The toy industry generated more than $21 billion in sales in 2018 and many of those toys were designed in Southern California.
From the Torrance based maker of Orbeez beads to Mattel, the birthplace of Barbie, the Southland has a thriving toy industry.
On this episode of Inside the Issues, we talk to Marianne Szymanski, Founder and President of Toy Tips, an independent toy testing and research company, about the industry and who some of the big players are in Southern California.
Our Correspondent Ariel Wesler goes inside the oldest Toy Store in Los Angeles that has wind-up toys and ones that slink, but no electric toys are allowed.
Courtney Werner Watkinson, Senior Manager of Girls Toys at Disney, talks about Hollywood’s influence on the toy industry, how they decide on what toys to make and what characters they focus on.
Reginald Jolley, aka Reggieknow, is an action figure creator, stylist and Founder of Fashion Figure Inc, talks about the desire to make toys and their meaning behind them.
Azusa Sakamoto, better known as Azusa Barbie, joins the show to talk about her love for Barbie and why the toy is more than a doll, but a “lifestyle.”
Let Inside the Issues know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.