As the 17th annual Expolit convenes in Miami, May 12-19, attendees, including booksellers, publishers, suppliers, distributors and consumers, will discover a return to a one-floor exhibit hall along with a new broadcast component.

Two years ago, the exhibit space was divided into two floors. With vendors and suppliers tightening up on their booth space, Marie Tamayo, executive director of Expolit 2009, said this year the floor will return to one “packed” floor, “making the job easier for everybody.” The floor will feature a larger group of ministry booths in addition to those reserved by suppliers.

Also, this year will mark the first official broadcast of the event through DirecTV, after an experimental run during last year’s show. Thursday evening’s concert—featuring Danny Berrios, René and Dámaris González Blest, Lizzie Lizzie and Marco Barrientos—will be broadcast live through the Enlace network telecast.

“We are broadcasting live to Latin America with all the key artists,” Tamayo said. Artists on the program also include 3:16 Media, Planetshakers, Lucía Parker, Danilo Montero, Ana Laura and Marco Barrientos. Speakers include pastor and author Henry Blackaby, Operation Mobilisation founder and former International Director George Verwer and well-known youth pastor and author Dante Gebel.

DOING BUSINESS

Tamayo believes the event is “the place to be to be a part of the Christian picture” in the Spanish retail industry.

“Expolit is a bridge, a showcase opportunity,” she said. “It’s the only event in the industry where you can find media, authors, booksellers, distributors and the general public.”

Facing the economic downturn, Tamayo said early registrations were down in January, but reports revealed a different trend in March, with registrations being up by 10 to 15. To help keep late registrations coming and “support the industry,” the show was keeping the price at $99, Tamayo said.

The usual breakdown for the event is 60% attendance from the U.S., with a large crowd of consumers coming from host city Miami. Functioning also as a buyer’s show, Tamayo said the majority of buyers, around 65%, are from Latin America.

“Some companies really just don’t care about the retail business there,” she said. “They just want to meet with buyers. So it fits everyone’s plans.”

TACKLING THE ISSUES

Tamayo said the Spanish-language music industry has faced a struggle this year, dealing not only with the economy but also with ongoing piracy challenges and digital music sales. The bigger record companies are still coming to Expolit, but the show has seen fewer booth reservations from smaller companies and independent music artists.

“Generally we have a lot of independents come to Expolit, but we’re seeing a real decline there,” said David Ecklebarger, president of Expolit. “We’re having shrinkage in our exhibit space, and the majority is in the music.”

Tamayo agreed, but added that the independents are coming to connect, though they are not reserving booths.

“The music industry has been very affected by what’s going on in the economy,” she said. “That’s why we’re having a workshop about it. This is a time to be creative and a time for alliances. Smaller artists need to team up and maybe get organized together. The song of God is not going to stop.”

In addition to that two-part workshop—“Goals and Realities of the Christian Music Industry,” taught by Mauricio Scott—there are 20 other workshops on subjects such as youth ministry, health, women’s ministry and creativity, in addition to a school for booksellers held early during the show.

The workshops are conceived by partnering publishers, although the Expolit staff reviews proposals to select ones that are “relevant and needed.” Depending on the subject, the workshops can attract crowds from 100 to 500.

Publishers and suppliers from Tyndale Español to Integrity Music and Casa Creación also hold their sales presentations during Expolit, which gives Latin American buyers all the more reason to attend, Tamayo said.

Although some, concerned with the economy or for other reasons, may decide not to attend or exhibit, Tamayo believes Expolit is the “motor” that keeps the Spanish-language industry running.

She cited a recent article highlighting the growth of religious products during the economic downturn and said: “This is the time for Christians to step up to the plate.

“We need to be diligent and frugal, but we need to be here,” she said.

Visit www.christianretailing.com for our printable Expolit 2009.

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