Marketsquare International and the Inspirational Value Book Show will be taking place 18-20 January, right after AmericasMart Gift Show, at the Sheraton Gateway Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. We provide the perfect opportunity for buyers and suppliers to catch-up, meet about new products, and place reorders. Marketsquare International gives buyers an opportunity to see new releases and stock up on important backlist items; the Inspirational Value Book Show offers bargains, remainders, and closeouts. Destiny Image author Faye Aldridge will be the speaker at our opening banquet.

"We offer outstanding value to international and US buyers," says Kim Pettit, executive director of ChristianTrade. "Join us!" 

Participant Information

"If you want the time to talk through issues with suppliers in depth, then Marketsquare is the best place to attend," says Chris Magee (CLC Wholesale, United Kingdom). It "gives you a good start on what is coming up in the year."

To register, please visit our secure online shop: www.ctainternational.com. Registration for both shows is just US$20 per person. You can also use the above link to register for the Professional Retail Institute (It is US$195 for the first person from your company, and US$95 for the second person).

We look forward to seeing you in Atlanta! For visa letters, hotel information, or if you have any other questions, please write to info@christiantrade.com.

Exhibitor Information

The following companies are already planning to exhibit at Marketsquare International and the Inspirational Value Book Show:

To exhibit or obtain more information, please contact Kim Pettit (+1-719-432-8428; kpettit@ChristianTrade.com) or visit www.ChristianTrade.com. Download the exhibitor application form here, along with our rules and regulations.

Program

Marketsquare International opens with a banquet for international attendees on Wednesday January 18. The exhibition floor opens for business Thursday 19 and Friday 20, with lunch and refreshments available to facilitate as many meetings as possible for all present. The schedule is as follows:

Professional Retail Institute

Jack Scott, ChristianTrade's director of Training and Member Development, will once again facilitate the Professional Retail Institute . This program gives retailers a firm foundation in finances, inventory management, staffing, marketing, merchandising, technology, customer service, and more. The Institute is not included in the conference fee and requires additional registration; sign up at our secure site, www.marketsquareinternational.com. Jack Scott will also provide free consultation during the conference; to secure your appointment, please email info@christiantrade.com.

Despite a snowtorm that closed Atlanta's airport and made roads impassable, Marketsquare International and the Inspirational Value Book Show took place January 11-13 at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel.

Total attendance for Marketsquare International and the Inspirational Value Book Show included 153 international and U.S. buyers and Christian resource suppliers. In addition to the U.S., a dozen countries were represented at this year's show: Australia, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The largest foreign contingent was from Nigeria. 

"This was a good show," says Edwin Anya, of Evangel Publishers in Nigeria, with Mary Moore and Erika Eberly at the Destiny Image booth. "I thought the snow and flight cancellations would impact the show, but it went on very well. Thank you!"

"Thank you for a nice show!" says Becky Gorczyka, of the Logos Association of Bookstores, with members in the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas. "I always get more out of it than I expect.

Charisma House Celebration Dinner

While worship leaders Eric and Krissy Nordhoff of Go Global Entertainment were unable to attend, and Charisma House author Brian Zahnd was delayed, the evening provided an opportunity for fellowship and encouragement. Marcos Perez gave a presentation on Charisma House's new branding initiative.

"Charisma House's sponsorship of Marketsquare International was critical to our event," says Kim Pettit, chief operating officer of ChristianTrade.

Workshops for booksellers and publishers

The Author's Forum and workshops for Christian publishers and booksellers were free with registration, and included a free continental breakfast. 

Cindy Trimm (Charisma House), Cecil Murphey (Kregel) were slated to speak at the Wednesday, January 12 Author's Forum. Icy roads prevented their travel.

"We knew this would be a challenge as soon as the storm hit," adds Pettit. "Many people took extraordinary measures to get to Atlanta.. including Brian Zahnd, our featured speaker for the Charisma House Celebration."

At the Author's Forum, Jennifer Dibble, Zondervan's director of international sales, presented on two of the company's Bible initiatives. Its update of the 1984 NIV text garnered the most attention from international buyers, who carefully noted that new editions will be available in stores starting in February. "This information is extremely important for overseas retailers," says Alexander Y.C. Lee of Cross Communications in Hong Kong.  "We have to manage our Bible inventory."

Charisma House author Brian Zahnd followed Dibble with a stirring presentation on his latest book, Unconditional? The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness. His message was very well-received.

Thursday, January 13, included two additional programs. The first was a panel on the five best ideas for Christian retail today, featuring Stella Oluyomi (Bible Wonderland, Nigeria), Cherie Gregory (The Potter's House Parable Christian Store, Valdosta, Georgia, USA) and Eric Grimm (CBA America). Moderator Jack Scott also shared material from Jason Green (Mardel Bookstores, USA) and Marlene Ramroop (CLC, Trinidad & Tobago) as these panelists were unable to attend due to the weather. For publishers, a data-rich presentation on trends on Christian publishing was led by Jim and Ellen Elwell of Tyndale House.

Stella Oluyomi (Bible Wonderland, Nigeria), Marlene Ramroop (CLC, Trinidad & Tobago), Jason Green (Mardel Bookstores, USA) Cherie Gregory (The Potter's House Parable Christian Store, Valdosta, Georgia, USA) and Eric Grimm (CBA America) will share their five top tips for boosting sales at our bookseller workshop: "Five Best Ideas for Christian Retail Today." 

"This year's Institute has been very interesting, having all Nigerians in the class," says Jack Scott, ChristianTrade's director of Training and Member Development. "We've been really able to focus on the unique challenges of Nigeria - and I think have all learned a lot and had fun."

Exhibitor Information

This was the first year that Kathy Landrum, international sales and specialty markets manager at Harvest House Publishers, attended Marketsquare International. "Even with the weather situation," she said, "the contacts we made were really beneficial. It was good to connect faces with emails and get to know their hearts." 

AmericasMart Gift Show

ChristianTrade and Americas Mart partnered to help international buyers make the most of their time in the U.S. For more information on AmericasMart, please visit their site.

If you have questions or need more information, contact Kim Pettit, kpettit@christiantrade.com or 1-719-432-8428.