Events at Denver show aim to help retailers thrive in tough times

With the theme “Real Help for Your Business,” CBA’s 60th annual summer convention will be held in Denver, July 12-15, shortened by one day this year. The 2009 slim-and-trim International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), at the Colorado Convention Center, will keep attendees extra busy as they look for bargains, take in training and enjoy networking with their fellow retailers in the Christian products business.

“The show will provide real help for dealing with real issues in these real hard times,” said CBA President Bill Anderson. “We want to help retailers understand and deal with the realities of our current economic climate, but recognize that they are not going it alone. The road may be rough, but it is not a dead-end street.”

Seventy-five exhibitors have engaged with CBA to help get more retailers to the show. Expressing their partnership with retailers and CBA in a new way, “these exhibitors are engaging in a collaborative campaign to bring real help for retailers’ businesses through show-exclusive specials that can help retailers save more than $11,000 through their regular course of doing business at the show,” Anderson said.

There are 259 vendors exhibiting this year. “Most every supplier who was at ICRS 2008 will be exhibiting in Denver at ICRS 2009,” Anderson reported. “Unfortunately some companies have gone out of business this past year, but we also have 38 new companies exhibiting.”

Although attendance is expected to be down because of the economic climate, Anderson noted that what’s more important is “how valuable the show is to retailers who do attend and the companies who do choose to exhibit there.”

The new Town Center will be the hub of all activity on the show floor—the place to find show information, tools to help retailers save money, new products, cross-merchandising idea centers, the free Cyber Cafe, a lounge and food service.

The Town Center is the place to be to celebrate CBA’s 60th anniversary, Monday, 1:30-2 p.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy a piece of cake at the event, sponsored by several suppliers who want to recognize the advancement and dedication seen in the industry in the last 60 years.

CBA is providing the usual services as well—the Ship Home Room, open during floor hours to send home promotional items and catalogs; complimentary convention center/hotel shuttles for transportation to and from the convention center and designated show hotels; and luggage check in the convention center for show attendees.

Among the new aspects to the 2009 show are category-related tours. “Product Intelligence Tours are designed to help retailers grow specific categories in their store, in partnership with sponsoring exhibitors,” said Bill Anderson, president of CBA. “Each tour will explore the latest consumer research and trends as it relates to a particular category of product, and how to increase traffic and sales in this category with the most recent products and merchandising tools available.”

The new “Debut Avenue” will be helpful to retailers planning to look for new sources of supply. It’s “a brand new way of connecting retailers with new suppliers—in a completely new environment,” Anderson said.

Attendees can also look forward to a new Sunday afternoon session on consumer intelligence, Indie Time, for independent stores, and the Heart of the Author luncheon with Karen Kingsbury.

SATURDAY, JULY 11

A significant pre-show event, the two-hour Christy Awards reception will start at 7 p.m. at the Denver Marriott City Center. Scaled back this year, the 10th annual event will be presented at a dessert reception rather than the usual banquet affair. Best-selling author Richard Foster will keynote the event, presenting an address titled “The Spiritual Formation of the Writer.”

The Christy Awards honors excellence in Christian fiction, and is open to the public. Reservations are available for $30 by contacting Donna Kehoe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or online at www.christyawards.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 12

The first day of the show, the registration desk will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Retail buyers will receive vouchers at registration, and the first 2,000 who redeem them will receive Buyer’s Bags filled with goodies and coupons.

The Sunday morning service, Worship Now: An Opening Worship Celebration, running 10-11:30 a.m., sees Anne Graham Lotz (Zondervan) back this year by popular demand. Artist and songwriter Matt Maher (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution) will lead attendees in worship to start the week, and Warren Wiersbe (David C. Cook), author and Bible expositor, will also address the audience. Worship leader and minister Norman Hutchins (IR Music Group/Central South Distribution) will contribute to the musical offerings as well.

The offering at Worship Now will provide scholarships for members of ChristianTrade Association International (CTAI) to attend training events and conventions in various parts of the world. For those who have pre-registered, the CTAI International Vision Celebration with author and global evangelist Reinhard Bonnke will focus entirely on international attendees. Scheduled for noon-3 p.m, this is an opportunity to meet attendees from around the world and learn more about what God is doing in other nations.

