Educational Dealer April 2022

April 2022

FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

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THE ISSUE

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by Kevin Fahy

Time and Again

For the past 38 years, I have been writing about current events, trying to make some sort of point about how those events might affect the school supply industry.

In all that time, I have rarely said much about war.

It’s not because there haven’t been any, as the U.S. has been directly involved in at least three, and indirectly in several others.

Nor is it because wars don’t have a major impact upon our industry, because they clearly do.

It’s more a matter of the effects being so obvious that I don’t think anyone really needs to point them out. On the contrary, it seems more remarkable to me that life, and business, go on in spite of the horrible violence going on somewhere in the world.

The National School Supply and Equipment Association, now called the Education Market Association, was founded smack in the middle of World War One. While millions were dying in the muddy trenches of France and Belgium, the pioneers of our industry were gathering to carve up the burgeoning American education market.

At the beginning of that war, by the way, the British author H.G. Wells published a book entitled “The War that Will End War.” It became a catch phrase among the idealistic, but by the end of the fighting there were those who used the phrase in a more sarcastic sense.

It turned out that their pessimism was well-founded. The Second World War began

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just 21 years after the end of the first one, close enough that a lot of the same people participated in both.

The war officially began when Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. To give you some idea where America’s head was at the time, “The Wizard of Oz” opened nationwide a few days earlier. The biggest movie premiere of all time, “Gone With the Wind,” happened just three months later.

It was a good year for business in the United States. Gross Domestic Product grew by 8 percent, a feat it has not matched in the last 70 years, and the Great Depression was finally over. For the next two years, as Europe slid deeper into fascism, war and genocide, the U.S. economy continued to improve. Our GDP increased by nearly 9 percent in 1940, and 18 percent in 1941.

During that time many Europeans, especially the British, begged the United States to intervene, but the great majority of the American people opposed getting involved.

Prominent citizens such as Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford and Ohio Governor Robert Taft headed up committees and gave speeches supporting isolationism.

In September of 1940, Franklin Roosevelt signed the “Lend-Lease Act,” which provided Navy destroyers, aircraft and anti-aircraft batteries to England in exchange for military bases in Canada and the Caribbean. The same week he established a draft, requiring American men from 18 to 36 to register. The famous

It seems more remarkable to me that life, and business, go on in spite of the horrible violence going on somewhere in the world.

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(continued on page 6) April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com 3

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April 2022

FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

Features 3 7

The Issue

Time and Again

by Kevin Fahy

29 30

14

Business Notes

18

Industry News

20

Cool & Hot

Stores Succeeding Socially

When the pandemic took brick-and-mortar’s superpower away, storeowners had to figure out how to present the in-store experience virtually. Posting on social media was one way to do that.

10

Staff Videos Keep Knowledge Bound Top-of-Mind

12

Social Media Works Both Ways

13

17

Departments

Instagram is a No-brainer for Teacher Store’s “Visual” Customers

The Big Hybrid Workplace Experiment

More new stores open than old stores close, JCPenney’s new spokescharacter, looking for supply chain solutions, cyber attack watch, the growth of Five Below PHabLAB by Palmer Hamilton in Lakeland School, Patricia Cadigan is new Artcobell VP, Toy Fair switches to fall, ASTRA designs a February tradeshow cruise innovations in the furniture and equipment category

For many workplaces, the new normal is a combination work-at-home/ work-in-office. Will it succeed?

22

Five Questions with Edouard André-Hessig of ArtVenture

25

Eye on Education

28

Index of Advertisers

Endcap

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4 April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com

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THE ISSUE (continued from page 3)

newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer said that those actions demonstrated that Roosevelt was trying to become a dictator and was guilty of war crimes.

Although the government began to prepare for war, the public would remain staunchly opposed to bailing out Europe for another 15 months, even as England fought desperately to survive. That would change in a single day in December of 1941.

Amid the smoking ruins of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, isolationism virtually disappeared. Hitler then sealed the deal by declaring war on the United States, and the American economy switched into high gear to manufacture ships, planes, tanks, trucks, etc.

When the war ended in 1945, and demand for all those armaments came to an abrupt halt, our economy went into recession. Part of what ended that slump in the late ’40s was, guess what, another war, this time on the Korean peninsula. It was the first war that we fought on a limited basis, with nuclear powers dancing around on opposite sides of a local conflict.

It would not be the last. In some ways Vietnam was remarkably similar, a northversus-south civil war, with Russia and China supporting the communist north and the U.S. providing ground and air forces to fight for the (theoretically) democratic south. The objectives were far less clear, however, and it ended up being longer, deadlier, more confusing and more divisive.

Unlike other wars, there was no single, dramatic event that set it off. We started getting involved on a very small scale in the early 1960s, and then it just gradually escalated into the horrible, “Apocalypse Now” nightmare of the late ’60s. The longer it dragged on, the more the public turned against it.

Business, however, followed its usual pattern, picking up along with the pace of our military buildup, and dropping off into a recession following the end of the war. For the school supply industry, the Vietnam era was a period of explosive growth, as teacher stores opened all over America.

On the other side of the aisle, publishers of instructional materials, classroom décor, incentives, etc., multiplied and flourished along with educational-toy makers, furniture (continued on page 6)

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THE ISSUE (continued from page 5)

companies, audio-visual suppliers and various others. The boom did not stop with the recession, but continued on through the ’70s and ’80s.

Had I been destined to be sent off to war, incidentally, that would have been the one. By the time I was old enough to register for the draft in the spring of 1971, the Pentagon was starting to scale down, and my number never got called up. I can’t say I was disappointed.

Nonetheless, the Vietnam War had a major effect on this company. My partner in founding the business, Tom Williams, spent several years in Southeast Asia, which caused him to be a little older than most of his college classmates. I was one of those, and we became fast friends.

A few years after graduation we got back together, working for a teaching aid

publisher that some of you may remember, called Instructor Curriculum Materials.

After that business was broken up by its parent company, Tom and I teamed up to buy Educational Dealer Magazine, which is still one of our publications 38 years later.

Tom passed away four years ago.

At any rate, Vietnam cast a long shadow. There is an old expression that “generals are always fighting the last war,” meaning that military minds are preoccupied with the mistakes of the past rather than the likely scenarios of the future. The bitter experience of Vietnam has left us more hesitant than ever to get involved with “other people’s wars.”

Periodically, though, that sentiment is challenged by a situation that appeals powerfully to our sense of right and wrong, or arouses our fears that a regional conflict

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will spread. Such was the case in 1914, as it is today.

In business, too, the patterns repeat themselves. Markets get shaky when wars break out. You would not have wanted to buy stocks in the days following Pearl Harbor, nor in the days following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Then economies pick up during the fighting, and drop off afterward.

And so it goes.

You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com.

