Black in Toys

WHO WE ARE

Black in Toys, Inc. is a 501c3 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION created to provide support, resources, and community for black individuals in the toy industry.

OUR VISION is to INCREASE the number of black creatives, professionals and manufacturers in the toy industry by advocating for equity, inclusivity, diversity, representation and product visibility.

OUR MISSION is to PROVIDE a global community and platform for black creators and professionals in the toy industry that fosters advancement through mentorship, partnership, education, collaboration and increased market share.

OUR VALUES are to PROMOTE equity, inclusion, community, leadership, respect, integrity, innovation, creativity, collaboration, accountability, continued education, and exposure.

WHO WE SERVE

• inventors & entrepreneurs
• brands
• game designers
• children's product manufacturers
• retailers
• toy company employees
• creative & service professionals
• children's book authors
• students (primary and secondary)
• synergistic companies, organizations & professionals

OUR GOALS

#1 CREATE A SPACE for black creatives and professionals in the toy industry to connect, learn and grow their visibility, influence and brands. 

#2 PROVIDE A PLATFORM for inventors, entrepreneurs and brands to market and sell their products to an international audience where CONSUMERS and RETAILERS can find diverse products created by and for the black culture.

#3 EXPOSE BLACK STUDENTS from elementary school to college to careers in the toy industry and PROVIDE A PIPELINE of qualified black candidates.

#4 FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS AND BRIDGE THE GAP between [mainstream toy companies, industry organizations, service providers, retailers, financial institutions, legal professionals] AND [black creators, brands and professionals].

DONATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR... 

• membership & e-commerce website development and hosting

• IP applications

• industry organization membership fees (ASTRA, WiT, Toy Association, etc.)

• inventory for marketplace

• marketing

• office space

• 1st Annual BiT Conference & Marketplace

• HBCU toy industry info & recruitment tour

• development & programming costs for "Young, Gifted & Black in Toys" workshops 

• stipends to subsidize costs for members interested in attending toy industry conferences and events

• and more...

DID YOU KNOW?

• There are 100+ BLACK-OWNED INDEPENDENT TOY BRANDS in the United States alone and even more internationally.

• There are 60+ BLACK CARD & BOARD GAME DESIGNERS and BRANDS.

• There are 1000+ BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHORS and even more non-black authors who have written books celebrating black culture.

• There are reportedly 16,637 HOBBY & TOY STORES and over 500 TOY & GAME COMPANIES in the United States. However, these numbers DO NOT INCLUDE black-owned toy companies, manufacturers or brands. 

• In 2021, Statistica reported that there were 270,000 JOBS with manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of toys and similar children's products in the United States. The toy industry in the United States accounted for a total of just over 572,000 JOBS that year. 

• BLACK PROFESSIONALS make up LESS THAN 1% of the JOB MARKET in the toy industry. 

• In 2022, the toy industry generated an estimated $29.2 BILLION in the UNITED STATES and $107 BILLION GLOBALLY.

• The global toy market is projected to generate $230.64 BILLION by 2028.