by The Bloom Report | 07 Nov 2022
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE LARGEST AND LONGEST RUNNING TOY & GAME INVENTOR CONFERENCE WORLDWIDE IS BACK IN PERSON WITH FACE-TO-FACE PITCHING OPPORTUNITIES, INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS AND AN UNFORGETTABLE PUB NIGHT
Registered inventors can make appointments now with representatives from more than 80 toy and game companies including Disney, Mattel, Spin Master, Hasbro, Moose Games and TOMY
CHICAGO (November 7, 2022) - Get ready to learn, pitch and network your way to success with some of the most recognizable brands in the toy and game industry! People of Play’s Inventor & Innovation Conferences, the largest and longest running toy and game inventor conference in the world, are back in person this year with an extensive lineup of speakers and panels inside and outside the industry. Plus, on the much anticipated Pub Night, we’re putting one of our own to roast, the indelible Matt Nuccio, President of Design Edge.
This year’s conferences, sponsored by Mattel, Moose Games, Radio Flyer, Goliath and TradeShowBooth.com will be held on November 17-20 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in the heart of Chicago on 600 North State Street. All attendees will receive a reusable gift tote from Moose Games filled with POP snacks (PopTarts, Tootsie Pops, Popcorn, Pop Rocks, etc.)
The conference kicks off on 11/17 at 8:30am with Robert Fuhrer, Owner of Nextoy presenting a very special POP DUO of Will Shortz, New York Times’ Crossword Editor and NPR’s Puzzle Master, and Josh Wardle, Inventor of Wordle.
Other highlights include:
“After two years away, we can’t wait to welcome toy and game inventors from 18 countries around the world,” said Mary Couzin, President of People of Play. “If you have a product idea, you need to be in Chicago for this conference. We pride ourselves in creating the right environment so that new and professional inventors can learn from each other, make the right connections and move forward whether they have a winning idea or it is a stepping stone to the next one.”
One of the most popular attractions of the conference is POP Pub Night and this year’s event, being held at Radio Flyer HQ on November 17th at 7:00pm, will have some extra laughs during the comedic Roast of Matt Nuccio by his peers. With Brian Turtle, Director of National Sales of Goliath Games, as Roastmaster and sponsored by Goliath, we’ll see how Matt handles comments from the likes of Michael Kohner of The Michael Kohner Corporation, Rich Mazel of Spin Master, Pete Greenley of G2 Inventions, Ellen Heaney of PlayMonster and Tom Rushton of Revenew Sales.
“I must admit that when I first agreed to be roasted it sounded fun,” said Matt Nuccio, President of Design Edge. “However, now I’m getting reports of roasters calling my kids, my ex girlfriends and even my 5th grade teacher. In addition, I’m hearing that they’re trying to dig up some serious dirt… And to ALL of that I say, ‘BRING IT ON!’ I’m looking forward to a battle of wits and I realize that quite possibly there may be a few potential ‘career-ending moments’ that night. But hey, all in the name of FUN. And FUN is what it’s all about when you’re dealing with People of Play.”
Also that night, one lucky winner will walk away with a FLYER™ M880 Electric Cargo Bike from Radio Flyer!
Conference participants can choose from four tracks:
Conference tickets also include The Toy & Game Innovation Awards (The TAGIEs) on November 19th at 6pm, a gala celebrating the outstanding achievements by people in the toy and game industry. This year’s TAGIEs will be held at the Epiphany Center for the Arts.
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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 (The TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference and the POP Roast.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram @peopleofplay
Twitter @peopleofplay
Facebook @chicagotoyandgameweek
YouTube ChicagoToyandGame
Media Contacts:
Emily Blosser | 404.434.2103 | emily@hudsonwestpr.com
Lori Jung | 917.399.6962| lori@hudsonwestpr.com
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Scott Brown and Tim Swindle... are Launching a New Sport!
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