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Stores Succeeding Socially

by Tina Manzer

Everything about parent/teacher stores is meant to be experienced in person – from the way customers are nurtured through purchasing decisions to the excitement-inducing sound of boardgame pieces hitting a table. Business is often conducted via demos, conversations, and other personal interactions. Reinforcing those live positive vibes through Facebook, customer emails, or an ecommerce site was a luxury …until it became a necessity. When the pandemic took brick-and-mortar’s superpower away, storeowners had to figure out how to present the in-store experience virtually. Posting on social media was one way to do that.

Reaching the Right Demographic More than 4.48 billion people worldwide are active social-media participants, according to SEO expert Brian Dean at Backlinko. It means that more than 56 percent of the Earth’s population regularly checks in on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and a host of other info-sharing channels. Based on those numbers alone, it’s clear that a post on social media has the potential to reach a lot of people at one time.

And for stores whose customers include new parents, experienced teachers, and grandparents, it’s interesting to note that not all social media users are “young.” Yes, GenZers and Millennials are the most active social media users, but 73 percent of people ages 30 to 49 are also on social media, along with 45 percent of people 65 and older, says Dean.

Older teachers use social media, reveals MDR, a data and marketing April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com 7

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company that regularly polls teachers about their social media preferences. Based on a 2019 survey, MDR revealed that veteran teachers may use social media more heavily than those who are new to the profession.

Nearly 60 percent of teachers who say they use social media have been teaching longer than 11 years, and 42 percent have been teaching 16 years or more.

Classroom teachers have always loved social media. They use it for a variety of reasons: to be inspired by new teaching ideas, to find resources, stay on top of trends and news, connect with other educators, and discover teacher discounts and dealers.

Pinterest, for instance, became an instant hit with classroom educators. They use it to find and share favorite teaching hacks, classroom setup ideas, décor inspiration, and activity tips. Last year, 68 percent of teachers who responded to an MDR survey said Pinterest is their number-one channel for professional purposes (but Facebook is the channel 62 percent of them use daily).

Another thing about teachers – they don’t wait around for retailers and vendors

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to dazzle them with ideas. They’re constantly searching the web and social for the products, services, content and resources they need to do their jobs. That’s why it’s important for independent teacher stores to grow their brand online. It makes it easier for teachers to find them.

Independent retailers who always have too much to do and not enough time or staff to do it are justified in wondering whether or not social media is worth the time and effort. If they measured it strictly from a click-to-purchase viewpoint, the numbers would clearly indicate it is not. Only 1.5 percent of retailers’ last-click e-commerce transactions come via social media, says marketing platform V12. But their experts caution that dismissing it on that basis alone would be a mistake. “With industry research indicating that customer experiences will soon overtake price as the deciding factor for consumers choosing brands to do business with, retailers must get on board and establish a strong social-media presence,” recommends the V12 team.

Sprout Social, a social media management tool, helps businesses find new customers and grow their social media presence.

Recommend that brand to friends

83%

Leave a review for that brand

79%

Reach out for customer service/support

76%

Read that brand’s blog or site content

76%

Engage with that brand on social

73%

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Staff Videos Keep KB Top-of-Mind Who: Ginger Hazel, Storeowner Where: Knowledge Bound educational supply store in Windsor, Colorado On what platforms do you actively post?

Mostly Facebook and Instagram. I think they meet my two biggest groups of customers where they are. Grandparents and professionals age 40 and up seem to be more active on Facebook while younger customers use Instagram more.

Why do you post?

For a lot of reasons, but mostly to stay top-of-mind among customers and potential customers. If they see one of our posts they may remember they have a birthday present to buy or that it’s time to change their classroom décor, and head here. We reach out to customers in a lot of different ways, including targeted emails.

Retailers who don’t regularly reach out don’t stand a chance, I feel.

How often do you post – do you have a schedule?

We post every two to four days, based on a master schedule. We divide the year up into quarters, then months and then weeks, and we plan a theme for each timeframe. All our promotional efforts revolve around those themes so that our message – whether it’s in-store, online or in an email blast – is clear and consistent. Right now our theme is our big storewide clearance sale. Spring is the

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theme after that and then Easter specifically.

We do our planning during a threehour meeting after hours. Everyone gets paid to be there. We plug it all into Google Calendar.

Who is responsible for social media?

One part-timer maintains our promotional schedule on the side. A staffer who works every day makes sure the social media posts are being made. Everyone here is allowed to post on behalf of the store, whenever.

We have a store cell phone, and they can just pick it up and post. I don’t preview them before they’re posted – I know some storeowners wouldn’t dare do that! Every employee participates in our videos for social media. Even the ones who are more camera shy will contribute ideas. I am lucky to have this fun and energetic crew that I trust.

How do you know social media is worth it?

Well, it’s difficult to measure. There have been cases in which we’ve included a link to purchase the product, and people have clicked on the link, but that’s rare. What we do see all the time is that people comment on a post or share it, and that’s enough.

For my store and staff, coming up with the ideas and doing the videos are also fun team builders. I think there’s real value in that.

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Social Media Goes Both Ways Unlike a store’s e-commerce site where business takes place formally, social media facilitates the natural flow of conversation between a business and its customers. It’s a two-way street. By sharing interesting and relevant stories in an informal way, a retailer can create engagement that lasts. Just as customers want to be able to know that the people they do business with are much like themselves, retailers need to understand their customers’ pain points, service and product needs, and how the business intersects with their lives.

Because it feels casual and informal by design, social media is a place where people feel free to say exactly how they feel, even if their opinion is unpopular. And that includes comments about a business’s performance.

When that happens, it’s hard not to feel offended, angry and hurt. Instead of being defensive, apologize and use the feedback to your advantage, say the experts.

“It’s often difficult to get honest feedback from customers,” notes an article on CMSWire, a daily newsletter focused on digital customer experience. “In that way, social media provides opportunities that other methods of feedback do not.”

Suggestions, criticisms, and negative reviews help a business owner better understand the customer experience. They also give owners a chance to respond in a positive – and public – way that assures all customers that the business is listening, that the feedback is important, and that steps for improvement are being taken.

While we’re talking about challenges, we might as well discuss this one: addressing cultural issues on social media. Thanks to the times we live in, it’s becoming more difficult for businesses to sit on the sidelines.

Consumers want businesses to take a stand, and social media is where they want them to do it. Social issues are particularly important

for millennials and Gen-Z customers who value culture over economics. They’ll often put their money behind the business whose values and principles match theirs.

“Consumers are smarter and more vocal than ever before,” said content strategist Trevor Kaminski. He told CMSWire that “consistency, authenticity, and interaction are key. For brands, entrepreneurs, and business owners the question becomes: can you consistently deliver high-quality content that not only speaks to your target consumer’s needs, but also to their cultural worldview?

“It is no longer enough for a brand to post product photos on their Instagram account and call it a day,” he added.

