WIT Empowerment Day Offers One-of-a-Kind Access to Deal-Making and Mentoring From Industry Leaders
October 1, 2019 – Dallas Market Center @ Toy Fair Dallas, 7th Floor
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#WITempowerment–Women from around the world will pitch their latest toy, game and play product ideas on October 1st at the Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) Empowerment Day https://www.womenintoys.com/empowerment-day/ in Dallas, Texas. More than 500 women have presented their products at this game-changing annual event where women receive personalized mentoring and support in face-to-face meetings with executive decision makers at Walmart, Hasbro, Spin Master, Play Monster, Jazwares, Basic Fun!, Wicked Cool Toys and Goliath Games.
At this year’s 8th Annual WIT Empowerment Day, held in collaboration with Walmart, more than 90 women entrepreneurs will pitch their products and ideas and benefit from feedback, advice and mentoring with industry leaders. Last year, inventor Angie Cella struck a deal with Wicked Cool Toys as a result of Empowerment Day for Blinger, https://www.wickedcooltoys.com/brands/blinger/ the new glam styling tool for girls.
This single mother, who sold her house to develop and launch Blinger, met with Walmart buyers and several toy companies at Empowerment Day, including Michael Rinzler, co-President of Wicked Cool Toys. Michael recalls, “The minute I met Angie, it felt electric. She was so passionate about her product. It’s fantastic that creators have this incredible opportunity to pitch their concepts and learn the in’s and out’s of the toy business.”
Angie was in her 4th year trying to get her product picked up. She had been rejected from Shark Tank, lost as a finalist on a TV show, and only raised Kickstarter money by badgering her friends. Angie hadn’t considered licensing Blinger and reflects, “I learned so much at WIT Empowerment Day, that it was like earning my MBA in one day. Being at this event helped put me on the map and played a huge part in finally being successful in my journey.”
After Empowerment Day, Angie signed a licensing deal with Wicked Cool Toys and in only a few months, Blinger was being manufactured. One year later, her product has landed on Walmart’s Top Rated by Kids Toy List, Amazon’s Top 100 Toy List, and is now available at all major US retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon, in specialty stores including Claire’s and Justice, and is distributed in 35 countries.
Past Empowerment Day mentors and speakers have included dozens of industry and entrepreneurial heavyweights, including Mark Cuban, billionaire business maverick and iconic serial entrepreneur, Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of an American manufacturer of children’s educational toys, Melissa & Doug, and Norma Rosenhain, founder and CEO of the global brand ideas and activation agency, Creata.
Throughout the year, WIT supports women leaders who are creating real change in an industry where the landscape is moving at a rapid pace. WIT President Ashley Mady says, “We connect women globally at all stages of their professional lives to leadership opportunities, education, and important relationships that lead to new business deals and career advancement. WIT embodies an incredible community of women who have tremendous energy, passion and motivation to excel in a fast paced and exciting industry.”
ABOUT WIT EMPOWERMENT DAY
WIT Empowerment Day provides women with a power-packed day of private product pitches, mentor sessions, and face-to-face connections with toy buyers and toy industry top veteran experts and decision makers in more than a dozen specialty areas. Held in collaboration with Walmart each October during Toy Fair Dallas, Empowerment Day is designed for entrepreneurs, manufacturers, inventors and business owners who want to take their idea or business to the next level, or catapult their career in toys, games, licensing and entertainment.
ABOUT WOMEN IN TOYS, LICENSING & ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 1991, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) / The WIT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to champion the advancement of women through leadership, networking and educational opportunities. WIT serves and supports women at all stages of their careers, from entrepreneurs to seasoned industry veterans. The WIT Foundation grants scholarships to deserving students enrolled in industry-related undergraduate programs. WIT has 25 chapters throughout the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, France, the UK and Australia, with liaisons in Finland, Germany, Mexico, India and Lebanon. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Contacts
Mary Kay Russell
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment
630.661.3541
[email protected]
Elizabeth Ross
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment
917.324.3120
[email protected]