years in the industry and reveals two elements new designers often neglect when trying to get their toys and games to market.
Richard Pierson, Jr. is manager of the Sarasota Toy Museum. In this edition of The Friday Five, Richard explains how a day of antique shopping led to purchasing a collection that would become the museum and shares the ways in which the business fulfils his dad’s lifelong dream.
Jody Day collects Strawberry Shortcake. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Jody talks about getting creative when displaying a collection and explains what inspired her to establish a modest budget for the objects she acquires.
Chris Stulz collects Muppet merchandise and objects related to Jim Henson productions. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Chris talks about what fuels his enduring interest in Muppet characters and reveals the abandoned childhood object he searched for 30 years to replace.
Azhelle Wade is The Toy Coach. In this edition of The Friday Five, Azhelle shares her observations about current trends in the toy industry and outlines the common missteps toy and game inventors make when developing their ideas.
Dan collects Nintendo games, systems, and other merchandise related to the NES brand. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Dan talks about the power of nostalgia in collecting and shares the gaming channel that inspired him to create his own channel dedicated to the hobby.
Mitchel Wu is a Los Angeles-based toy photographer. In this edition of The Friday Five, Mitchel talks about his new exhibition at Science Museum Oklahoma and reveals the elements that drive his passion for storytelling through photography.
Michael Scheffki is senior vice president of marketing at MAGNA-TILES. In this edition of The Friday Five, Michael talks about the new MAGNA-TILES Studio at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Florida and elaborates on the company’s approach to creating opportunities for Meaningful Play.
Jeremy Padawer is chief brand officer at Jazwares. In this edition of The Friday Five, Jeremy talks about the company’s new Vault adult collectibles line and explains fandoms’ role in forging bonds between people who share a common passion.
Sean Quimby is the Director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. In this edition of The Friday Five, Sean shares details of the recently gifted Prebula comic book collection and discloses the most daunting aspect of his role as a preservationist.