“Companies need to take an authentic stand to demonstrate to their consumers that their brand encompasses more than their product suite.”

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Instagram is a No-brainer for “Visual” Customers Who: Jamie Fox, Instagram Manager Where: San Angelo Teacher Store in Texas

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On what social media platforms do you post and why?

We post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We probably started with Facebook because that was the first social media platform available. When we noticed that a lot of teachers were becoming more active on Instagram, we thought we should post there as well.

Posting on Instagram is fast and easy. We just snap a picture.

How often do your posts appear?

It’s very random, we have no set schedule, but I would estimate it’s at least once a week. I always post when new product comes in, so during the back-to-school season and the holiday shopping season, I’m posting all the time.

Why do you post – what is the goal?

To reach out to show customers what products we have so they will come in to buy them.

Have you ever had to deal with negative comments or feedback on social?

I haven’t! The feedback we receive is always supportive and positive.

Has San Angelo Teacher Store ever taken a stand on a cultural issue on social?

No. We avoid politics and remain focused on what’s happening with the store.

How do you know that posting on social media is worthwhile for your store?

Customers prove to us every day that they are seeing our posts on social. Many seem to be visual people, so they’ll come in with their phone and the image of the product we posted so that we can direct them where to find it. And when we promote a special deal-of-theday on social media – like 22 percent off purchases made on 2/2/22 – we only promote it on social and it always brings customers in for the sale. It’s been a great way to measure response.

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BUSINESS NOTES New Store Openings Outpace Store Closings In a Retail Gets Real podcast from the National Retail Federation (NRF), Anjee Solanki, U.S. national director of retail for Colliers, notes that there are more store openings today than store closings.

Colliers manages more than 2 billion square feet of retail establishments in the United States.

“Not only are new-store openings outpacing store closures, we’re seeing new formats — formats that are highly digitized, smaller in footprint,” Solanki says. “We’re starting to see rent collections bounce back. I’m still extremely bullish when it comes to retail, and I’m excited to say that as an organization here at Colliers, we’re also quite bullish.”

Solanki says nontraditional retail such as wellness centers and new pet-store concepts are changing the traditional retail space and inviting customers in. Meanwhile, experiential retailing concepts are maturing.

Retail that sparks the five senses — touch, hearing, sight, taste and smell — creates a memorable moment and connection that Solanki describes as the sixth sense of a retail experience.

Department Store’s New “Spokes-character” is a Teacher JCPenney, which turned 120 years old on April 14, is introducing a new spokes-character named Penny James, played by Saturday Night Live star Melissa Villaseñor. James is a mom, teacher and JCPenney superfan described as “the ultimate all-in shopping enthusiast who’s right

at home in her ‘shoppy’ place.”

The company was founded in Wyoming by James Cash Penney In a series of ads, James will share “all the reasons to love the JCPenney shopping experience, from modeling fabulous outfits, cozying up with home décor, relaxing with a hair treatment and style, and buying a pair of sassy, JCPenney-red prescription glasses.”

Her catchphrase is “Shopping is back!” which allows the company “to spotlight our standout portfolio of private brands, national brands and partnerships, the inclusivity at the heart of our company and product assortments and the work we’ve done as a business to evolve once again,” said VP of Marketing Bill Cunningham, in a statement.

Despite its past struggles, the retailer is now focused on providing “diverse, working American families” with “fashion, quality, convenience and value no matter where, when or how they want to shop.”

“The character of Penny James is a playful tribute to our customers and what they love about JCPenney,” said Carl Byrd, VP of creative and brand synergy. “We found a dream collaborator in Villaseñor who graciously helped us create an unforgettable and endearing representative of our brand.”

Other campaign elements include a brand refresh and a crosscountry tour with James described as a “block party-style celebration with local food vendors, games, music and giveaways” in 12 cities from May to August.

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The Toy Association Seeks Feedback on Supply Chain In a direct appeal from Board Chair Aaron Muderick on March 29, The Toy Association reached out to its members for assistance in determining the association’s strategy for dealing with ongoing supply chain issues.

“As an entrepreneur and business owner myself, I am all too familiar with the challenges many of you face,” wrote Muderick, the founder and owner of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. “I know from personal experience the struggles of a single-employee toy company, as well as those of larger organizations. I value the art of careful listening and want to hear many perspectives.”

Supply chain disruptions continue to plague world markets for a variety of reasons, said they letter. They include the following.

• Ocean freight is creating a choke point in transport costs • Other shipping challenges continue to impact global markets over time • Costs of global raw materials continue to rise, partly as a result of the US-China tariffs • Tensions caused by the Russia/China relationship • The impact of a destabilized Europe on selling markets and manufacturing options • Pandemic disruptions, including the Chinese government-imposed lockdowns that occurred when infection rates hit a two-year high earlier in March. The lockdowns impact major port cities, including the toy manufacturing hub of Shenzhen.

• The high possibility of China’s issues impacting other Asian countries “The Toy Association – from our staff to the board of directors and to our many volunteer committees – is tackling industry risk points related to shipping and supply chain disruptions, monitoring the latest developments, and planning for the future,” Muderick wrote.

He asked member businesses to contact him directly at crazyaaron@crazyaarons.com, with thoughts, opinions, concerns and suggestions to actively gauge the impact of the supply chain crisis.

Specifically, he called upon them to think about the diversification of their manufacturing locations. “What are your needs?” asked Muderick.

“Are there other global regions beyond Asia and India where the industry should focus for manufacturing potential? Rome wasn’t built in a day. How do we find secure places with the right infrastructure and potential to manufacture our goods?”

The association’s goal in collecting the information is to help member companies develop efficient, diversified supply chains and build resiliency over the coming five, 10, and even 20 years.

NRF Calls for Cyber Vigilance In the wake of the financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. government and many other nations, concern about potential retaliatory cyberattacks by the Russian government and Russian-based cybercrime groups has increased. While they have not yet led to a wave of cyberattacks directed against the U.S. or its allied and partnered nations, there are good reasons to remain vigilant, says the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Not only has Russia carried out cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure as part of the current conflict, Russian agencies have a long history of carrying out cyber intrusions against U.S. companies and government agencies. In some cases the goal was espionage, in others it was to prepare for future destructive cyberattacks.

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BUSINESS NOTES On March 22, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) held a lengthy call for private-sector stakeholders, reports the NRF. CISA reinforced guidance that it and other federal agencies have been providing to the private sector with respect to network defense, intrusion detection, incident response and business recovery; and discussed evolving intelligence indicating that the Russian government is exploring options to conduct potential cyberattacks against the United States.

CISA also urged companies to empower chief information security officers and “ensure that the entire organization understands that security investments are a top priority in the immediate term.”

In addition, retailers must also be concerned about the potential disruptive impacts of cyberattacks on critical third parties, including IT and financial service partners and the utilities that provide electricity, water and telecommunications to their stores.

