Canadian Toy Association to Host Virtual ‘State of the Industry’ Ahead of Annual General Meeting
June 25, 2021 | The Canadian Toy Association (CTA) has announced that it will host a virtual "State of the Industry” panel on Tuesday, July 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Eastern), in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
All toy and play professionals are invited to join industry leaders for an executive-level discussion that addresses overcoming the challenges brought about by the pandemic and safe workplace reopening across the country. Panelists will share insights on the industry's current state, examining the most critical concerns from the past year with a focus on the future.
The meeting will address the following topics:
- The current state of the industry in North America
- How the world is reopening to business, meetings, and events
- Reopening plans and safety protocols
- How the industry will rebuild
- How to manage inventory and escalating freight rates
Panelists will include Sean Williams, CCO at Toys “R” Us Canada; Jo-Ann Lefko-Johnston, vice president of Merchandising & Curation at Mastermind Toys; Joan Ramsay, director of client development & industry analyst at The NPD Group Canada; and Matt Elmer, category director of Toys & Innovation at Indigo Kids. Serge Micheli, executive director of the CTA, will moderate.
To help guide this interactive discussion, the CTA is also requesting attendees submit questions for the panel in advance. All submissions must be received no later than Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
“Reconnect with colleagues and, most importantly, help our industry navigate our path forward,” said Micheli. “As you know, what makes our industry so unique is how we work together – to support, to learn, to evolve, and to grow.”
Registration for this event is now open. Following the presentation, the CTA will hold its AGM. Additional details will follow.