NEW YORK, NY - September 19, 2019 - Women from around the world will pitch their latest toy, game and play product ideas on October 1st at the Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) Empowerment Day in Dallas, Texas. More than 500 women have presented their products at this game-changing annual event where women receive personalized mentoring and support in face-to-face meetings with executive decision makers at Walmart, Hasbro, Spin Master, Play Monster, Jazwares, Basic Fun!, Wicked Cool Toys and Goliath Games.

At this year’s 8th Annual WIT Empowerment Day, held in collaboration with Walmart, more than 90 women entrepreneurs will pitch their products and ideas and benefit from feedback, advice and mentoring with industry leaders. Last year, inventor Angie Cella struck a deal with Wicked Cool Toys as a result of Empowerment Day for Blinger, the new glam styling tool for girls.

This single mother, who sold her house to develop and launch Blinger, met with Walmart buyers and several toy companies at Empowerment Day, including Michael Rinzler, co-President of Wicked Cool Toys. Michael recalls, “The minute I met Angie, it felt electric. She was so passionate about her product. It’s fantastic that creators have this incredible opportunity to pitch their concepts and learn the in’s and out’s of the toy business.”

Angie was in her 4th year trying to get her product picked up. She had been rejected from Shark Tank, lost as a finalist on a TV show, and only raised Kickstarter money by badgering her friends. Angie hadn’t considered licensing Blinger and reflects, “I learned so much at WIT Empowerment Day, that it was like earning my MBA in one day. Being at this event helped put me on the map and played a huge part in finally being successful in my journey.”

After Empowerment Day Angie signed a licensing deal with Wicked Cool Toys and in only a few months, Blinger was being manufactured. One year later, her product has landed on Walmart’s Top Rated by Kids Toy List, Amazon’s Top 100 Toy List, and is now available at all major US retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon, in specialty stores including Claire’s and Justice, and is distributed in 35 countries.

Past Empowerment Day mentors and speakers have included dozens of industry and entrepreneurial heavyweights, including Mark Cuban, billionaire business maverick and iconic serial entrepreneur, Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of an American manufacturer of children’s educational toys, Melissa & Doug, and Norma Rosenhain, founder and CEO of the global brand ideas and activation agency, Creata.

Throughout the year, WIT supports women leaders who are creating real change in an industry where the landscape is moving at a rapid pace. WIT President Ashley Mady says, “We connect women globally at all stages of their professional lives to leadership opportunities, education, and important relationships that lead to new business deals and career advancement. WIT embodies an incredible community of women who have tremendous energy, passion and motivation to excel in a fast paced and exciting industry.”