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ASTRA launches national Neighborhood Toy Store Day

Event promotes advantages of specialty toys, locally-owned toy stores

Retail Editor 2 -- Gifts and Dec, 8/17/2010 10:53:28 AM

CHICAGO -The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association is launching a new national Neighborhood Toy Store Day program, to be held annually on the second Saturday in November.

The inaugural event, at which ASTRA will announce the 22 winners of its 2010 Best Toys for Kids awards, will be held Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010.

"At its core, Neighborhood Toy Store Day is about growing the specialty toy industry for retailers, manufacturers, reps ASTRA logo and everyone else who is dependent on moms and dads and grandparents and others buying toys for kids," said Kathleen McHugh, ASTRA president. "Our strategy is to stake a claim on the second Saturday in November every year, and make as loud a noise as we can-both nationally and in local ASTRA markets-about the advantages of shopping at a locally-owned independent toy store. We will learn a lot from our first year, and keep growing the event every year so consumers understand the value they get from specialty stores that they cannot get elsewhere."

To support the program, ASTRA will publicize the event in national parenting and social media outlets and provide ready-to-go press releases for its member retailers to use in their local markets. An easy-to-use, step-by-step retailer guidebook, full of how-to ideas for using the event to attract new customers, has been posted for ASTRA members online. Toy retailers who are interested in learning more can find information about ASTRA membership at http://www.astratoy.org.

"We are already getting very positive feedback from our members," said McHugh. "Neighborhood Toy Store Day is another way ASTRA is uniting and leading the specialty toy community-all in the effort to highlight the outstanding products, expertise, and service that our stores provide."

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