Retail cybersecurity leaders and industry partners will discuss these issues in many sessions and meetings at the upcoming NRF Protect in Cleveland, June 21-23. For more information on how to get engaged with NRF on cybersecurity, visit cybersecurity@nrf.com.

Is Five Below the Next Toys “R” Us? Five Below sells most of its toys, games, room decorations and tech accessories for less than $5. It considers teens and tweens its key customers, and hopes to step into the void left by Toys “R” Us by

targeting shoppers hunting for discounts, reports CNN Business. “We monitor trends in the ever-changing tween and teen markets and are able to quickly identify and respond,” the company said in filings. “Our price points enable tweens and teens to shop independently, often using their own money.”

Five Below has roughly 1,200 locations currently, and said it will open 1,000 more stores in the next three years. It sees an opportunity to add another 2,500 new stores by 2030.

The chain’s growth push reflects the larger boom of discount stores, a sector that has been more immune to the rise of online shopping and other challenges that plague brick-and-mortar retailers. Last year, for example, three dollar-store chains accounted for almost half of all the new stores opened in the United States.

Five Below’s locations are relatively small with low shelves, colorful signs, pop music playing on speakers, and wheelbarrows and oil drums full of merchandise. Its tagline is “Let Go & Have Fun.” Sporting goods, games, toys, tech gadgets, books, electronic accessories and arts and crafts make up about half of Five Below’s approximately $3 billion in annual sales, says CNN. T-shirts, beauty offerings and home goods account for around 30 percent, while party and seasonal goods, greeting cards, candy and snacks make up the rest. The store has recently moved into new product areas, including esports, and partnered with Instacart to offer home delivery.

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The Big Hybrid Workplace Experiment

by Tina Manzer When COVID numbers declined last summer, companies began preparing for the mass migration of employees back to their corporate offices. Two COVID variants later, it’s finally happening for real. We know that because Google, with nearly 160,000 workers, marked its official return to the office on April 4.

Does that mean that the many smaller office supply orders you delivered to home addresses will suddenly consolidate into bigger office-building orders? Or that corporations will want furniture for a whole floor’s worth of cubicles?

Well, not so fast. As you know, the majority of folks loved the flexibility of working remotely during the pandemic and given today’s job market, employers really need to make them happy. That’s why 60 percent of offices will try a new “hybrid” model, according to market research firm Forrester, meaning that employees will work in their corporate offices parttime and work remotely parttime. But Forrester also predicts that onethird of the companies will fail at the model’s successful execution as they continue to design the workplace around face-to-face interaction. It may be difficult to turn such a big ship in a new direction.

To help organizations understand what they’re getting into with a hybrid model, Gallup recently released research it has been collecting on U.S. office workers since the onset of the pandemic. A March 15 article by Ben Wigert, director of research and strategy, workplace management at Gallup, presented the insights it revealed about the experiences, needs, and future plans of 140,000 U.S. employees.

With data that answered five questions ranging from “Where are they working now?” to “What will the future workweek look like?” it outlines the potential pitfalls and benefits of a hybrid workplace. Here are two highlights.

Compared to pre-pandemic numbers, nearly double the number of people will be working remotely at least part of their week now.

Nearly half of America’s full-time workforce – about 60 million workers – reported in a Gallup survey that their current job could be done remotely, at least part of the time. Before the pandemic, about one-third of these remote-capable workers had a hybrid work arrangement, and only 8 percent worked exclusively from home.

By May of 2020, that percentage shot up to around 70.

Fast-forward to February 2022 when 42 percent of remotecapable employees said they had a hybrid schedule and 39 percent worked entirely from home. When asked then where they planned to work long-term, 53 percent expected a hybrid arrangement based on communications from their employer, while 24 percent expected to continue to work entirely remotely. With nearly double the number of people expected to work in the office only part of the time, everything about work environments – from their culture to their setup – will have to be reimagined.

By the way, employees are pretty happy about where these changes are headed. Nine out of 10 remote-capable employees told Gallup they wanted remote-work flexibility going forward. Six in 10 prefer hybrid work.

“We know that working from a location that doesn’t best suit their needs wreaks havoc on many aspects of employees’ lives,” wrote Wigert. “Failing to offer flexible work arrangements is a significant risk to an organization’s hiring, employee engagement, performance, wellbeing and retention strategies.”

Leaders and managers prefer hybrid work over employees working remotely fulltime, says the research. They’re concerned about sustaining team performance and culture, and rightly so. As a result, some leaders may be tempted to restrict remote-work options going forward.

No clear consensus from employees on how many days they should be in the office.

To help managers make plans, Gallup asked employees who want a hybrid schedule about the number of days they prefer to spend in the office. Four in 10 employees – not even half – said they’d like to be in the office two to three days each workweek. Another three in 10 prefer spending one or two days in the office.

“On the upside, most employees agree that a moderate amount of time in the office is important,” wrote Wigert. “Our research has consistently shown that work flexibility tends to be optimal for engaging employees and reducing burnout – both before and during the pandemic.”

Employees were also asked about the structure of hybrid scheduling – should they be able to come and go as they please or should their schedule be more structured? Sixty percent wanted more structure, but among them there was no consensus about how to coordinate in-person and remote schedules.

Priorities for the new normal To prevent companies from getting bogged down in policies and rules concerning hybrid work, Gallup listed three things a successful hybrid workplaces should provide, based on its analysis: productivity, flexibility, and connectivity.

“Hybrid is not just a work schedule or employee perk,” concluded Wigert. “It’s an entirely new way of working together.

Looking forward, all signs indicate that it’s fast becoming a new expectation of the workforce. The next chapter of this great global work experiment will be written by how employers respond to the opportunities and challenges afforded by two years of learning to work differently.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS PHabLAB by Palmer Hamilton, an award-winning designer

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of tailored, sustainable makerspaces, partnered with Lakeland School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, to develop a makerspace for special needs students.

There, they can experience a hands-on education that exposes them to technology, devices, and collaborative problem-solving they might not have otherwise.

PHabLAB offers turn-key makerspaces supported by a step-by-step proven process, providing a unique, tailored makerspace for each school they work with. It’s this approach that created a distinctive PHabLAB for Lakeland School’s students.

Lakeland School was created to educate students with special needs, ages 3 to 21. It is one of only two schools in Wisconsin that exist solely for the education of students with disabilities.

For the space, PHabLAB designed a traditional makerspace with standard equipment while applying ADA standards, such as appropriately heighted tables and dampening noise devices. This created an environment where special needs students can learn skills and create real-world items, instilling confidence and fostering growth for social inclusion.

Artcobell, manufacturer of innovative K-12 school furniture for flexible learning environments, has named Patricia Cadigan vice president of Learning Environments. The move marks Artcobell’s continued focus on helping schools transition their educational furnishings to meet the needs of current and future learning strategies.

