The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) will host a two-part ASTRA Meet, Visit, Play event in the Dallas Market Center this month. Both events will be on the 12th floor of the Market Center and are open to both member and nonmember retailers.

“Today’s ASTRA is so much more than our annual Marketplace & Academy each year in June,” notes Kimberly Mosley, president of ASTRA. “We are increasing the number of opportunities we offer for independent toy retailers to get together and learn and play all year long.”

Event Details:

  • Thursday, Jan. 17 6 to 7 p.m.: Megan Philpott of Toodleydoo Toys will lead a brainstorming session on fresh ideas for in-store events and creative ways to build the buzz that will bring customers to your store.
  • Friday, Jan. 18th 6 to 7 p.m.: ASTRA’s Game Night is designed for retailers to enjoy playing with games in a relaxed, fun, social setting.

Admission to both events is free.

About the author

James Zahn

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.

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