The board of directors for the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) has adopted four key goals to guide the organization’s work over the next few years. They include:
- Building the viability of the specialty toy industry by developing a plan to increase and stabilize the number of independent toy stores over the next three to five years
- Promoting stronger cooperation and collaboration among ASTRA’s manufacturers, retailers, and sales reps to increase information flow, innovation, and efficiency among member segments
- Increasing the professionalism of the specialty toy industry by developing new educational and certification programs that address technology, marketing, child development, healthy play, and other issues that contribute to the success of specialty toy businesses
- Providing tools that can help ASTRA members adopt technology to strengthen their businesses
Members of the ASTRA board of directors evaluated the emerging needs of all segments of the specialty toy industry. They will present the key goals to the full ASTRA membership during the annual ASTRA business meeting on Monday, June 9, at its Marketplace & Academy in Phoenix, Ariz.