Toy Retailing Association Extends Trade Show Discount to ABA Members

May 13, 2009

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is offering its trade show member rate of $149 to bookstore members of the American Booksellers Association who would like to attend the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy, to be held in St. Paul, Minnesota, from Sunday, June 14, through Wednesday, June 17.

"The ASTRA Marketplace & Academy is perfect for anyone interested in expanding their product selection into good toys," said ASTRA President Kathleen McHugh. "The exhibit floor is a robust collection of the finest specialty toy manufactures along with many of the newest inventor/manufacturers showing the kind of hot new products your customers expect from you. We are pleased to offer our colleagues at the ABA the opportunity to join us for a day or for the entire scheduled event."

ABA COO Oren Teicher noted, "We are continually looking for ways to work with ASTRA and other trade associations representing independent retailers to the benefit of all of our members. We thank ASTRA for allowing ABA member booksellers to attend the St. Paul show at the member rate."

As a number of booksellers noted in BTW's Tough Times series, adding higher-margin, non-book items to a store's inventory can play an important role in boosting profits.

For those who are wondering whether it's worth the cost to attend, Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys and chair of ASTRA's Marketplace & Academy planning committee, pointed to the values offered by the exhibit floor, the show-only discounts, and the educational program:

• Big assortment of hot selling, high profit products. The show will feature reliable classics, plus many fresh, innovative items shown for the first time by creative new manufacturers. These are the types of products customers expect from specialty stores -- the kind not found at big box competitors.
  
  
• Robust show-only discounts. Manufacturers are offering discounts, some up to 25 percent, but only on purchases made at ASTRA's Marketplace.
  
  
• Thousands of dollars worth of ideas that can be put to use right away. The best in the specialty toy retailing business share their experience and expertise at ASTRA's Academy, including a store makeover expert, seasoned users of e-commerce, and retailers who have successfully entered new markets, such as groups of home-schoolers and preschools. Topics include how to promote your store, how to get the maximum impact from marketing dollars, and more.
  
  
• The latest on toy safety regulations. It's been a demanding year as everyone tries to figure out their respective responsibilities for toy safety compliance according to the new CPSCIA regulations. A distinguished panel of well-informed industry leaders will discuss the new law and what toy retailers need to know to make their businesses compliant.

Of the show's St. Paul location, Myers explained, "It offers such a thriving example of independent retailers working together to encourage shop-local trends and to cross-promote each other. It will give us a chance to soak up new merchandising and marketing ideas we can put to use back home. And it's an added bonus that the Minneapolis/St. Paul market is served by low-cost leader Southwest airlines, so it's easy and affordable to get to St. Paul."

Download a special ABA member registration form. For more information, visit www.astratoy.org.

Topics: Non-books, News - Bookselling,