Cadigan joined Artcobell in 2019 after 28 years in public education, including more than 18 years in school administration.

“Patricia has a unique perspective,” says Rick Parker, Artcobell president. “She sees the challenges of transforming learning environments with the eyes of school leadership and the diverse team of professionals they work with. Her expertise helps teams visualize how furnishings can promote engaging and supportive learning environments.

Cadigan said, “As I work with school districts across the United States and Canada, I’m connecting with leaders who are transforming learning across their campuses by transforming the learning environment. Based on the ways design, layout, and the configuration of spaces can directly impact student engagement and achievement, I find it critical that we support schools in finding solutions that fit them. I understand the importance of engaging everyone – students, teachers, parents, community – in the process, and developing tools that can help them all be successful.”

She is the author of the Next Gen Spaces blog on Artcobell.com and other planning resources. She is an active presenter at national and local education-focused events, including LearningScapes (A4LE) and the National School Board Association (NSBA), and is currently completing her Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) certification.

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In 2023, the 118th edition of the New York Toy Fair will take place September 30 to October 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, instead of in its traditional February timeframe.

The Toy Association’s Board of Directors made the decision to change the date based on the responses of multiple member surveys. Many of the factors were accelerated by the pandemic, and include, but are not limited to, extended lead-times in production supply chain and sourcing, and evolved retailer purchasing cycles.

This year, The Toy Association will hold a 2023 Preview & 2022 Holiday Market in September in Dallas, where retailers can shop holiday must-haves and preview innovative product for next year. Exhibitor applications opened Tuesday, April 5, for priority placement.

The previous iteration of Toy Fair New York, held in 2020, was a soldout show In New York that brought tens of thousands of play innovators and members of the press from 100 countries. Details about Toy Fair New York 2023 will be shared at toyfairny.com.

Meanwhile, ASTRA is making plans for new tradeshow in February 2023 – a combination cruise/tradeshow it is calling ASTRA Toy Boat. It will be held February 20 through 24 and embarks from Fort Lauderdale.

The cruise ship will be in port during the day and will only sail in the evenings and overnight, according to ASTRA’s Toy Times Digital Monthly enewsletter. A variety of cabins have been booked for ASTRA members in a variety of price ranges. “Booking as a group gives us the opportunity for a discounted rate, and it will be all inclusive with WIFI, drink packages, etc.,” says the article.

To be clear, ASTRA Toy Boat does not replace the association’s Marketplace & Academy. In 2022, the combined tradeshow/annual conference will be held June 12 through 15 in Long Beach California. In 2023, Marketplace & Academy is scheduled for June 11 through 14 in Columbus, Ohio.

ASTRA’s cruise was motivated by The Toy Association’s reimagining of Toy Fair New York. With feedback from ASTRA members indicating that they would attend an in-person February show, board members brainstormed together at Toy Fest West in early March. They formulated plans for an experience that would focus on new products, order writing, relationship building, “and lots of family fun,” explains ASTRA President Sue Warfield.

“The cruise ship is large with plenty of room to roam,” says ASTRA. “It offers activities for kids, which opens up free time for adults.”

There will also be tabletop display options for vendors to showcase new items only, but they’ll be able to write orders for existing product, too.

“We are also planning a Game and Kit Night onboard with the option of having one night open to everyone on board beyond ASTRA attendees, so that vendor participants can get consumer visibility and feedback.”

Conference rooms will be available on the ship for private meetings, focus groups, and for committees and toy-industry organizations like The Good Toy Group, Learning Express, etc.

“Sound like fun? Not so much?” asked the enewsletter article. “We understand this isn’t for everyone, but from the feedback we received, we know there is a want and need to gather in person during the time that was traditionally scheduled for Toy Fair.

“We are ready to be bold and step out of the ‘usual,’ and we are gearing up to set sail for new adventures!” it concluded. “Watch for further details as we work on finalizing an amazing four days.”

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Cool Hot

innovations in the furniture and equipment category

1. AWT World Trade has been the trusted name in Screen Printing Supplies for more than 30 years. In addition to quality equipment and parts, it also provides screen-making and safety products, fabrics and frames, frame adhesives, block-outs and sealants, drying and storage racks, plus scoop coaters, brushes, registration pins, and hundreds of other items. sales@awtworldtrade.com 2. The Mobile Teacher’s Stool (ANG1854S) from Children’s Factory gives teachers a comfortable place to sit while they move effortlessly around the classroom. The unit includes a whiteboard, storage area and adjustable shelves for maximum convenience and organization. childrensfactory.com 3. The 35T30 – part of the 3500T Series of Sit/Stand Chairs made by USACapitol – comes in three heights: 24, 28 and 30 inches. With a 16-gauge steel frame, it’s sturdy and durable, perfect for the cafeteria, library, STEM room, classrooms and common areas. Its shell, available in 24 colors, is made from high-impact, blush-resistant, easy-to-clean poly. All components are sourced in the USA. usacapitol.com 4. The Tri-Me Multipurpose Table and Cube Chairs from ECR4Kids provides adaptable, flexible seating that can be used indoors or out! Durable and waterproof, each piece rotates to become a table or a seat and then stacks for storage. ecr4kids.com

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5. Kids Kore Wobble Chairs have gently rounded bottoms that encourage active sitting to increase secondary focus. They come in multiple sizes and vibrant colors, and feature an anti-tip ring and antimicrobial protection.

912-559-5673 6. The Combination Markerboard/Tackboard (120C-48M-62) from Aarco Products is an excellent addition to any learning environment. The choice of tackboard color means keeping students’ attention is effortless. Backed by a limited warranty, this unit is sure to last a lifetime. aarcoproducts.com

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7. Students can separate themselves from the hustle and bustle of the classroom with the Dream Cube from Jonti-Craft. With comfy cushions and Write-n-Wipe surfaces, it’s perfect for reading, studying, relaxing, and working out problems. jonti-craft.com 8. The new Bench and Table Set from Marco Group creates a unique and interactive learning environment with flexible seating. Both benches can be neatly tucked under the table. marcogroupinc.com 1-888-627-2601 9. Stackable Cozy Cots with Storage from ECR4Kids is the perfect nap time companion in classrooms and daycares. Designed with a built-in storage pocket and a reusable clip-on name tag, they feature waterfall corner legs for easy un-stacking. ecr4kids.com 10. Looking to divide up rooms within your educational space?

Screenflex offers a variety of Premium Room Dividers and Portable Partitions to accommodate your specific space needs.

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11. The Kore Kids Sit-Stand Adjustable Desk is perfect for active classrooms. Adjust the height/angle and place wherever you need it. Stack for storage. It features antimicrobial protection.

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12. Bring color to the classroom with the new Time Timer Learning Center Classroom Sets! They come in multipacks of three visual timers of different colors to aid in center work, color curriculum, and classroom time management.

