Toy Association Promotes Toy Safety & ShopToys365 at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy 2019

June 17, 2019 | The Toy Association promoted toy safety and ShopToys365.com at the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) 2019 Marketplace & Academy, a four-day event that brought together those in the specialty toy industry.

During the marketplace, which took place June 9 to 12 in Pittsburgh, PA, attendees connected with toy company representatives, networked with other independent store owners, and took part in sessions and panels dedicated to the specialty toy and play industry.

The Toy Association’s Rebecca Mond, vice president of federal government affairs, and Adrienne Appell, senior director of strategic communications, presented a session on June 9 titled, “Toy Safety 101: Safe Shopping Education for Families,” where they shared top tips with store owners and manufacturers to educate their customers about toy safety in the home and how to safely shop in store and online. Attendees also learned about the Association’s initiatives, including its work to advocate against the proposed tariffs on toys imported from China.

Additionally, The Toy Association had a booth presence on the show floor to promote ShopToys365.com, the toy industry’s B2B digital marketplace that enables buyers and sellers to conduct business online year-round. Toy Association staff spoke with attendees about the benefits of using the platform, including browsing and sourcing new playthings for their stores, securely placing orders online 24/7, free unlimited access to global toy manufacturers’ social feeds and industry news, and the ability to connect and message with manufacturers.

“Connecting with independent toy store owners at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy was an opportunity to share all the great things The Toy Association is working on to support the entire toy ecosystem – including the importance of toy safety and advocacy efforts,” said Ken Seiter, The Toy Association’s executive vice president of marketing communications. “With so many specialty buyers in one place, we also felt it was critical to showcase how using the ShopToys365.com platform would help them in their businesses, especially as the toy industry continues to evolve to incorporate digital buying and selling.”

Retailers interested in learning more about ShopToys365.com may email success@shoptoys365.com.

For more information on toy and play safety, visit The Toy Association’s consumer website, PlaySafe.org.