ASTRA cancels Marketplace & Academy 2020

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) canceled its annual Marketplace & Academy, scheduled for June 7-10, 2020 in Orlando, Florida, has been canceled due to COVID-19. “ASTRA’s leadership and staff care deeply about our... more »

Peking Handicraft offers free drop-ship program to assist retailers

Peking Handicraft, a global manufacturer specializing in home textiles, decorative accessories and gift items, offers a free drop-ship program to assist retailers in this new selling climate. In an email, Peking Handicraft noted: "Our warehouse... more »

FedEx honors Willow & Birch Apothecary as finalist in small business grant contest

Willow & Birch Apothecary, the Victorian-inspired beauty brand in Bloomville, NewYork, is a finalist for the FedEx Small Business Grant. Among a field of thousands of contestants from across the country, the Catskills-based business was... more »

Gift Shop offers a way for retailers to connect with one another

As retailers across the nation are being forced to close, we are seeing incredible determination and creativity from small business owners trying to quickly adapt to the changing times. Gift Shop's "Show Us Your Shop"... more »

P. Graham Dunn produces PPE to help the medical community

P. Graham Dunn has been enlisted to help the medical community during this critical time with the manual production of PPE, otherwise known as personal protective equipment. The factory started producing an initial batch of... more »

Retailers welcome bipartisan CARES Act

The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay in response to the Senate’s expected vote on stimulus legislation intended to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic: "Retailers... more »

Educational toy companies offer free at-home learning activities for children

In light of recent announcements across the country and around the world as it relates to unexpected school and childcare closings due to COVID-19, educational toy and hands-on curriculum companies Learning Resources, Educational Insights and... more »

Crazy Aaron shifts operations from toy-making to producing hand sanitizer

Crazy Aaron’s, the creators of Thinking Putty, announced on March 25 that they will be shifting their operations from toy-making to producing much-needed hand sanitizer for the Norristown and Philadelphia communities including municipal workers, healthcare... more »

WOODCHUCK USA modifies production of gift and home merchandise to assist with COVID-19 efforts

Benjamin Vandenwy Melenberg, founder and chairman for WOODCHUCK USA, released a statement on March 25, 2020, about how its business is transitioning its product in order to help with COVID-19 efforts. WOODCHUCK USA designs and... more »

Mud Pie asks sourcing partners to secure N95 masks

What is the perfect gift for a doctor or nurse? This week, the most wished-for gift is protective gear. So that is exactly what Mud Pie founder and CEO Marcia Miller is giving them and... more »