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New True the best in instructional materials

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4 5 The Jumbo Unifix Cubes PreK Math Kit from Didax helps build early math skills including number recognition, oneto-one correspondence, counting, math vocabulary and more. The collection of activities, designed to use with Jumbo Unifix Cubes, encourages little hands to have fun sorting, counting, comparing, and building. didaxdealer.com

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The Birthday Designer Assortment from Musgrave Pencil offers many designs to choose from. The tub of 144 pencils helps celebrate birthdays in any classroom. The pencils make great party favors and gifts! pencils.net

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Cling Thing Display Strips from Miller Studio are great for many classroom uses including decorating, displaying artwork, hanging posters and more. They are reusable – the adhesive rejuvenates with a water mist! Available in a variety of colors. magicmounts.com

3

Heavyweight Poly Folders from C-Line look like two-pocket folders when closed. When open, they reveal three pockets for extra storage. Made of durable polypropylene, they’re available in assorted and individual colors including black, orange, purple, green, yellow, blue, white and red. c-lineproducts.com

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Investigate Math from Scholastic is a series that encourages students to think “outside the box” and explore different ways of solving math problems using manipulatives, writing, or drawing. https://sites.google. com/scholastic.com/ tsmarketing/catalogsbrochures

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The Wikki Stix Animal Activity Pak features Fun Facts for each of 12 individual animals, plus tons of hands-on fun! Great for classroom rewards … and a good suggestion for family travel. wikkistix.com info@wikkistix.com

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UGlu 600 Dashes Sheets from Protapes & Specialties perform like glue! The double-coated adhesive squares (size 1/2-inch by 5/8-inch) can be used for mounting, bonding, securing, temporary holding, and carpet installation. This product adheres well to all woods, metals and brick. It also removes clean and is acid-free. protapes.com

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10 The Bouncyband Fidget Phone enables kids to fidget for a gratifying tension release. The silent “click” of the buttons helps relieve anxiety and improve concentration. bouncyband.com

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New from Dixon Ticonderoga Company, the Mind Sparks Marble Run is a multilevel STEAM activity for kids of all ages.

Create a unique track on the colorful magnetic board, but steer clear of barricades as the marble runs to the end. Critical thinking and strategy are the name of the game in this 34-piece set! mindsparks.us/ed

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The Panther Classic Puzzle is one of the Ecofriendly Colorful Classic Puzzles from ArtVenture. Its unusual elements and shapes make it exciting and educational to assemble and customize at school or at home. myartventure.com

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New True

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the best in instructional materials

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Dance, Move from Greg & Steve Productions encourages reading with songs like “The Little Engine That Could.” Other songs like “Get Up & Dance” and “Simon Says” help build gross-motor skills and support socialemotional development. gregandsteve.com

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Eureka Bookmarks are great rewards that keep students reading all year long!

Check out the seven new designs for 2022 – available NOW! eurekaschool.com brian.roberts@ dgamericas.com

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The versatile Cube Bin from Romanoff Products has a partner – the “Lid with Plate.” The handy lid features a block building plate that comes off for play. It fits in all cube storage. romanoffproducts.com

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Reusable Arts & Crafts Activity Placemats from Station America help get students excited for math. Side 1 features math concepts while Side 2 includes a step-by-step hands-on project – a great way to transfer math knowledge into real life! Size 12 by 18 inches; for students 3rd grade to 12th grade. stores.stationamerica. com/spa

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The School Counselor Plan & Record Book (GC-99) from The Hubbard Company helps school counselors keep records as they move quickly through the day from one situation to another. It’s a solution for what notes to write, where to keep them, and how to remain accountable without breaking confidences. It’s efficient and portable, yet reveals minimal information. hubbardcompany.com

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EYE ON EDUCATION Schools and the Fuel Crisis The upward climb of fuel prices is putting a strain on school budgets now, and causing headaches for administrators compiling budgets for next year, reports Education Week. To make matters worse, districts say parents who used to drive their kids to and from school are now sending them on the bus to cut down on their own fuel expenses, and school-bus contractors are charging higher rates to cover skyrocketing costs.

While some school districts purchase fuel in bulk at the start of the year or cooperatively with other districts, most are largely subject to price fluctuations in the market, says the article.

This is not the first time rising fuel prices have dealt a blow to U.S. schools. Other instances occurred in 1990 during the Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq, in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, and in the early days of the Great Recession in 2008.

Altogether, the nation’s school districts utilize a fleet of nearly half-a-million buses, says Education Week. They burn through tens of millions of gallons of diesel fuel each month to send more than 20 million students to and from school, extracurricular activities, athletic events and field trips. Right now, some districts are scaling back routes or canceling transportation for afterschool events. Others are rushing to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles powered by propane or electricity.

Diesel’s fuel efficiency is seen as a benefit, but diesel is also criticized for its acrid fumes that may be harmful to the environment and people’s respiratory systems.

As a solution, some states have recommended the temporary suspension of gas taxes, but critics argue that the cuts would impact public services such as highway renovation. Another solution, suggested by Georgia’s State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods, starts at the federal level – giving schools explicit permission to use pandemic relief funds to address the fuel crisis.

The three rounds of federal COVID-19 aid are earmarked for keeping school buildings open safely, and to help students recover from learning loss. Woods told Education Week, “It is tied to COVID in my mind. We’re trying to get kids caught back up. We don’t want to compound the situation by having another interruption of learning.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, in a statement to Education Week, said districts can spend federal relief funds on fuel for transportation, “as long as the need is related to COVID-19, including to address the impact of lost instructional time.”

According to the article, fuel prices aren’t the only problems attacking school transportation budgets. In Campbell, Tennessee, a bus contractor noted that a bus tire last year cost $300. Today it’s $450. Transmission fluid, formerly $12 a gallon, has jumped to $17.

Students and Assessments The National Assessment Governing Board is looking to transition the Nation’s Report Card to remote administration in the wake of COVID-19, reports K-12 Dive. The change could include automated scoring for students’ written responses through artificial intelligence.

The idea gained traction during the pandemic when it became difficult for states to meet their 95-percent participation rate requirement. Testing experts say that the update would help districts administer the exam in the future.

“The pandemic and NAEP’s inability to administer the 2021 assessment provided sobering lessons,” wrote Peggy G. Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics; and Lesley Muldoon, executive director of NAGB, in a blog update.

“We realized that many of the ideas we had for the future of NAEP needed to be fast-tracked; we needed to be able to reach students regardless of where and how they were learning, and to give the public more real-time, actionable data.”

Their update comes less than two months after the College Board announced the SAT will be taken entirely online. The NAGB does not yet have a timeline for development and implementation.

The change is one of various NAEP innovations currently being studied by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Their report on the effects of, and recommendations for using, digital technology in NAEP administration will be released soon, reports K-12 Dive.

