ASTRA’s 2012 Marketplace & Academy, held June 10-13 in Baltimore, shattered all previous attendance records, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced today.
The number of attendees (not including exhibitors) increased nearly 10% over 2011 and the number of retail stores represented shot up 15% over the previous year. Over 1700 members of the specialty toy industry participated in the Baltimore event.
“Of course it is satisfying to announce that we have broken our own attendance records for five years in a row,” said Kathleen McHugh, President of ASTRA. “But more important is that we are demonstrating a great value for exhibitors, who are getting access to more and more buyers every year, and for independent toy retailers, who are showing they are committed to learning, investing in new products, and finding the best deals in the industry. Setting new attendance records was a great way to celebrate ASTRA’s 20th anniversary.”
Next year’s ASTRA Marketplace & Academy will be held June 16-19, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.
About the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) With more than 1300 members, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is the largest association for companies in the toy and children’s products arenas. ASTRA and its member companies promote the growth of the toy industry by delivering products that serve children’s best interests. For more information, visit www.astratoy.org.
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