ASTRA’S INSIGHTS
K
A Conversation Kathleen McHugh with
Outgoing President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
athleen McHugh served as the President of the American Specialty staff and office, we worked together to make that happen. Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) for more than 15 years, and I was thrilled that the board hired me to lead ASTRA. Deciding to leave finished her long and productive tenure with ASTRA in late Sep- the role is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. Working tember. ASTRA has seen remarkable growth under McHugh’s leadership. with our members and supporting their entrepreneurship dreams with effecToday, it enjoys the largest membership in its history; a thriving, not to be tive ASTRA programs has been my joy. I am deeply grateful for the oppormissed Marketplace & Acadtunity I have had to emy each Jue; and collaboracontribute to the suctions that help ASTRA make cess of the organizaan impact on public policy tion, as well as to the issues affecting its members. sustainability of the Members have access to specialty toy industry. more services and programs to support their businesses What are some imthan ever before, including portant ways in the new ASTRA Exclusives which ASTRA has program and year-round proevolved as an orfessional education for reganization? tailers, sales reps, and What’s so special manufacturers. In addition, about ASTRA is the ASTRA is the strongest fissense of community. cally and programmatically Trade associations can The 2015 ASTRA Marketplace & Academy show floor it has ever been. feel like they are all A long-time contributor to the pages of this magazine, McHugh has pro- about business, but ASTRA is so much more than that. Owning and managvided counsel to our readers in her regular articles. The Toy Book caught up ing a successful small business is hugely demanding, and ASTRA is a place where members can go to get that extra something—advice, encouragement, with her as she prepared to leave her ASTRA role. and even emotional support—when days are long and times are tough. We work together to support one another and support the stability and growth of How did you first get involved with ASTRA? My training and experience center on association management. A key the entire industry. What has impressed me along the way is that members have never been purpose of a trade association, of course, is to aggregate certain business functions of the members so the costs are shared and the impact is increased. afraid to talk about the important issues that affect the industry. We were the Like many newer and smaller associations, ASTRA hired an association first to commission a white paper on the issue of Internet sales and MAP management company to run their operations in its early years. I first worked policies that could help brick-and-mortar stores stay vibrant. We are a tirewith ASTRA when I was an employee of a management company hired by less supporter and promoter of the Shop Local movement through our work ASTRA. When the ASTRA Board recognized that the association could in- as charter member of the Advocates for Independent Business (AIB) as well crease its effectiveness and expand its services to members if it had its own as through our own creation of Neighborhood Toy Store Day. Our new ed-
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
S2
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015