Welcome to T&GCon

The toy industry's original, preeminent, most comprehensive conference available to toy and game inventors and seasoned industry professionals from around the world.

Since 2006, T&GCon has been a forum for advocating, educating and bringing together people in the toy and game industry; with  unrivaled opportunities for private / confidential meetings, knowledge sharing, learning about new trends, pooling resources and generating new business, this is the conference to attend. Click Here to Register for T&GCon

Thank you to our 2012 Presenting Sponsor

Who should attend?

T&GCon is for new and established Inventors, Designers, Innovators, and Mobile-Based Gaming Developers; Retailers, Manufacturers / Manufacturer Reps / Wholesalers / Distributors; Inventor Relations Executives, Licensing Agents, Marketing and PR Representatives, as well as Consultants from related professional services fields such as Printing, Graphic Design, Attorneys, and Toy Testing, whether from the U.S. or abroad. In short, anyone in the world who wishes to do business with the toy and game industry. 

		Ira Hernowitz - Global Head of "R" Brands at Toys R Us Ira Hernowitz is the Global Head of "R" Brands at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us, overseeing the acquisition of exclusive and private label product for the largest toy store chain in the USA and around the world. Ira has been in the toy / game / juvenile products industry for over 20 years, most recently joining Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Prior to that Ira has held a number of senior management positions in general management and marketing, including president of Melissa & Doug, and SVP of Marketing at Hasbro. During his time at Habro, he lead the effort to re-enter the girl's business by re-launching My Little Pony, as well as re-establishing "Family Game Night" as the cornerstone of the games marketing program. He has also been in marketing and leadership positions with OddzOn and Cap Toys.
		Kevin Harrington - Chairman and Founder of TVGoods Inc. and Chairman of As Seen on TV Inc. Kevin Harrington is Chairman and Founder of TVGoods Inc. and Chairman of As Seen on TV Inc., which represents a highly trafficked catalog of direct response products with over 2 million customers, 700,00 email registrants and hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month. Harrintgon was also selected as a "Shark" on the ABC TV series, Shark Tank, which gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their products in hopes of turning their ideas into a successful business reality. He also recently published, Act Now:  How I Turn Ideas into Million Dollar products," which chronicles his life and experiences in the DRTV Industry. In a recent press release Harrington stated, "I am so excited to be attending T&Con this year as a keynote speaker, and attending the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. The show has done a lot for the industry and I am excited to explore and help promote the synergies between the direct response world and the toy and game space."
		Jeff Jones - Jones Innovation Works Jeff Jones is Founder and Principal of Jones Innovation Works, and an innovation and new market opportunity expert.   A 25+ year toy industry veteran, Jeff started his career at Hasbro and is a proud member of the Joe Team (Ghost Rider - The Stealth Fighter Pilot).  From there, he went on to Lionel Trains, and then to Tiger Electronics - where as VP of Product Development, he led the development teams for Furby, Poo-Chi, Fur Real Friends and more.  After Tiger, he supported two start-ups in the trading card gaming and mobile phone markets.  Wow Wee was his next stop, where he led the development of Paper Jamz.  Today, he runs Jones Innovation Works, a business consultancy focused on helping consumer goods companies find and execute real innovation to monetize new market opportunities.
		Brian Torney - Co-Founder, Otherdoor Entertainment; Director, Entertainment Brands at Manifest Digital Over the course of Brian's seven-year career at Kunoichi, he repositioned the creative services firm as the industry's go-to boutique agency for creative vision integrated with new media and technology. Following the acquisition of Kunoichi by Manifest Digital, Brian continued to build innovative digital experiences. Brian provides upstart invention firm, Otherdoor Entertainment, the same level of ambitious, daring leadership - aiming to change the analog and digital toy industries forever in the process.

