President’s Report

chair Amy Saldanha past chair Christine Blumberg chair-elect Kevin McGrath treasurer Dee Farrell (2020) secretary Nick Tarzia (2021) directors Melissa Beese (2021) Betty Skoke Burns (2021), Jeanie Crone (2022) Corey Funkey (2022), Jacqueline Killian (2021) Lisa Orman (2022), Brad Ruoho (2022) Tom Rushton (2022), Ron Solomon (2023)

Magazine

editor Tom Savage assistant editor Dee Marsden graphic artist Maia VanOrman

Editorial Advisory Committee

chair Tom Savage Jean Bailey, Consultant Theresa Duncan, Villa Villekulla Toy Store Tami Murphy, Grand Prix International Lisa Orman, KidStuff PR Kemi Tignor, Little Likes Kids LLC Allison White, Sugar B Sales Phil Wrzesinski, HABA USA

ASTRA Staff

president

Sue Warfield

marketing and communications manager

Dee Marsden

membership specialist

Jenna Stirling

special events and project manager

Michael Foldeak

Toy Times Magazine is published by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, 312-222-0984, info@astratoy.org, www.astratoy.org. Copyright © 2021 American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. All rights reserved.

Advertisements are accepted. For more information, contact Rick Kauder, Fahy-Williams Publishing, rkauder@fwpi.com 315-789-0473.

All articles for Toy Times are supplied by ASTRA and its members, with Fahy-Williams assembling and editing the magazine, and managing the advertising sales function.

ASTRA reserves the right to accept, reject, or alter all editorial and advertising material submitted for publication.

Advertising in ASTRA does not imply endorsement of products and services. Opinions expressed in articles contained herein are those of the authors, not necessarily of ASTRA or its individual members. The information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable.

We Are On!

Sue Warfield

Mark your calendars for August 5-8, 2021 because yes – Marketplace & Academy 2021 is happening! We will be able to see each other in person, look at and touch products, ask questions, play, socialize, learn and connect in real life. No worries of our internet connection fading out, the dog barking, the kids running in the background or someone shouting a question at us from another room. We will enjoy the opportunity to focus on our business and our toy industry community. Oh, how I have missed this in-person interaction!

ASTRA will have so much to offer at this year’s Marketplace & Academy in Minneapolis. With grit, determination, creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of our members, we are heading into the coming 4th quarter with an entirely new appreciation for our ASTRA community. This is what we will be celebrating as we gather together in Minneapolis. We have learned so much over the past 18 months, and our educational offerings will be focused on sharing what we’ve learned and what we can use to keep us strong in the future – whatever that may bring. Our show floor is sold out with exhibitors excited to showcase their newest products and they, along with sales reps, will be ready to work with each and every retailer on inventory availability, promotional materials and in-store interactive opportunities to ensure that this coming holiday season will be the best ever. If safety is a concern, I can assure you that we would not be having our event if we were not completely on top of all safety measures. We continue to monitor all health and safety recommendations with our city partners, and we will keep you informed with any new updates and changes as we get closer to the event dates.

I hope you will join in on the in-person experience of seeing and touching new products, meeting with the manufacturers, learning from one another and simply taking time to have fun. Bookmark www.marketplaceandacademy.org to learn more about all of the fun that this year’s Marketplace & Academy will hold.