The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association  (ASTRA) announced that independent toy retailers registered for  the full ASTRA Marketplace & Academy will have access to over 30 hours of professional education with  five hours dedicated to sessions designed to strengthen their use of  social media.  
“Technology-driven tools for specialty toy retailers to reach customers  and manage staff are getting better all the time,” notes Kimberly  Mosley, President of ASTRA.  “This year’s Academy will help store  owners learn how to tighten up their messaging and then amplify their  social media outreach to customers and staff.  It’s all part of ASTRA’s  strategic commitment to support the adoption and leveraging of technology  solutions that will strengthen retailers’ businesses.” 
Sessions that feature messaging and social media strategies include: 
    - Don't Just "Like" Facebook, Love It!
- Social Media Strategy: Your Digital Playbook
- Instagood Retailer Instagramming
- Google+: Socializing Your Internal Communication 
 
In addition, other breakouts at ASTRA’s Academy cover business operations,  financial management, industry trends, channel relationships, and additional  sales & marketing issues. ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy will  be held June 5-8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. Visit www.astramarketplace.org to register.