Toy Talk The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association

Jennifer Rust of Creative Profit Planning and her client, Lynn Ross of Mother and Earth Baby Boutique in Lansing, MI, discuss their known methods that independent retailers have been implementing to maximize their profits during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the financial foundations necessary to stay afloat.

Jamie Gallagher, CEO of Faber-Castell, shares some insights of how this almost 260-year-old company has constructed a plan of action with the disruption of COVID-19 as a manufacturer and global player in the specialty toy industry.

We are joined again by Rick Derr of Learning Express in Lake Zurich, Illinois, to follow up on our conversation from a week prior. What has Rick learned in the last week; how have sales changed and have any new mandates or precautions set by the state arisen?

Rick Derr of Learning Express in Lake Zurich, Illinois, discusses his recent article called “What Should Independent Toy Stores Expect?” in which Rick takes a look at two periods of time that major industry disruptions have taken place. Rick shares his current observations and experiences as a fellow independent toy store owner and a small business owner, as well as what we can expect once the chaos calms down.

Rob Pickering of Snapdoodle Toys & Games in Kenmore, Washington, explains what retail looks like on the ground in-and-around Seattle, an epicenter of COVID-19, as well as the plans Rob has set in place to protect his business, employees, and customers.

This episode of Toy Talk begins the two-part discussion covering ASTRA's Membership Department. In this episode Robyn Foster, Membership Coordinator at ASTRA, covers the popular ASTRA member benefits utilized by members and our "best kept secrets" on how to use them in effective ways. Tune in to expand ASTRA member benefits available to you!