A toolkit of resources for TIA members and toy industry professionals.

Credit Interchange Program

The TIA Credit Interchange Program is a comprehensive resource for TIA member toy companies that includes an online data collection system, comprehensive credit reports, an electronic Credit Daily Bulletin, and participation in quarterly credit meetings to support the credit-related decisions these member toy companies make regarding their customers.

NOTE:  Only regular members of TIA who are manufacturers and importers would be eligible to participate in the Credit Committee pursuant to the Credit Interchange Program Guidelines.

Inventor and Designer Guide

TIA’s Toy Inventor & Designer Guide (second edition) is an extensive how-to pamphlet outlining the steps involved in developing, protecting, selling or manufacturing a new invention or design in the highly competitive toy industry.  Also provided in the Guide are references to safety information and a list of resources (in the form of organizations, publications and websites) that will provide further information and assistance for aspiring toy inventors.

See Professional Resources section (below) for a listing of Inventors and Designers

Job Bank / Career Center 

The toy industry’s Job Bank / Career Center is a one-stop resource for toy companies and industry support organizations to post job openings and for those already in – or hoping to enter – the toy industry to look for new employment opportunities.

Administered on behalf of TIA by JobTarget.com.

Professional Resources

*NOTE:  A listing in any of the directories identified below does not represent a recommendation from TIA of the organizations listed, nor is TIA responsible for the quality of work performed by these organizations. Information shown was provided by each listed organization and has not been verified by TIA.

• Factories (China)* 
  The China Toy Association maintains a list of export-ready suppliers that have been closely evaluated for five toy manufacturing criteria:
  • CTA Member
  • Corporate Management System (Export License)
  • Corporate Social Accountability (ICTI, SA8000, GSV, BSCI)
  • Annual Export Value (from China Customs Data )
  • Corporate Competitiveness (R&D, QA, International Trade Fairs Participation)
    
    
• Inventors and Designers*
  This TIA directory lists inventors and designers who provide service to the toy and youth entertainment industries.  Each listing includes contact information, year of establishment and areas of expertise as identified by the listing party. The directory includes both TIA members (indicated with a logo) and non-members who have paid a fee to be included.  
  
  
• Legal Counsel*
  This directory of attorneys and consultants (listed alpha by last name) have experience providing advice and counsel with regard to the rights and obligations of companies and individuals under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSC), the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the regulations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  
  
• Manufacturer Representatives*
  This directory of manufacturer representatives (i.e., agents that help to sell a manufacturer’s product to wholesale and retail customers) provides a list of professionals who can help to grow your product’s market share in the U.S. and abroad.  Each listing includes contact information, year of establishment, areas of expertise and past/current clients as identified by the listing party. The directory includes both TIA members (indicated with a logo) and non-members who have paid a fee to be included.  
  
  
• Testing Laboratories*
  This directory lists TIA member testing labs* that provide service to the toy industry; it includes contact information and testing capabilities as provided by the listed organization.
  
  Toy companies rely on independent laboratories to conduct a wide range of tests that verify compliance to the industry’s toy rigorous safety standards for everything from small parts to how a toy is expected to be used (or misused).
  
  
• Executive Search Firms*
  This TIA directory lists executive search firms.  Each listing includes contact information and areas of expertise as identified by the listing party.

Additional Links and Resources

• Associations & Government Agencies 
  
  
• Trade and Related Publications 
  
  
• International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI)
  The industry association for the worldwide toy industry. Its membership includes national toy associations from twenty countries, each of which has its own membership made up of toy brands operating in its own geography.
  
  ICTI and its member associations are committed to the promotion of toy safety standards, to the reduction or elimination of barriers to trade and to the advancement of social responsibility in the industry with programs to address environmental concerns, fair and lawful employment practices and workplace safety.
  
  
• ICTI CARE 
  The ICTI CARE (Caring, Awareness, Responsible, Ethical) Process is the International Council of Toy Industries' (ICTI) program to promote ethical manufacturing, in the form of fair labor treatment, as well as employee health and safety, in the toy industry supply chain worldwide. Its initial focus is in China, where 80 percent of the world's toy volume is manufactured. Its intent is to provide a single, fair, thorough and consistent program to monitor toy factories' compliance with ICTI's Code of Business Practices (the "Code").