NEWS

Visit Savannah welcomes ASTRA Marketplace and Academy for a 2024 site visit. Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is an international not-for-profit trade organization that serves more than 1,800 independent retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives of the specialty toy industry.

ASTRA provides members with access to networking, education, discounts, business products and services to assist its members as they grow their businesses. Marketplace & Academy is a four-day trade show and education conference featuring industry leaders and hands-on product demonstrations. The conference draws more than 450 exhibits, 3,000 attendees comprised of exhibitors, manufacturers, retailers, sales representative and media and offers
more than 30 hours of education and social events as well. 2020 was the first and only year
Marketplace & Academy did not take place.

A volunteer board of 14 retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives governs the association. ASTRA was able to meet in 2021 for an abbreviated (due to Covid) Marketplace & Academy and was almost back to typical attendance in 2022. Participants are so anxious to be fully back to normal attendance and excitement!

In attendance:

• Amy & Sean Sullivan, Summit Expo
• Beth Miller, ConferenceDirect
• Sue Warfield, ASTRA President
• Kim Schneiderbauer, ASTRA VP of Finance and HR

Visit Savannah’s Kellie Linder took the group around town to overflow hotels and to Vic’s for lunch. The group toured the Savannah Convention Center and enjoyed a private boat tour to see the port and properties from the Savannah River.