Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc. dba People of Play

We are the Chicago Toy & Game Group and you can call us “ChiTAG” – pronounced SHY-Tag – for short. Founded by Mary Couzin in 2003, we produce POP Week, a series of events promoting and celebrating play and innovation that welcomes industry, consumers and traditional and social media the week before Thanksgiving. Our main events include:

Chicago Toy & Game Fair (since 2003). The first and the largest public toy and game fair in North America targeting families. In 2018 we garnered over 1.4 billion media impressions and entertained over 30,000 attendees.

Inventor and Innovation Conferences (since 2006) The largest gathering of professional inventors, new inventors and product acquisition executives in the world. Attendees come from approximately 25 countries to pitch ideas, network, learn and celebrate the toy and game inventor community.

Play in Education (PIE) Conference - (Since 2006) Studies show a focus on play means better performance in academics and social competence. This conference discusses strategies for bringing play into the classroom and provides CE credits.

Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) (since 2008). The TAGIEs are an elegant and playful evening gala that brings together industry leaders from inventors to manufacturers to retailers as well as the public for a celebratory evening of innovation from around the world.

Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) (since 2006). The YIC provides an opportunity for children ages 6 to 18 to showcase their original toy and game inventions to industry professionals, members of media and the general public. All entrants receive feedback from industry executives and inventors as well as the opportunity to win prizes, scholarships and licensing agreements with toy and game companies.

Media Influencer Event (since 2009) Hundreds of traditional media and social media influencers bring their families for breakfast, entertainment and a day of fun at the Fair.

PlayCHIC Fashion Show (since 2012) Fashion sells. The PlayCHIC Fashion Show celebrates dress-up by inspiring play through a new avenue - fashion.

We recently launched People of Play, POP! People of Play is the toy industry’s most comprehensive networking and resource hub; a social platform and industry portal where toy industry veterans, newbies, inventors, buyers, job seekers, recruiters, consumers, and others come to find each other. Get up-to-the-minute toy industry, event, and product news; participate in live online educational and networking events; browse a vast library of expert resources; and peruse and post to the industry’s only dedicated social feed.

Year round we send monthly newsletters to over 225,000 industry, consumers, social media influencers and educators covering many aspects of play for different audiences. What differentiates us, is our focus on the people. We tell the compelling stories behind the playthings we love creating a deeper and more authentic bond between consumers and toys and games. We also host industry get-togethers around the world to connect in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Our Chicago Toy and Game Foundation was founded in 2011 and is a philanthropic foundation supporting many children’s organizations.

Mission:

To Connect the POP Community: toy and game inventors, developers, factories, suppliers, developers, marketers, salespeople, retailers, shoppers, members of the media – all play stakeholders.

To Support the POP Community: POP events, pub events, and internet platform.

To Inform the POP Community: newsletters, seminars, on-line resources, and 24/7 news feed.