Message from the Chair

Minneapolis,

Here We Come!

As I write this, on May 18, I have just returned from touring the Minneapolis Convention Center with Sue Warfield and her team. I walked the spacious meeting rooms and imagined it packed with all of us greeting each other for the first time since COVID began. I stood on what will be our exhibit floor and pictured the booths set up, with retailers running from booth to booth to place orders and hatch marketing and social media campaigns. I stood in the empty rooms and thought about us gathering here for education sessions – learning, growing, and taking our businesses to the next level together.

This show will be unlike any other show in the history of our organization. The excitement amongst our members is palpable – each day I speak with retailers, reps and manufacturers booking their reservations and planning their trips. This will be the show to celebrate what we’ve come through together and to boldly plan our futures.

Attend to Connect with Friends Old and New!

I know I am not alone when I reflect on how my ASTRA connections helped me stay in business over the past 18 months. Together we brainstormed, commiserated, vented and problem-solved. We leaned on each other and leveraged our personal relationships to reinvent ourselves and serve our customers in new ways. Every single day I speak with members who are positively giddy at the thought of being together again – to celebrate, bond, share a laugh (and a drink) and to marvel that we are still here together, stronger than ever.

Attend for the First Time!

If you’ve never attended M&A and are wondering whether you should attend, let me be crystal clear: you need to be here. Whether you’re just starting out in our industry or you’ve been toy retailing for some time – M&A is the time to “supercharge” your business. From creative ideas to new toys to education sessions on how to run a more profitable business, you’ll find your time with us well worth the investment. ASTRA members are a welcoming group and we can’t wait to get to know you!

Attend and Buy All the Toys!

As independent toy retailers, we have spent the past 18 months helping our customers and their families navigate COVID. From curbside pickup to local delivery, shopping through social media and ecommerce – we morphed our businesses to serve our customers. We changed what and how we sold and our customers responded positively, voting with their pocketbooks and reaffirming, strongly, how much they value us. As our stores come back with our customer relationships stronger than ever before, we will need to bring the holiday fun this year like never before – and that means we need all the toys. With shipping delays and uncertainties, retailers will arrive at M&A with their checkbooks open, ready to buy. We’ll be looking for new items, shoring up our Q4 orders to make sure customer favorites will be delivered in time – and manufacturers who exhibit at M&A with inventory ready to ship quickly will win the show.

Attend to Leverage the ASTRA Brain Trust to Grow Your Business!

We’ve all been in survival mode over the past 18 months – from complete business shutdowns to restricted capacity and everything in between – ASTRA retailers were “human pretzels” as we weaved and repositioned ourselves. These past 18 months have also been a time of incredible innovation and creativity. As we take a deep breath and plan for our stores’ futures, how do we capitalize on the learnings of the past year while keeping the innovative spirit alive? How can we continue to grow and improve Amy Saldanha our businesses every single day? Our education sessions will take on these themes – bring your business challenges and prepare to take your business to the next level!

Attend to Enjoy the Twin Cities!

From a vibrant indie retail community to restaurants for every taste to the MOA, Children’s Museum and First Avenue – you’ll find all the fun and entertainment you and your family can soak up! As an aside, I am local to the Twin Cities and am happy to help you plan your trip – please feel free to email me anytime at amy@kiddywampus.com.

Atlanta • Dallas • Las Vegas • ASTRA • Seattle • Toronto • Minneapolis