For Sponsorship Opportunities, Download the Sponsorship Information Packet

Here's What Past T&GCon Attendees and Speakers Had to Say:

"It's always a pleasure coming to Chicago for T&GCon.  For the attendees, it's a great opportunity to interface directly with some of the top folks in the toy biz and a perfect opportunity to get invaluable exposure for your game or toy invention." - Benjamin Dermer, VP Inventor Relations, Spin Master Ltd.

"For anyone interested in entering the wonderful toy and game business, either as an inventor or an entrepreneur, there is absolutely no better way to gather information and network with industry pros than to spend two days at T&GCon in Chicago in November." - Mike Hirtle, Head of Global Product Acquisition and Inventor Relations at Hasbro

"T&GCon was a great place to meet industry professionals and to meet some new inventors. The panels were well done and we were able to learn from some of the best out there." - Lindsay Gaskins, President/CEO, Marbles the Brain Store

"T&GCon is a must for anyone - inventors or company people - in the toy and game industry.  The information you'll learn and the networking is incredible. Mary Couzin is to be congratulated; there is nothing else like it in the world! As a relative newcomer to the toy and game industry, T&GCon was invaluable to me." - Tanya Thompson, Inventor Relations, ThinkFun

"You can spend years trying to figure out the ropes of a new industry, or you can spend two days at T&GCon and meet those that know, listen to those that know, and then you can move forward with your idea. We listened. When we left we had orders and we had a vision. We went from being a nobody to a somebody. Thank you so much!" - Bill Witt, Founder, Pajaggle, Inc.

"I don't think I have learned more about the Toy Biz since?... ever. I didn't want it to end". - Carle Wunderlich, President, Best of Best Toys, Inc. - Toy Sales Rep / Distributor

"2010 was my fourth year speaking at T&GCon and I wouldn’t miss it – it is as valuable a networking event to me, as it is to the inventors attending! Mary and her team assemble some of the most talented people in the industry. It is like no other toy conference available. I am sure some the industry’s best, new ideas are being discussed and created throughout the conference events – we will just have to watch the toy shelves to see!" - Tracy Dudkiewicz, TAP Marketing

"This was a great experience and chance to meet some of the brightest inventors. We always come away with some new business and new friends. Things run smoothly and the atmosphere is very laid back. This event has always been a positive part of our marketing plans." - Juan Mendez, Ludo Fact GmbH

"Thanks for making my first official inventors experience an awesome one. I could not have asked for a more productive use of time or better group of industry experts to learn from and meet." - Marc Cooper, Imagination Brands, LLC

"T&GCon was amazing and I highly recommend that any and all budding toy and game inventors invest in this opportunity to learn every aspect of the toy and game industry!  Not only do you get to network with the top experts in the industry, but you can get a one-on-one meeting to discuss "your" toy or game with them!  It's a rare and golden opportunity for toy and game inventors!" - Barbara Jenkins, J Links Enterprise

"Thank you for putting on such a wonderful conference. It definitely exceeded my expectations! As someone who is interested in getting started in the game industry, I found this conference invaluable. The great variety of session topics and quality of presenters helped me gain a better understanding of the industry as a whole. I would recommend it to anyone who thinks toy or game design is something they want to do." - John Berube

"For anyone interested in entering the wonderful toy and game business, either as an inventor or an entrepreneur, there is absolutely no better way to gather information and network with industry pros than to spend two days at T&GCon in Chicago in November."
- Mike Hirtle, Head of Global Product Acquisition and Inventor Relations at Hasbro

"It's always a pleasure coming to Chicago for T&GCon.  For the attendees, it's a great opportunity to interface directly with some of the top folks in the toy biz and a perfect opportunity to get invaluable exposure for your game or toy invention."
- Benjamin Dermer, VP Inventor Relations, Spin Master Ltd.

"T&GCon was a great place to meet industry professionals and to meet some new inventors.  The panels were well done and we were able to learn from some of the best out there."
- Lindsay Gaskins, President/CEO, Marbles the Brain Store

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