ASTRA Camp Virtual Experience Enters the Retail Wilderness this August

ASTRA Camp is coming | Source: ASTRA

As the toy industry continues to evolve for virtual events (see: The Toy Insider’s Sweet Suite @ Home: Retailer Day), the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is getting in on the action following the cancelation of this year’s Marketplace & Academy.

The virtual ASTRA Camp experience will take place in two sessions, Aug. 4-6 and Aug. 11-13. ASTRA says that its product discovery, educational, and “camper social” events will help independent retailers “navigate the wilderness of Q4 ahead.”

ASTRA also promises a virtual edition of its popular Lip Sync Battle, which many were disappointed to be missing due to the Marketplace & Academy cancelation.

More details will follow in the weeks ahead.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.