Feed
Other

Connecting the Toy & Game Community Worldwide

Happening Now in the POP Community

MEME OF THE DAY

How Audio Makes Photo Memories Stick, with Geoffrey Stern, VoiceGift


CommImg

Better Play for Better Sleep: Why I Created SleepToy

 Hello to the People of Play community! My name is Nataliia Brytska, and I am the founder of SleepToy. As I join this vibrant community of inventors and toy enthusiasts, I wanted to share the story behind my brand and the specific mission that drives every product we curate. The idea for SleepToy wasn’t born in a boardroom; it was born in the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) moments of parenthood. We’ve all been there: the day is ending, parents are exhausted, but the child is suddenly full of energy, wanting to build the tallest tower or start a new game. This is the "evening dilemma"—how to satisfy a child’s need to play without overstimulating them before bed. At SleepToy, we believe that toys shouldn't just distract; they should create a magical bridge between a noisy day and a quiet evening. Our philosophy is simple: "Better Play for Better Sleep." We focus on toys that encourage independent focus, calm creativity, and developmental growth. Whether it’s putting a doll to bed in a tiny tent or exploring the stars with a space-themed night light, we look for products that turn an ordinary game into a cozy ritual. By choosing toys that reduce sensory overload and promote autonomy, we help parents find peace of mind and children find sweet dreams. Our store is more than just a catalog; it’s a selection of my personal experience and my desire to give every family peaceful nights and happy days. I am thrilled to be part of POP and look forward to connecting with fellow professionals who believe that play is the most important part of a child's day and their night. Nataliia BrytskaFounder & CEO, SleepToy

Click to article

CommImg

Toy Review: Hape Wooden Toys

Hape Wooden Toys   This season, I had the pleasure of checking out some of the new releases from Hape Toys, including a block set from their collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hape prides themselves on being a sustainability-focused company without compromising on durability or playability, and both sets that I reviewed measured up to that standard. Whenever a toy company sends me samples of their fire truck toys, I always get excited. I was a volunteer firefighter earlier in my life, so seeing how different companies portray fire trucks always excites me, and I’m proud to have built up quite the collection. Hape’s Siren & Lights Toy Fire Truck is my first wooden fire truck, and I am a big fan. Made out of Hape’s signature bamboo wood, the truck itself is sturdy yet also rolls smoothly. The different moving parts also operate smoothly, including the extendable ladder and the retractable hose, which are excellent for developing fine motor skills while also strengthening the imaginative play muscle.   The fire truck also comes with a posable firefighter that can snap into the driver’s seat, climb into the bucket to operate the water gun, or take hold of the retractable hose to fight fires on foot. Like the name suggests, the truck is built with battery-operated lights and sirens to simulate real-life emergency sounds and flashing lights. A great addition to my fire truck collection, and one you should add to yours, especially if you’re opting for wood-based toys over plastic. In addition to the Siren & Lights Toy Fire Truck, I also got a chance to play with the Hokusai Great Wave Building Block Set, which Hape released in collaboration with The Metropolitian Museum of Art. The 14-piece set is inspired by Under the Wave off Kanagawa, the iconic painting by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, also referred to as The Great Wave.   The blocks come in shades of blue and white, with tan pieces making up the boats and people that ride them. They can be artfully arranged to emulate The Great Wave, or can simply be used for abstract play. The pieces are curved with no sharp edges, making them a great toy for early childhood. Finding different ways to stack the pieces on top of one another to create different scenes can really strike that artistic chord in a young child, too. These blocks as well are made of Hape’s bamboo wood, making them both durable and environmentally friendly.   Hape was first established in Germany in 1986 by Peter Handstein. They’re a very sustainability-focused company—many of their toys are made out of bamboo and sugarcane-based plastic, and their packaging is made of recycled cardboard, organic inks, and water-based colors.  

Click to article

CommImg

The Op Games - Creator and Community Marketing Coordinator

Job Description TITLE: CREATOR & COMMUNITY MARKETING COORDINATOR DEPARTMENT: MARKETING Full-time Creator and Community Marketing Coordinator position available with Carlsbad, CA-based board game company. Location: Carlsbad, CA. Reports to: Sr. Digital Marketing and Community Specialist Status: Full-time Summary The Creator and Community Marketing Coordinator plays a key role in growing The Op Games' creator marketing efforts by supporting both influencer partnerships and marketing operations. This role focuses on two core areas: managing influencer and community outreach, and overseeing marketing logistics, including product shipments and inventory coordination. On the creator side, this role is responsible for identifying, engaging, and maintaining relationships with influencers and affiliate partners, helping generate authentic, creator content that supports both organic social and paid media efforts. On the operations side, this role owns the coordination and execution of all Marketing Department shipment requests. Including influencer PR boxes, product seeding, and campaign materials, while tracking inventory and ensuring product availability for upcoming initiatives. This position is ideal for someone who is highly organized, proactive, and connected to social media and creator culture. Reporting to the Sr. Digital Marketing & Community Specialist, this role supports the execution of campaigns, builds strong creator relationships, and helps ensure marketing initiatives run smoothly from planning through delivery. Key Responsibilities Execute and support the optimization of influencer and affiliate outreach campaigns under the direction of the Sr. Digital Marketing & Community Specialist Research, evaluate, and identify new influencers and affiliate partners across Instagram, YouTube, and emerging platforms Monitor social media trends, creator communities, and content formats to identify new partnerships and product seeding opportunities Manage outreach efforts, including drafting and sending initial emails, following up, negotiating deliverables, and finalizing agreements Build and maintain clear, friendly, and professional communication with influencers to foster authentic, long term partnerships Maintain and regularly update an organized internal database of influencer relationships, campaign status, and performance notes Track influencer content, deliverables, performance metrics, and contribute to regular recap reporting for internal teams Oversee and manage the shipment process for all Marketing Department initiatives, including but not limited to influencer PR boxes, product seeding, and campaign materials Track inventory levels for marketing and influencer-related products, and coordinate with internal teams to ensure materials are available for upcoming campaigns Assist in forecasting product needs for influencer campaigns and marketing initiatives Lead product launch campaigns to maximize engagement and demand. Qualifications 1+ years of experience in influencer marketing, or digital marketing Strong communication, and project management skills with close attention to detail Proven ability to identify and build lasting relationships with multiple creators and partners across various social platforms Highly organized and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment Passion for influencer culture and social media trends, with a strong understanding of how to build authentic, mutually beneficial creator partnerships Experience working with influencer tracking tools, CRM systems, or spreadsheets to manage outreach and performance Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally within a small, creative team Preferred Skills & Attributes Passion for games, pop culture, or bringing people together through play Familiarity with the board game or toy industry Job Requirements On-site presence at our Carlsbad office. Limited local travel as needed (~5%). Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

More
Click For Application

Today is...


Happy Magic Day!

Word of the Day


Follow The Leader

Follow the Leader is a game where one company innovates a product into a hit, and other companies immediately come out with similar items.

Submitted by Peggy Brown

3 Truths & a Lie Mini-Game