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WOMEN IN TOYS, INTERVIEW


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“Women work smarter to be in the limelight”


Set up over 20 years ago in the US, the Women in Toys association now boasts divisions in territories including the UK, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Spain and others. Samantha Loveday talks to the outgoing WIT president Joan Luks and head of the UK chapter, Frances Cain, to find out more


Can you give me some background details on Women in Toys? Joan Luks: WIT was started about 22 years ago by two women who saw a need – Susan Matsumoto and Anne Pitrone.


Susan started as a doll designer for Mattel, before moving to New York to eventually open her own design company, while Anne’s career spans from Cabbage Patch Kids to Spider-Man. She also runs her own business as a product development consultant to various toy companies. WIT has 400 paid members. Including members on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter, we have 6,000 members.


What are some of your key events in 2014? JL: The Wonder Women Awards Dinner was held during New York Toy Fair last month and on June 18th we will be holding the annual WIT Networking Breakfast at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. WIT is also planning to organise its


32 March


first event at the ASTRA show in June, while another breakfast will take place at the Dallas Fall Toy Preview in the autumn.


Individual chapters plan their own events. As I get info it is added to the WIT calendar.


In an industry which is traditionally seen as male dominated, do you think that women are under represented? Or is it just they never get the chance to be in the limelight? JL: More recently, women have made strides and are better represented in the industry and are gaining attention. With that said, I also believe we have to work harder and smarter to be in the limelight. That is why WIT is such a dynamic organisation. We promote the


achievements of women at all levels and capacities. As we like to say, ‘we welcome the men but we honour the women’. The Wonder Women Awards dinner shines the spotlight on bright, creative, professional women who


are breaking ground in the toy, licensing and entertainment industry.


What are your main aims with WIT for this year? JL: After serving three and a half years as president of WIT, I will be stepping down as of April 1st. Ashley Mady is WIT’s new, incoming president. Ashley is founder and president of her own company, Brandberry Inc and has been an active


presence at major trade shows, the Wonder Women Awards Dinner being ‘the event to attend’ at Toy Fair, the expansion of the WIT Scholarship program, and so much more.


I am so pleased to be passing the baton to Ashley Mady. I know she will take the reins and continue to lead WIT and take the organisation to new heights.


Recently, women have made strides,


are better represented in the industry and are gaining attention. Joan Luks, Women in Toys


board member. She holds the positions of WIT Florida Chapter Chair person, co- chair of the WWOT dinner and chairs the WIT website and social media committees. WIT is in very good hands. The past three and a half


years have been an extraordinary experience. I am very proud of the growth WIT has seen, the increase in membership, its


And what are your main aims for the UK chapter of WIT? Frances Cain: Our main aims for the WIT UK chapter is to see it grow and become an active platform from which women - and men - can network, meet and discuss ideas in the toy, licensing and entertainment sectors. I think that the fantastic response ToyNewshas had


to the Top Women in Toys UK feature shows us that there is a need to create this networking platform, both offline and online. We have plans for


several more events - including an industry first - for 2014 and we will announce our plans as soon as they are finalised.


What would you most like to have achieved in the UK by the end of the year? FC: To have established a growing, active community of women and men who can come together to share and exchange ideas and experiences within the UK and global toy industry.


Finally, how can interested parties join WIT? FC: Joining could not be easier. Follow the donate link on the Women in Toys website. Until March 15th there is a discounted special for new UK members – the rate for a one year membership is just $75 instead of the usual $125.00 so it’s the perfect time to join and see what we are all about.


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