Marketplace & Academy Supporting our Mission

We Engage by attracting and retaining members. We Elevate by sharing knowledge and expertise.

We Promote by building our industry, our members, our brands.

Marketplace & Academy is our signature event and this year, we have a full schedule that is totally geared to supporting our members by focusing on our mission. We have always said that Marketplace & Academy is “More than a Toy Show.” This year, we have focused on that statement by encouraging full conference attendance.

There are many shows during the year that our members can attend, whether it be as a manufacturer with a booth, a sales rep working with their customers, or simply walking the show to see new products and meet with their vendors, or a retailer looking at products and writing orders. Marketplace & Academy offers so many more opportunities for both networking and business growth. With receptions on Saturday and a full day on Sunday includ- ing a keynote speaker, education sessions, the kit-and-game session and our opening party, there is no question that we are working to elevate all of our members through greater interactions.

For those who have known me over the years, as a sales representative and ASTRA member, I always registered for full conference and arrived on Saturday to take full advantage of the entire schedule. I always felt that this was an investment in both my business as well as my own personal and professional development. I was never disappointed and used the time to build my relationships with my vendors, listen to retailers’ challenges and opportunities they were experiencing, and sharing experiences with other sales reps. When I returned to my own territory, I took much of what I learned at educational sessions and applied them to my own business. I also shared knowledge with my retailers to help them in their business. Sometimes, just getting away from the everyday grind opens the mind to new ideas and I certainly found that true after attending Marketplace & Academy.

As a staff member since 2014, I feel exactly the same. Marketplace & Academy gives staff the opportunity to meet and hear from our members, in-person. It gives us all the chance to get to put faces to names and learn more from each other. We all can learn from the educational sessions, talking with one another at receptions, learning new games and trying out new kits, or simply having fun at the toy sync battle.

We can only get better if we listen and learn what is most important to our members. Hearing those things directly, face-to-face, is more effective and personal than any survey we send out.

We Believe:

Our community is stronger when we are LEARNING WORKING and SUCCEEDING together

Remembering we must PLAY together.

Let’s gather in Columbus. Let’s learn from one another, be open to new ideas and go back to the running of our businesses with renewed enthusiasm for the important role we all have in promoting the power of play.

If you haven’t already registered for attending Marketplace & Academy, do it now! Onsite registration will cost more and take more time.

Just go to astratoy.org and under the events tab click on Marketplace & Academy. Your badge will be ready for pick up at the registration desk.