Schools and conflict Last year, in school board meetings across the country, parents engaged in physical altercations, shouted at school board members, and threatened them as well. This year, watch for the core conflicts over educating students in the U.S. to continue, warned a January article from the nonprofit independent news organization The Conversation. Here’s their list of topics that will be generating clashes.

Virtual education At stake is whether parents should have control over how public funds are spent on educating their children, and the potential effects of diverting those funds away from traditional public schools.

Last fall, U.S. school leaders largely shifted their services back to in-person instruction, but demand for homeschooling and virtual

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(continued from page 30)

EYE ON EDUCATION schooling has risen. Parents discovered that these forms of education offer greater flexibility in scheduling, control over curriculum, and safety from the coronavirus.

the role the education system should play in addressing inequality in the U.S. A source of conflict the researchers missed? Banned books.

Affirmative action A case that began in 2014 will reach the U.S. Supreme Court this year. “Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard University” alleges that Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policies discriminate against Asian applicants.

Buildings and Ventilation

Teachers unions In 2021, teachers unions effectively negotiated the implementation of health safeguards against the spread of COVID 19 in Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles. They will continue to assert themselves in the face of ongoing efforts by parent and advocacy groups to limit their power. Given the shortage of qualified teachers in 2022, unions’ negotiation power may intensify.

Gifted programs In 2022, such programs may generate a national debate. So far it has been prominent in New York City only. However, as other states and districts consider overhauling their own gifted programs, these short-term conflicts may fuel the existing national fight concerning

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As a follow-up to its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan released in early March, the Biden-Harris Administration recently launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge. It calls on building owners and operators, plus schools, colleges and universities, to adopt key strategies to improve indoor air quality in their buildings and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

To support the challenge, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a best practices guide for improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of spreading dangerous airborne particles. The guide – developed in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other federal agencies – contains a set of clear recommendations.

1. Creating a clean indoor-air action plan that assesses indoor air quality, plans for upgrades and improvements, and includes HVAC inspections and maintenance.

2. Optimizing fresh air ventilation by bringing in and circulating clean outdoor air indoors.

3. Enhancing air filtration and cleaning using the central HVAC system and in-room air cleaning devices.

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Under each of these recommendation areas, EPA’s best practices guide lays out clear-cut actions building owners and operators can implement. It’s designed to serve as a menu of improvements to choose from. The guide includes quick steps that all organizations can take right away as a starting place, as well as resources to help plan for longer-term investments and improvements.

The American Rescue Plan provided $350 billion for state and local governments – and $122 billion for schools – that can

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be used for upgrades to ventilation and filtration systems. Funding within the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program and the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief program can be spent on inspection, testing, and maintenance of current ventilation systems; purchasing portable air filtration units with HEPA air filters; purchasing MERV-13 (or higher) filters for HVAC system and air conditioners; purchasing fans; repairing windows and/or doors; and servicing, upgrading, or replacing HVAC systems consistent with industry standards.

The administration will continue to advance indoor air quality in buildings in additional ways.

• Working closely with schools to provide guidance and technical assistance to make these improvements and connect them to agency resources on indoor air quality.

• Building public awareness around ventilation and filtration improvements to reduce disease spread in buildings. Efforts will be launched to explain what good ventilation and air filtration looks like as an important component of helping to reduce disease spread, and how buildings of any kind can pursue improvements to their ventilation and air filtration strategies.

• Highlighting actions taken by buildings to achieve clean, healthy air quality. It will foster ways to recognize steps taken by buildings to improve indoor air quality and protect their communities. Similar to how programs like LEED, Fitwel, and WELL recognize buildings for their environmental and health impacts, this new effort between the federal government and external experts will develop ways to recognize steps taken by building owners for the health and safety of their communities, and their achievements in improving air filtration and ventilation systems to protect and promote public health.

• Catalyzing science and technology innovation to reduce indoor disease transmission. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in coordination with other partners through the Pandemic Innovation Task Force, is identifying opportunities to drive innovation and implementation of technologies to support clean indoor air in buildings and reduce disease transmission.

OSTP will also host a series of public engagements to provide the latest science, tools, and best practices on improving indoor air quality.

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ADVERTISER INDEX Company

Page

Website

Company

Page

Website

Aarco Products Inc.

19

aarcoproducts.com

Marco Group Inc.

Back Cover

ArtVenture LLC

15

myartventure.com

Miller Studio Inc.

11

magicmounts.com

AWT World Trade, Inc.

26

awt-gpi.com

Musgrave Pencil

3

pencils.net

Bouncy Bands

15

bouncyband.com

North Star Teacher Resources

11

nstresources.com

C-Line Products Inc.

4

c-lineproducts.com

One Up Innovations

13

jaxxbeanbags.com

Childbrite by Manta-Ray

5

childbrite.com

Pro Tapes & Specialties Inc.

8

protapes.com

Children’s Factory

6

childrensfactory.com

Romanoff Products Inc.

18

romanoffproducts.com

Didax Education

18

didaxdealer.com

Sandtastik

4

sandtastik.com

marcogroupinc.com

ECR4Kids

Inside Back Cover

ecr4kids.com

Scholastic Teacher Resources

16

scholastic.com

Edmarket

Inside Front Cover

edmarket.org

Screenflex Portable Partitions Inc

5

dealersf.com

Educators Resource

9

erdealer.com

Station America

29

stationamerica.com

Eureka / Css Industries

10

eurekaschool.com

Time Timer LLC

27

timetimer.com

Greg & Steve Productions

12

gregandsteve.com

USA Capitol

19

usacapitol.com

Jonti-Craft

8

jonti-craft.com

Ward Products / The Hubbard Co.

7

hubbardcompany.com

koplowgames.com

Wikki Stix

14

wikkistix.com

Koplow Games

29

Kore Design LLC

9, 11

korestool.com

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About Educational Dealer

A brand of Fahy-Williams Publishing About Fahy-Williams

We’ve produced custom publications for organizations large and small, in addition to our own magazines, for 38 years. We fund them through advertising sales – that’s our superpower. Advertising is the reason all of the directories, magazines, and industry publications we create generate revenue for our partners. If you can imagine a publication that builds your brand, communicates with your members or customers, AND makes you money, we can deliver it. For more information, visit fwpi.com.

Educational Dealer Magazine has supported the school furniture/ classroom supply/teacher resource industry since 1976. Its profiles of people in our industry, education market updates, and product features strike a winning balance that meets the needs of retailers, catalogers, resellers and online merchants.

Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com

Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com

Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com

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We also publish Around The Table a publication of the Game Manufacturers Association Art Materials Retailer for People Who Sell Art Supplies edplay Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry

Copyright © 2022

ASTRA Toy Times The Magazine of The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association

28 April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com

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Five Questions with Edouard André-Hessig of ArtVenture 1. You founded an educational toy company in the middle of a pandemic.

