by The Bloom Report | 05 Nov 2023
Press Release
PEOPLE OF PLAY ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF THE TOY & GAME INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (THE TAGIES)
EXTRAORDINARY NOMINEES, HONOREES, SURPRISES AND ENTERTAINMENT
Barbie takes home two prestigious TAGIE Awards!
CHICAGO (November 5, 2023) – Almost 350 attendees from 20 countries gathered under the lights at Joe’s Live to celebrate and honor the winners of People of Play’s Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs). Sponsors included Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, Longshore, Spin Master, ASTRA, Nextoy, Super Impulse, Backdrop.com, Baby Paper, Jazwares, Peggy Brown Creative and Barry and Jason Entertoyment.
Jill Barad, former CEO and Chairman of Mattel, and Rouben Terzian, Co-Founder of BMT – Big Monster Toy were honored for Lifetime Achievement Award. Both were presented by Jeffrey Breslow, co-founder BMT. “The evening was celebratory, innovative and entertaining,” said Mary Couzin, President of People of Play.
The evening opened with the Anima Children’s Choir dressed in Spiderkids costume singing a parody, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Play in Perfect Harmony” and was interspersed with “The Toys that Didn’t Make It” and other entertaining interstitials.
Congratulations to all the 2023 innovative and inspiring finalists listed by category below:
TOY INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Sara Farber, Bryan Wilson and Will Sakran for Burstin’ Bubble Clouds with Funrise and Rescue Tales Tickle Pup with MGA/Little Tikes
GAME INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Scott Brady for Boop with Smirk & Dagger
RISING STAR INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Disney's John "Cody" Hampton for Limited Edition Cal Kestis Legacy LIGHTSABER
MOST INNOVATIVE PR AND MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR
Mattel and Barbie PR and Marketing Team for Barbie Movie Promotion & Painting the World Pink
MOST INNOVATIVE ART AND DESIGN VISUALS OF THE YEAR
Design Edge and Spin Master for Rubiks Influencer Box
MOST INNOVATIVE SUPPLIER OF THE YEA
Grant Lyon for Grant's Game Recs
MOST INNOVATIVE RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Hilary Key for the Toy Chest in Nashville
MOST INNOVATIVE LICENSE OF THE YEAR
Mattel & Barbie Licensing, Consumer Products, and Product Teams for Barbie the Movie
YOUNG INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR (under 18 years old)
Zoe Oli for Beautiful Curly Me
Alongside the nine winners, People of Play honored for Games Changers: Unsung Heroes:
Michael Gramelspacher, Jon Harter, & SG Labs for Club Organizers for St. Clare School Innovator Club
Tara McGrath. Creative Director, Inventor Relations and Innovations, Mattel
Entertainment throughout the evening was provided by Barry and Jason Entertainment, Magician Mark Setteducati and Skip Town and the Greyhounds.
###
About People of Play
People of Play (POP) leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game International Summit, POP Wiki and the People of Play Foundation.
About the TAGIEs
Founded in 2008, the Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world, by honoring masters of innovation and invention. The annual event also pays homage to industry professionals who differentiate themselves with their spirit for fun, philanthropy, inventor advocacy, creativity and humanitarianism. Inventors, designers, manufacturers, retailers, media and the general public come together for this prestigious annual gala event. The TAGIEs are hosted in the fall in conjunction with POP Week. For more information, visit https://www.chitag.com/2023-tagies
Social Media Handles:
Instagram @peopleofplay
Twitter @peopleofplay
Facebook @chicagotoyandgameweek
YouTube ChicagoToyandGame
Media Contacts:
Amy Friedland, afriedland@freemanpr.com
Emily Potrzuski, epotrzuski@freemanpr.com
SKY CASTLE TOYS PARTNERS WITH JAZWARES TO EXPAND THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL STICKI ROLLS™ BRAND IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
Reserve Your Spot for The Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year® Awards
Carve Communications Partners with Red Toolbox as U.S. Agency of Record
Film Review: Lamp Life
Game Review: Pictionary
The Toy Association™ Engages with Influential Members of Congress to Drive Positive Change for Industry
Moose Toys’ Epic First Comic-Con with MrBeast Lab and xoxKweenie
POP News July 2024
POP Group of Brands
Game Review: Stomp Rocket Space Collection
Randy Klimpert Shares his Ukulele Collection
Steve Casino Peanut Art
Everyone's Talking about POP!
Princess Etch - a Multi-Talented Etch A Sketch Artist
Joseph Herscher of Joseph' s Machines.
Connie Vogelmann designed Apiary & Wyrmspan!
Bob Fuhrer... Is THE Crocodile Dentist!
Tom Dusenberry... Bought Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Avalon Hill!
Matt Leacock created Pandemic... the game!
Scott Brown and Tim Swindle... are Launching a New Sport!
POPDuo: Richard Dickson, Mattel’s President & COO, and Kedar Narayan, Young Inventor Challenge AMB
POPDuo: Will Shortz and Josh Wardle
POP Duo: Elan Lee, Co-Founder, Exploding Kittens.and Jeff Probst, Host and Exec Producer, Survivor
POP Duo: David Fuhrer, MNG Director, Blue Sq Innovations & Shawn Green, past Dodgers & Mets MLB Star
POP Duo: Bob Fuhrer, Founder, Nextoy and Tom Fazio, Golf Course Designer