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marketplace and academy
Education Sessions Thursday, August 5 | 10:15 – 11am Retail Store Management - Hiring and Retaining Staff It is getting harder to not only find good staff but also to keep them! Hear from a panel of peers on what they are doing to tackle this issue. Speakers/Panelists: Nick Guffey, The Toy Store of Lawrence; Nick Tarzia, Awesome Toys Online Web Management: Where Do I Start? An online presence is a must, but it can feel like a daunting task. Learn how to get started on building your online presence, whether it’s simply showing your top sellers or building out a full online ordering platform. Speakers/Panelists: Emily Guffey, The Toy Store of Lawrence; Kas Sharma, Henry Bear’s Park Merchandising from the Inside Out Catching the eye of the consumer and making a lasting impression are vital to sales. Your store windows, how items are displayed, the overall ambiance of your store and even the packages that go out the door are all a part of your brand identity. Hear from ASTRA retailers on what they do and how they do it! Speakers/Panelists: Ann Kienzle, play; Megan Walsh, Goodthings Staying Connected to Your Local Community The pandemic brought communities closer and shopping local became more important to the consumer. Hear from ASTRA retailers as they share how they worked with their communities to provide needed resources and how they are keeping the momentum going. Speakers/Panelists: Brice Elvington, Toy Shop of Florence; Hilary Key, The Toy Chest Competing with Online Giants How can you keep compete with online giants and their websites, including manufacturers selling direct? Hear from your peers on what they’ve done to compete – and win! Speakers/Panelists: Christine Osborne, Wonder Works; Kate Tanner, Kidstop Toys and Books Doing Business in a New World The ways of doing business have changed. From websites to social media to new delivery options, many retailers implemented new business strategies and ended up coming out of 2020 with one of their best years ever. Hear how they did it and what they plan to do to keep the momentum going. Speakers/Panelists: Amy Saldanha, kiddywampus; Gene Dydell, The Toy Store of Lawrence Lessons Learned from 2020 As we look back on the last year, retailers will share what they have learned and what they are taking into 2021 and beyond. Speakers/Panelists: Roger Bildsten
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arketplace & Academy is heading to Minneapolis, August 5-8, 2021! Connect with your toy family, gain new insights and perspectives, and discover the newest products on the trade show floor. Here’s a look at the fun ASTRA is bringing to Minneapolis – visit www.marketplaceandacademy.org to learn more.
Juggling Multiple Locations Having more than one location brings new operational challenges and benefits. A panel of retailers will share their experiences and open it up for round table discussion. Speakers/Panelists: Stephanie Sala, Five Little Monkeys Thursday, August 5 | 1:30 – 2:15pm Financial Planning Through Thick & Thin Keeping your business financially sound includes making a plan that takes contingencies into consideration. Jennifer Abraham Rust of Creative Profit Planning will guide you through making a plan that will help you navigate any situation that may come your way. Speakers/Panelists: Jennifer Abraham Rust, Creative Profit Planning “They’re Selling My Product for How Much?!”: Maintaining Brand Integrity Online Ron Solomon of MAPP Trap will share real examples of ASTRA members to discuss various strategies manufacturers across multiple industries use to protect their brand image online. Learn about pricing strategies, authorized reseller and distribution policies, implementing and managing a MAP policy, how to figure out who the sellers really are, how to get sellers removed, and more. Speakers/Panelists: Ron Solomon, MAPP Trap Thursday, August 5 | 2:30pm – 3:15pm Best Practices for Working with Sales Reps: Tips for New Manufacturers New to the industry? Tami Murphy of Grand Prix International will guide you through how to get the most from working with independent sales reps. Speakers/Panelists: Tami Murphy, Grand Prix International Thursday, August 5 | 3:30pm – 4:15pm Packaging: The Manufacturer’s Merchandising Key to Success What elements are the most important to include in packaging? From shelf placement to key information, this panel things packaging including colors, graphics and text, so that you can make the best impression on both retailers and consumers. Speakers/Panelists: Michelle Smith, Piccolo Mondo Toys; Ryan Noonan, Grand Prix International Lessons Learned in 2020: Manufacturers and Sales Reps As we look back on the last year, manufacturers and sales reps will share what they have learned and what they are taking into 2021 and beyond. Speakers/Panelists: Roger Bildsten
July 2021 • astratoy.org
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6/29/21 3:13 PM
