Once home to iconic companies like
Kenner, Cincinnati has a long history of toy making. Though no longer here, much toy making talent remains in the Queen City. That talent joined together through a new group, called
Cincinnati Game and Toy Industry Professionals.
The group was started by Cincinnati entrepreneur Michelle Spelman, co-creator of the card game
Jukem Football.
"When we first started promoting the game, we did it all through social media," Spelman says. "A lot of people started contacting me saying, 'I heard about what you're doing. I used to work for Hasbro,' or 'I used to work for Kenner. I'd love to meet you for coffee and pick your brain."
After a while, Spelman was getting too much caffeine, and not getting a lot of work done. That's when she decided to create a virtual meeting place on
LinkedIn.
"I wasn't in a position to help all these people in the way they needed, so I started a social media group," Spelman says. "I thought we'd get 40 or 50 people. We got that in a couple of months. We're now into this two-and-a-half years, and we have almost 300 members."
Not all the LinkedIn members are currently in Cincinnati, but they've either lived here, worked here or have ties to the region. Some have founded startups like Spelman, while others head established regional companies or are high-level executives for major brands.
"People thought when Hasbro left all the toy makers left Cincinnati, but that's not true," Spelman says. "We have a lot of great talent here. It's really a subculture. Our group provides networking that reconnects this fragmented group and uncovers opportunities. It also provides newcomers to the industry w a place to learn from the veterans and find resources and expertise to further their ventures."
In addition to the online meeting spot, local toymakers also come together quarterly for breakfast. At their most recent breakfast, the second annual
Cincinnati Toymakers Holiday Gift Guide was released on
Slideshare.
The toys include familiar favorites like
Play-Doh,
Sit 'N Spin, original
Star Wars action figures and the
Magic 8 Ball, in addition to newer toys and games. The catalog also includes a list of independent, locally owned Cincinnati toy stores.
"If you want to fill the space under your tree with Cincinnati products this year, you could," Spelman says.
By Feoshia Henderson
Follow Feoshia on Twitter
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