The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) opened nominations for the 2019 ASTRA Awards. The annual event honors and recognizes outstanding companies and individuals for achievements and contributions to the specialty toy industry.
ASTRA members are invited to submit nominations across five categories: Retailer of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Sales Rep of the Year, Rising Star/Young Professional, and new this year, the Industry Innovator award.
The inaugural Industry Innovator award will recognize “outstanding innovation and out-of-the-box thinking in the specialty toy industry,” and will be presented to “professionals who raise the bar in business practices and strategies.”
Nominations will be accepted through April 15. The Annual Business Meeting and Awards Presentation will take place at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy on Monday, June 10.
The organization is also encouraging members to take part in its annual performance analytics survey to establish benchmarks on critical financial metrics. Participating retailers that are ASTRA members will receive a free report that compares its store’s financial performance to the average ASTRA retailer and to high performing ASTRA stores.
