by Sue Warfield, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA)
With ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy fast approaching, the excitement is building every day. This event is definitely “more than a toy show,” and this year, we’ve upped our offerings to make this statement truer than ever before!
Our mission is to help specialty retailers and manufacturers elevate, engage, and promote. To achieve this mission, we want all those who are considering attending to understand there is so much more to Marketplace & Academy than just walking the showfloor. This conference allows specialty companies to better their businesses through education, networking, and more.
While day passes are available, those will only grant guests access to the Marketplace during the regular exhibit hours. Our full conference registration fee includes access to everything on our packed schedule, including interactive events, educational sessions, meals, and more.
Key must-attend events include our keynote presentation on Sunday, June 11 with Matt Havens, who will be discussing the importance of “Making Your Business Human.” Also on June 11, guests can enjoy a lunch presentation featuring a clip from the new docuseries Black Inventors Got Game, followed by a lively panel discussion. And finally, our epic Game & Kit session returns to ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy that evening. Plus, each following day of the show will kick off with a “Toy Talk” during breakfast, and of course, no one will want to miss the traditional Toy Sync Battle on Monday night.
There is so much more in store at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy, taking place in Columbus, Ohio, from June 11-14.
Visit astratoy.org to register. We hope to see you there!
A version of this article was originally published in the 2023 Classics & Specialty Issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!
