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  • NEW: The Certified Play Expert Workshop is now ONLINE!

    This online certification program consists of 10 online modules with 7 in-course reviews. After each module candidates may take the review. 100% correct is required to pass, and you have unlimited attempts available. When a candidate completes all the reviews for the program, including their LIVE Capstone, they will be awarded their certification with a CPE Pin and Certificate that will be mailed to them via traditional mail.

    Parents and buyers depend on the specialty toy industry for toys that are loads of fun for kids, and promote healthy, developmentally appropriate play at the same time. Becoming well-versed in the art and science of play is an important business strategy that leads to differentiating your products or your store from the competition and builds trust with your customers.

    Earning the ASTRA Certified Play Expert credential will deepen your knowledge about child development and the importance of play – through ALL ages!

    Participants will get top-quality, research-based instruction in several core areas, including theories of child development, characteristics of major developmental stages, types of play and their benefits, advocating for play, and making sense of play.


    Member Price: $149
    Non-Member Price: $299


    Astra wants to support you! We have designed our Online Certification with the busy play professional in mind. NOTE: You MUST sign up for a LIVE Capstone session once you have completed all videos and reviews. Your sign-up link will be emailed to you upon completion of the course. 

  • Welcome to Astra Academy!

    A comprehensive record of the 2023 Marketplace and Academy Education Sessions.

  • ASTRA Shopper Insights 1.0 is the result of a thorough survey of a panel of 834 respondents, heavily comprised of millennial moms, and indexes affluent and educated.

    ASTRA worked with our partner STELLAR to produce ASTRA Shopper Insights 1.0. The insights found in this 61-page PDF are the result of a thorough survey of a panel of 834 respondents, heavily comprised of millennial moms, and indexes affluent and educated.

    Background
    The ASTRA Innovation Council is seeking to help its members better understand the customer base that supports the specialty toy store channel. In order to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape, ASTRA members need to know who to target, what motivates them to shop specialty over other alternatives, and how to attract and keep their business in the near term future which the Council is defining as 3 years out.

    Objectives
    Develop a profile of the current and potential high-value specialty toy store shopper. Bring to life the voice of the customer and create a robust demographic and psychographic understanding that can be used to drive strategies and tactics for growth. 

  • Recorded On: 06/12/2022

    Access to 3 video recorded breakout sessions including handouts/slides along with the Lunch & Learn and keynote presentations. Access to 4 audio recordings of Lightning Learning on the show floor are also included in this package.

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    If you attended ASTRA's 2019 Marketplace & Academy as a full conference registrant and were scanned into the session, you have been automatically registered to receive complimentary access. 

    If you did not attend the full conference but you are interested in reviewing the recorded sessions you can register for this product by clicking on the "Register" button included on the 2019 Marketplace & Academy Recordings page. 

    ·       The All Access Package is $99 for those that were not registered as full conference at Marketplace & Academy. 


    ASTRA and the education committee curated the following Marketplace & Academy sessions for recording and post-show viewing: 

    Sunday, 6/9 @ 10:15am: Compelling Connections: The Current of Influence | Tim Walsh

    Sunday, 6/9 @ 11:45am: Lunch & Learn: Lemonade Stand 2.0 - Secrets from Childhood for Succeeding in Business & Life | Jason Kotecki

    Sunday, 6/9 @ 1:00pm: Development through Delegation | Courtney Ramsey

    Sunday, 6/9 @ 2:15pm: Survival Strategies for Amazon.com | Ron Solomon

    Monday, 6/10 @ 10:00am: 3 Mistakes You Can Fix Tomorrow | Phil Wrzesinski (audio only)

    Monday, 6/10 @ 12noon: Top 3 Trends of Spielwarenmesse® | Schylon Hofmann (audio only)

    Monday, 6/10 @ 1:00pm: Try New Things to Market Yourself | Thom Singer (audio only)

    Monday, 6/10 @ 3:00pm: Top 5 Website Mistakes | Clinton Brady (audio only)

    Wednesday, 6/12 @ 8:30am: Creating Lasting Value | Yancey Strickler

  • Recorded On: 09/23/2020

    This space is a place for conversation and learning around diversity, equity and inclusion for members of the specialty toy industry.

    We acknowledge that this DEI space is not reflective of where we currently are as an organization or an industry. It is, however, reflective of where we need to be in order to accomplish our vision of changing the world through the power of play. 

    While we are making strides as an industry to promote representation, this is a continuous effort. Being committed to DEI means that ASTRA will constantly assess our organizational values and model our responsibility to do better as an industry. 

    Connect with this page to keep updated on new conversations, downloads, webinars and resources to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion.

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    ASTRA staff strive to apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusiveness (DEI) throughout everything we do. 

