The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, or ''ASTRA'', is an
organization
An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose.
The word is derived from ...
of
manufacturers, manufacturers representatives,
distributor
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
s and
retail
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and t ...
ers of
specialty toys
Specialty or speciality may refer to:
* Deed, a contract in law
* Index of speciality, a geometrical invariant
* ''Speciality'' (album), an album by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki
* Specialty (medicine), a field within medicine
* Specialty (dentistry), ...
(as compared to
mass market
The term "mass market" refers to a market for goods produced on a large scale for a significant number of end consumers. The mass market differs from the niche market in that the former focuses on consumers with a wide variety of backgrounds with ...
product).
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association is a non-profit association that provides leadership and resources to grow the specialty toy industry. It is the largest association serving the specialty toy industry. ASTRA members build their businesses around specialty toys, which generally are designed with a focus on what the
child
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...
can do, rather than what the toy can do.
Neighborhood Toy Store Day
In 2010, ASTRA established Neighborhood
Toy Store A toy store or toy shop is a type of retail business specializing in selling toys.
Notable examples
* Hamleys, the world's oldest toy shop
* Toys "R" Us, international company now Tru Kids
* FAO Schwarz, famous American brand and store
* The LEG ...
Day, to be observed on the second Saturday of each November.
[Metro Parent]
Neighborhood Toy Store Day
/ref>
References
External links
*
Game manufacturers
Toy industry
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