Feb 3, 2016

ASTRA announces keynote speakers for 2016 Marketplace & Academy

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced that stress management guru Colette Carlson and Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor will headline ASTRA’s 2016 Marketplace & Academy. This year’s event, the biggest annual gathering of the specialty toy industry, will take place June 5-8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.

Carlson will open Marketplace & Academy with an interactive keynote titled Stress Less: YOU Management vs. Time Management!, packed with ideas ASTRA members can use to produce more in less time with fewer resources, while staying focused, positive and engaged. Participants will learn how to challenge unrealistic expectations, how to stay cool in stressful situations, and how to beat the stress of everyday life in healthy ways. Carlson is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) who is known for her ability to consistently deliver a high energy, humorous, and relevant message.

Phibbs will send ASTRA members home inspired to increase their organization’s value through people, not price. Being Brilliant on the Basics will give members creative new ideas for attracting and training better employees, ideas for reinventing the in-store experience, and tools for engaging their customers. With over thirty years’ experience beginning in the trenches of retail and extending to senior management positions, Phibbs is a nationally recognized expert on retail strategy, customer service, sales, and marketing.