ASTRA Offers Coronavirus Update on Marketplace & Academy

With Toy Fair New York behind us, many in the industry are beginning to take a careful look ahead at future events as the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally.

This morning, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) issued a response to member and community concerns ahead of the organization’s annual Marketplace & Academy, scheduled to take place from June 7-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

At this time, ASTRA says that it has no plans to postpone or cancel the event.

ASTRA leadership will continue to monitor what is still a very fluid situation while relaying updates and resources as they emerge.

Tips for Stopping the Spread of COVID-19:

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol.
Practice good coughing and sneezing etiquette, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Keep work environments clean, using basic cleaning and disinfecting products when necessary.

Additional COVID-10 Resources:

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.