Why? In 2021, when schools were closed during the pandemic, I watched my son struggle for long hours in front of a computer. I was looking for a creative product that could supplement what he was hearing and seeing on the computer with hands-on STEAM experiences.

At the same time, I was on a mission to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics.

When I came across the wooden puzzles and kits from Eco-Wood-Art, or EWA, I was excited about the possibilities. They’re made in Belarus, and I wanted to bring them to the U.S. ArtVenture was born.

2. In what ways do they meet your original goals?

ArtVenture’s line includes wooden animal puzzles [see page 23] and kits for building 3-D objects that have moving parts. The variety of finished products range from simple wall décor to complex mechanical machines with intricate gear systems. They come in five levels of difficulty. The process for building them is challenging, progressive and fun.

The pieces are made from birch plywood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The FSC certification means that the wood comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. That certification really sets us apart from companies that make similar products. To my knowledge, no one else is doing this.

3. What skills do they build?

Depending on the specific product, the skills that can be developed are diverse, but

STEAM focused. Whether they’re assembling a model in the classroom with other students or at home with members of their family, children of all ages have the opportunity to learn by carefully reading instructions, organizing their plans, and then proceeding with the method, observation, analysis, spotting differences, counting and assembling.

4. What’s included in the kits?

Everything needed for the build. The pieces come in sheets of 1/8-inch-thick plywood, and, depending on the kit there are also hypoallergenic rubber bands, sandpaper, toothpicks, candle wax for the gears, and clear assembly instructions.

ELAPSED TIME DICE Double Set of Dice, One Pair Yellow and One Pair White for Calculating Elapsed Time (Item #18848) Grade 3+.

5. The retailers who sell products to A SingleYellow Pair teachers and schools … what would you for Daytime Time Telling like them to know about ArtVenture?

(Item# 18847) Grade 2+ First, I work closely with individual retailers to recommend best sellers that align with their customer base. The stores that currently carry the line are thrilled with the sell-through.

Also, our minimum order quantities are low so retailers can test-try the products, and Koplow_EDL_03_20_FWopt.indd 1 our packaging is space efficient – perfect for storage, shipping and store displays.

The wooden counter display and floor display unites we prove are also space-efficient, and they’re sturdy, easy to assemble, and visually attractive.”

Most of all, I want them to know that ArtVenture is dedicated to true and honest partnerships, and to providing successful, sustainable learning tools and playthings.

You can contact Edouard at info@ myartventure.com.

koplowgames.com 1-800-899-0711 5/8/20 10:47 AM

ArtVenture’s 3-D Triceratops kit, painted.

April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com 29

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ENDCAP The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association has announced the finalists in its Best Toys for Kids Awards program.

ASTRA member retailers will now vote for their favorites, and the winners will be announced at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy tradeshow in California in June – in time for stores to place orders for the holiday selling season.

The list of finalists includes 62 products in 12 categories representing nearly 40 different companies. Multiple finalists came from specialty-toy favorite manufacturers Fat Brain Toy, Smart Toys & Games, Thames and Kosmos, MW Wholesale, and Faber Castell.

Newcomers to the list include Studiostone Creative and Gatwick Games.

Games for Preschoolers • Patchwork Garden (Blue Ninja Studios) • Pancake Monster (Blue Orange Games) • Tongues Out (Blue Orange Games) • Chicken Poop Bingo (Goliath) • OuiSi Nature: Games Visual Connection (OuiSi) • Picnic Panic Board Game: A Cooperative Game for Kids (Upbounders by Little Like Kids)

Arts & Crafts • Build and Grow Tree House (Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids) • Sea Star Jewelry Kit (Studiostone Creative) • Scavenger Hunt Potions (Playmonster) • Fashion Design Sketchbook City Style (Make It Real) • Scratch Butterfly Bouquet (DAM LLC) • Design and Dress Up Magic Dragon by Avenir (DAM LLC)

Games for Kids ages 5 to 7 years • Cow Pie Catapults (The Good Game Company) • Penguins Huddle Up (Smart Toys and Games) • Hackbots (Blue Ninja Studios) • Yeti Slap (Gatwick Games) • Ultimate Treehouse Game (Print Ninja)

Building • Trestle Tracks Starter Set (Fat Brain Toy Company) • Artic Animals (Magna-Tiles) • Builder (Magna-Tiles) • UGears Windstorm Dragon (UKidz)

Games for Kids ages 8 to 10 years • Fork Lift Frenzy (Fat Brain Toy Company) • Loot N’ Loaded (Gatwick Games) • Catch the Moon (Thames and Kosmos) • Missing Lynx (One Planet Games) • EXIT: The Lord of the Rings – Shadows Over Middle-earth (Thames & Kosmos) Active Play • Dueling Stomp Racers (Stomp Rocket) • Gel Blaster Surge (Gel Blaster) • Vikings of the Northern Lights (Starlux Games) • Launcher and Target Set (Juratoys)

Educational • Yoto Mini Player (Yoto) • Mexico Box (In KidZ) • Whatsitsface (Whatsitsface) • Dig It Up! Glow In The Dark Dinosaur Eggs (MW Wholesale) Preschool • Roboflex Medium (Smart Toys & Games) • Korko – Big Block Set 40 pcs (Uniche Collective) • Tropik – Tropical Lacing Tree by Janod (Juratoys) • Peek-A-Zoo (Smart Toys and Games) • Plugzy (Fat Brain Toy Company) • Dimpl Splash (Fat Brain Toy Company) Pretend Play • BeKind 12-inch Dolls (Jada Toys) • Jack and the Giants Grocery Store (Storytime Toys)

• Super Cityscape Transport Bucket Set (Hape) • My First Railway Light Up Rainbow Set (Brio) • Steaming Engine (Brio) Puzzles • Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number 800 pc Earth (Plus Plus) • Puzzlescope Space (MW Wholesale) • Horse Academy (Smart Toys & Games) • Grizzly Gears (Smart Toys & Games) • Murder By The Pyramids (University Games) • Whale Puzzle (DJECO) Science • Ultrasonic Misting Volcano (Klutz) • Rubber Band Airplane Science - DHC-2 Beaver Seaplane Science (Playsteam) • Ultimate Squishy Human Body with SmartScan Technology Science (Smart Lab Toys) • Ultra Bionic Blaster (Thames & Kosmos) • Robotics: Smart Machines 5-in-1 Buildable Drone with HD Camera (Thames & Kosmos) • Candy Vending Machine (Thames & Kosmos) Sensory • Horoscope Thinking Putty (Crazy Aaron’s) • Mermaid Lagoon (Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids • Nee Doh Stickums (Schylling) • Honey Hive Thinking Putty (Crazy Aaron’s) • Brite Ball (Schylling)

30 April 2022 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com

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