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    Never doubt that a 
    small group of 
    thoughtful committed 
    citizens can 
    change the world; 
    Indeed it's the only 
    thing that ever has. 
    -Margaret Mead

    Azhelle Wade

    info@thetoycoach.com

    Throughout my 10 year career in toys, I've married my natural design abilities and entrepreneurial fascination to become an innovator and creative leader. My friends know me as a woman working in the world of toys and fashion, who always has a new business venture or marketing concept. I’ve invented 3 patented toys, established efficient global development processes, as well as directed the re-branding of multi-million dollar product lines.

    After surviving a cancer scare, I decided time waits for no woman and invented the 100 Ways To Wear, Convertible Snap Dress by Costumize Me LLC. A few times a year, you can find me at salsa dance festivals across the globe, building a sense of awareness and community around the convertible event wear brand. I'm currently in the process of flipping that business from B2C to B2B. Check out costumizeme.com for more!

    President of thetoycoach.com, an online resource targeted to shed light on the toy industry for innovators and entrepreneurs with a passion for toy and game products. My podcast, Making It In The Toy Industry, supports the site with QA sessions, interviews, and creative tips.

    Listen to my podcast, Making It in The Toy Industry here > www.makingitinthetoyindustry.c...

    Jessica Pettitt, CSP

    www.goodenoughnow.com

    jess@goodenoughnow.com 

    Jessica Pettitt, M.Ed., CSP, pulls together her stand up comedy years with 15+ years of diversity trainings in a wide range of organizations to serve groups to move from abstract fears to actionable habits that lead teams to want to work together. With a sense of belonging and understanding, colleagues take more risks with their ideation, converse precious resources through collaboration, and maintain real connections with clients over time.

    Mikaela Wingard-Phillips

    Operations Manager

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikaelawp/

    info@mathnificent.com

    A 36-year old Seattle native who's lived in 3 countries and speaks English, French, German, and a little Spanish, Mikaela (she/her(s)) is passionate about play, education, social justice, womxn's sports, representation, and creating more space for those who feel they have to shrink or diminish themselves in order to survive in this world. Mikaela grew up in retail doing odd jobs for her mother Gini's store, Math 'n' Stuff. Fast forward 20 years -- after a few curves in the road to teaching, Mikaela found a home in educational/play retail at her mother's store and has invested in growing the business and expanding the product selection to be more inclusive to all folks who might happen through the door. Creating space where a person has a chance to feel seen, heard, valued, and celebrated for exactly who they are is a transforming experience; I've seen it first hand.

    In Mikaela's free-time (HA, what free time?), she enjoys Ultimate frisbee, movies, games, building LEGO, playing with her 5 nibblets (gender-neutral term for her siblings' kiddos), going on walks with her wife, Amanda, and eating and drinking the best food and drink Seattle and the world have to offer.

    Next adventure: returning to Europe with Amanda (post-COVID, of course) and traveling together to visit the cities we each lived in.

  • Recorded On: 07/01/2020

    The new CPSC guidelines provide age-grading information for a variety of consumer products used by children based on their skills, play behaviors and interests. Learn the differences between the 2002 and 2020 guidelines and how these new regulations will affect your products as a manufacturer and retailer.


    In January of 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published the 2020 Age Determination Guidelines: Relating Consumer Product Characteristics to the Skills, Play Behaviors, and Interests of Children.

    These guidelines provide age-grading information for a variety of consumer products used by children based on the skills, play behaviors and interests of children in particular age groups. This enables manufacturers to more accurately develop, label and promote consumer products for children.

    These new CPSC guidelines became effective on June 1, 2020 and supersede the 2002 Age Determination Guidelines. Of note, the scope of these guidelines has expanded beyond toys into a variety of consumer products that may be used by children.

    In this webinar, you will learn about:

    ·       The differences between the 2002 and 2020 guidelines

    ·       How these differences may affect your products

    ·       What these differences mean for retailers


    Susan DeRagon

    QIMA.com

    susan.deragon@qima.com

    info@qima.com 

    Susan DeRagon is a Senior Technical Consultant at QIMA. With over 30 years of experience, she is a leading quality and safety expert on various consumer products including children’s products, apparel, food contact items and understands the unique challenges of promotional and licensed goods. Susan has conducted numerous technical seminars and webinars globally and works closely with companies to provide the highest level of quality service in the areas of regulatory compliance, product testing, safety assessments, production quality control and assurance, and product inspections.

    Ms. DeRagon is an active member of The Toy Association and ASTM International, participating on several consumer product standards committees. She is also a member of PPAI’s Product Responsibility Action Group (PRAG) and a previous member of the Board of Directors for ICPHSO, the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization.

  • Access this 6 step framework from Jennifer Rust of Creative Profit Planning to understand how to make your business profitable and put more cash in your pocket.


    Isn't it time to get your retail business working for you? Blast through the distractions and common myths and learn the smartest way to build a profitable business so you can pay yourself more and worry less about paying your bills. The Retail Roadmap to Financial Success gives you access to a 6 step framework from Jennifer Rust of Creative Profit Planning to understand how to make your business profitable and put more cash in your pocket. 

    This is unit 1 of a full 7-week guided course compliments of Creative Profit Planning. Learn more!

