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The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is relaunching its Certified Play Expert Program this summer.

The popular program has been updated and revised and will debut as a live, two-day course on June 10-11, 2022, immediately preceding ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy in Long Beach, California

ASTRA’s Certified Play Expert Program offers retailers a chance to become familiar with the art and science of play through research-based instruction. Certified Play Experts can help independent retailers stand out from the pack by knowing what they sell and being able to guide parents and gift-givers to great products that kids will love.

Related: State of the Industry Q&A 2022: ASTRA

Registration is open now for the course at a cost of $299. Additional details can be found here.

Following a return to the live event space last summer, ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy will welcome specialty retailers, manufacturers, and other members of the industry to the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center from June 12-15.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book and Co-President of The International Toy Magazines Association (ITMA). He is also 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), New York Comic Con, 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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