People of Play‘s (POP) Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards recently concluded, resulting in nine winners across several categories. The event also honored Game Changers and Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
The TAGIEs celebrates toy and game industry leaders across numerous categories. The awards aim to celebrate great achievements within the toy industry, including innovation and invention. The annual event also recognizes industry professionals who stand out through philanthropy, inventor advocacy, creativity, and humanitarianism.
Winners include:
Toy Innovator
Sara Farber, Bryan Wilson, and Will Sakran for Burstin’ Bubble Clouds with Funrise and Rescue Tales Tickle Pup with MGA/Little TikesÂ
Game Innovator
Scott Brady for Boop with Smirk & Dagger
Rising Star Innovator
Disney’s John “Cody” Hampton for Limited Edition Cal Kestis Legacy Lightsaber
Most Innovative PR and Marketing Team
Mattel and Barbie PR and Marketing Team for Barbie: The Movie and Painting the World Pink
Most Innovative Art and Design VisualsÂ
Design Edge and Spin Master for Rubik’s Influencer Box
Most Innovative Supplier
Grant Lyon for Grant’s Game Recs
Most Innovative Retailer
Hilary Key for The Toy Chest in Nashville, Tennessee
Most Innovative License
Mattel and Barbie Licensing, Consumer Products, and Product Teams for Barbie: The Movie
Young Innovator (under 18 years old)
Zoe Oli for Beautiful Curly Me
POP also honored two Game Changers: Unsung Heros. This included Michael Gramelspacher, Jon Harter, and SG Labs, Club Organizers for St. Clare School Innovator Club, and Tara McGrath, Creative Director, Inventor Relations and Innovations, Mattel.
In addition, Jill Barad, former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Mattel, and Rouben Terzian, Co-Founder of Big Monster Toy, were honored as Lifetime Achievement Award winners. The award was presented by Jeffrey Breslow, co-founder of Big Monster Toy.
Sponsors included Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, Longshore, Spin Master, ASTRA, Nextoy, Super Impulse, Backdrop.com, Baby Paper, Jazwares, Peggy Brown Creative, and Barry and Jason Entertainment.
