Toy testers assess the profitability and safety of new toys, with some hired by toy manufacturers or working from home. Testing can save money by soliciting customer feedback and ensuring safety compliance. No specific qualifications are needed, but some business or marketing knowledge is beneficial.
Generally, a toy tester is someone hired to play around with prototypes or new products to help assess how profitable certain toys can be. In addition to looking for characteristics such as fun and visually appealing, a toy tester can also test a product for safety. One option is for a toy manufacturer to contract with a toy testing company, many of which provide additional services, such as certifying toys as safe according to certain international standards, depending on where a particular toy will be sold. In many cases, an individual toy tester, such as a parent, may not be paid to test toys at home, but may be allowed to keep them or be paid for posting a written review. The types of toys tested can range from children’s toys to pet toys and even adult products.
Before expending the resources to produce a large quantity of a new toy, companies often like to get feedback from potential customers. If they plan to sell their products in certain countries, they may need to have their toys certified and verify that they comply with international safety standards or import regulations. Toys can be expensive to produce and market, so testing can save money by soliciting customer feedback and ensuring a product’s safety before it’s distributed.
A toy tester evaluates toys against certain criteria determined by the manufacturer. Typically, child and adult testers record their findings, giving verbal feedback while playing with the toy or submitting a review afterward. Children can be brought into a laboratory as members of focus groups, where professionals observe them playing with toys and record their reactions. Someone can also work from home as a toy tester; parents, for example, can evaluate children’s toys by having them play with the toys and then observing and recording the results.
In most cases, there are no specific qualifications needed for someone to become a professional toy tester. However, it is usually beneficial for this person to have some business or marketing knowledge, as well as being familiar with the products. Some specialized knowledge or experience may be required for anyone wanting a job inspecting toys for safety. Toy maker websites are one option for finding toy tester jobs. In addition to hiring professional testers, they often have information available for parents and others looking for unpaid toy tester opportunities.
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