    Guided Course Schedule:

    • Week 1: An overview of the components that make your store profitable

    • Week 2: Demystifying Your Financial Statements. Understanding How to read them and where cash can be hiding in invisible expenses.

    • Week 3: When will I truly be cash flow positive (or have ___ dollars in cash profit in my business? The art of developing a breakeven plan.

     Week 4: Implementation week.

    • Week 5: Pricing for profit…the exact formula that will make your store profitable and how to use it.

    • Week 6: Understanding Inventory Turnover. Calculating it in your business and using it to improve cash flow.

    • Week 7: The Basics of Creating an OTB plan.

    Jennifer Rust

    CEO | Creative Profit Planning

    jennifer@creativeprofitplanning.com

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/je...

    Jennifer Rust is the CEO of Creative Profit Planning, a former retail store owner and a seasoned CPA. She works to develop roadmaps to profitability for independent retail stores, guiding them down the path to resolution of their financial challenges and putting more money in the pockets of her clients.

    Jennifer has lived and breathed what you are experiencing on a personal level in her own retail business and shared in many financial challenges through the eyes of hundreds of diverse small businesses in her accounting practice. Jennifer now she shares that knowledge with the entrepreneurs who are willing to commit to tightening their belts, following a plan, and opening their eyes and hearts to the possibility of what financial freedom could look like in their businesses. Her clients consist of a diverse group of retail stores both large and small in all areas of the United States. She is a proud Affiliate of Management One and ASTRA.

  • Listen to Thom Singer share 7 tips to prepare for business success in any economy.


    It was not long ago that the economy was booming, and now we are in a global pandemic and looking at rising unemployment and a possible recession. It is amazing how fast things can change. But there are business tips in any economy that will help you in beating a recession. The unknown is how long the recession will last or what sectors will be impacted the most. Listen to this presentation from Thom Singer on his 7 business tips for any economy. Are you prepared to beat a recession?

    Thom Singer

    The Conference Catalyst

  • Listen to this recorded webinar with a qualified SCORE representative from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to find out how the "Economic Injury Disaster Loan" may help your business.


    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering a low-interest federal disaster loan to small businesses suffering economic hardships as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19). These loans are known as the “Economic Injury Disaster Loan” (EIDL), and you are likely eligible!

    Listen to SCORE and an SBA lender specialist in this archived webinar regarding the small business COVID-19 disaster relief loan. This webinar will provide you with answers and help you understand who is eligible for an SBA disaster (EIDL) loan and what you need to have in-hand before filing your application. Approximately 30 minutes of this webinar is an overview of the disaster loan (EIDL) while 60 minutes was dedicated to Q&A for specific audience questions. 

    Gene Murtha

    SCORE | Volunteer Mentor & Regional Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region

    Gene Murtha has over 40 years in general management, marketing, sales and product development within the toy, games and gift industries. Gene’s corporate background includes 16 years at Mattel in various executive roles, both in the US and abroad. He served as General Manager of Mattel UK and Ireland, ran the Toys-r-Us Customer Business Team for Mattel, opened markets in China, Japan, India and Eastern Europe.Gene also has experience as an entrepreneur, having started and run Main Street Toy company the 1990’s. There he developed and marketed many successful products including Slap Wraps, one of the hottest fads of the ‘90’s. In one capacity or another, Gene estimates he has brought over 7,000 concepts to market, managing many mega-hit properties such as Star Wars, Cabbage Patch Kids, Trivial Pursuit and Tickle Me Elmo. He joined SCORE in 2011 and has served as a volunteer mentor, and as a Regional VicePresident for the Mid-Atlantic States. As a mentor for small businesses, Gene has served hundreds of aspiring start-up, and counseled existing business owners on sales growth in a variety of industries. Gene holds various patents, is fluent in Spanish and currently resides with his wife in Easton, PA, 60 miles outside of New York City.

    Shannon Degiglio

    U.S. Small Business Administration | Lender Relations & Economic Development Specialist

    For more  information concerning SBA and its programs visit our website at: www.sba.gov/disaster

    Don Jefferson

    U.S. Small Business Administration

    For more  information concerning SBA and its programs visit our website at: www.sba.gov/disaster

  • Join Ron Solomon and Marc Maybee in discussing brand compliance efforts; specifically, why these efforts fail, why they succeed, and how to improve compliance overall!

    In this webinar Ron Solomon, CEO of Mapp Trap, and Marc Maybee, Director of Brand Compliance, review brand compliance efforts. In this helpful webinar, Ron and Marc cover: the reasons policies fail; business policies and procedures to reduce brands unauthorized listings; strategies to prevent third-party sellers from relying on the first sale doctrine to defend their activities; a helpful checklist of useful policies and tools to protect the brand and fight potential threats; and how to create and implement a solid policy strategy. 

    Ron Solomon

    Mapp Trap CEO

    Marc Maybee

    Mapp Trap Director of Brand Compliance