As promised, for this week’s episode, we’re joined by the esteemed toy designer and artist, Azhelle Wade, who will share her journey with us.   Make it toyetic! That’s what Azhelle’s mantra is to her followers.    For over ten years, Azhelle has been making her mark on the toy industry. She has worked with some of the finest toy companies in the world, like Toys R Us, Party City, and Madame Alexander, to name a few. And her toy designs have made MILLIONS of dollars!   But even with all that success, she felt like something was still missing…   It was during her climb through the corporate ladder she became aware of her love for teaching. Given her vast knowledge, Azhelle decided to share what she has learned all these years with the newcomers through her highly-rated podcast Making It In The Toy Industry.   Today, Azhelle is widely-known in the industry as the Toy Coach. Aside from being a rockstar consultant for toy companies, she empowers newbies to explore the industry fearlessly through her online course, The Toy Creators Academy.   Key Takeaways:   Introduction (00:00) The #1 top-selling toy that she has built (00:44) One thing that Azhelle loves to do in the business (02:26) What would you tell your younger self? (07:28) The first tool she designed professionally (11:31) How to come up with ideas (12:55) How artists make a profit (27:49) Tips and tricks on packaging a product (30:53) What makes a toy popular? (34:09) How do you come up with a system (52:10) How do you measure success? (01:02:32)   Additional Resources: - Learn more on how to make money as an artist here - Visit my website here  - Book a free 15-minute diagnostic call here -- The Artist APPEALS is a podcast dedicated to artists who want to learn how to make money with their art WITHOUT having to compromise.  Be sure to follow the podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode!