by Laurie Chartorynsky, The Toy Association
PlayCon attendees looking to boost social media engagement with fans should grab a seat at a special session featuring YouTube father-and-son sensation Dan and Lincoln Markham, co-creators of the What’s Inside? channel, and Bottle Rocket Management’s Chas Lacaillade when the conference returns May 8 to 9 in San Francisco, CA.
With more than 5 million subscribers to their YouTube channel – in which the Markham duo cuts open random objects to find out what’s inside, while recording the experience – and an impressive following on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, the Markham’s along with manager Lacaillade, will lead a lively and engaging “TED Talk”-like session at the conference where toy companies can learn tips to maximize their social media channels.
The Markham’s YouTube channel launched in 2014 after the duo made a series of videos exploring what’s inside sports balls for a school science project. The channel expanded from there and they now travel the world collaborating with top influencers and working with leading brands such as Ford, Nike, LG, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Chas Lacaillade is founder and CEO of Bottle Rocket Management, which he founded in 2015 to identify and represent today’s most cutting-edge digital media content creators.
“PlayCon’s diverse line up of speakers, are all eager to share knowledge and success tips from their respective industries and expertise with our audience,” said Marian Bossard, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association. “Toy and play professionals will leave the conference brimming with ideas to apply to their companies and product lines.”
PlayCon’s speaker roster includes more than 20 thought-leaders, industry analysts, toy influencers, consumer product executives, and other motivational speakers who will lead short “TED Talk”-like sessions during the conference’s new format. Confirmed speakers include: Facebook’s Eva Press; Google’s Victoria Fang; alternative reality game designer Jane McGonigal; Dale Dougherty, “father” of the Maker Movement; Activision Blizzard’s Tim Kilpin; Trend Hunter’s Armida Ascano and Courtney Scharf; Jefferies’ Stephanie Wissink; Euromonitor’s Matthew Hudak; Sugarfina’s Rosie O’Neill; Ted Curtin of ProdigyWorks; and many more.
The Toy Association is hosting an open forum focused on succeeding over bankruptcies, retail disruption, and a changing marketplace, taking place Tuesday, May 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the SF Jazz Center – prior to PlayCon’s official opening. The forum is open to all toy and play professionals at no cost and registration for PlayCon is not required. Email Robyn Gibbs to RSVP. Visit ToyAssociation.org/PlayCon to register and for a list of up-to-date speakers, hotel information, and other news about the industry’s premier conference for play professionals.