At 3 p.m., the 90-minute General Session: Consumer Intelligence with Ed Stetzer (B&H Publishing Group) begins. This new Sunday afternoon General Session will provide information on industry trends, research and best practices. Kelly Gallagher of R.R. Bowker will present the latest in consumer research relevant to the Christian retail market. Stacy Mitchell, author of Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses (Beacon Press), will address the state of America’s independent businesses and the advantage Christian retailers have in overcoming even the fiercest price cuts from competitors.

Bookstore Manager users will convene for their annual meeting, 4-5:30 p.m. in the convention center’s room 405 with Randy Voorhees demonstrating the latest features of RMS software and discussing pertinent store issues.

Also at 4-5:30 p.m., the Denver Marriott City Center plays host to the Standard Publishing Sneak Peek Product Party and Grand Prize Giveaway, which showcases new products for the company’s re-launch into the children’s trade market. Retailers can also get a peek into VBS 2010, meet Standard authors and check out new adult resources.

Pacesetter returns to Sunday evening, 6-7:30 p.m., with author Josh McDowell (Regal Books) and author and former NFL coach Joe Gibbs (Tyndale House Publishers) offering a timely message on living with hope for the future. GRAMMY-nominated worship band SonicFlood (Resonate Records/Word Distribution) will perform songs from the group’s newest album, A Heart Like Yours.

Pacesetter will also include the presentation of the CBA Spirit of Excellence Awards, a celebration of the industry’s best and most innovative practices.

“This is not only an exciting time of celebration, but a marvelous opportunity to learn ‘what works’—so retailers can take home practical ideas already proven successful in other Christian stores,” Anderson said.

Retailers eager to hear the ways Christian music has impacted others will want to attend the two-hour 8 p.m. event The Power of Music: Music for All Ages, offered by CBA in conjunction with the Gospel Music Association. Musically, the concert will feature something for everyone, and will include the opportunity to see up-and-coming artists as well as longtime favorites. The event will be hosted by comedian Jeff Allen (Guardian Studios/EMI CMG Distribution). Musical artists performing will include pureNRG (Fervent Records/Word Distribution), GoFish (GFK Records/Word Distribution) and Phil Stacey (Reunion Records/Provident-Integrity).

MONDAY, JULY 13

Registration runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a soft close until 6:30 p.m.

The 30-minute Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony starts early, at 8 a.m., in the atrium lobby, celebrating the industry’s 60th year with musical entertainment as well as a brief address to kick off the opening of the exhibit floor. Floor hours Monday will be 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

WinePress will hold its WinePress Publishing Gala from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Town Center presentation area. Attendees are invited to meet select WinePress Publishing authors, enjoy music by recording artist Joshua Williams, receive free resources and discover the answer to “How can I become a published author?”

Product Intelligence Tours will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tours are available for $10 for members and non-members, which allow for participation in one or all of the tours. Participants must sign up for each tour individually as space will be limited.

All are invited to the Industry Prayer Gathering, to be held at the Town Center. Participants from each segment of the Christian products industry will lead attendees in prayer.

The exhibit floor has a soft close at this year’s convention, from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Along with other training sessions at the show, the two-hour Publishers’ Institute: Essential Skills for Entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Christian Small Publishers Association, starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver—Granite AB. The seminar is designed for publishers and anyone interested in becoming a publisher. Publishing professionals will offer tips for success in publishing and marketing. Registration fee is $20.

Those interested in some entertainment can join B&H Publishing Group for the movie premiere of The Samaritan, which will run 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Denver Pavilions—Regal Theater (16th Street Mall).

The film is slated for release during the Easter 2010 season and is a true story of human rights, international intrigue and sacrificial love.

TUESDAY, JULY 14

New attendees coming to the show Tuesday can register from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The exhibit floor opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., with a soft close until 6:30 p.m.

Bookstore Manager hosts Computerizing Your Store, 9:45-10:45 a.m. The session will address point-of-sale, inventory control, merchant services, product databases, Web sites, kiosks and burn-on-demand as options for stores.

Best-selling novelist Karen Kingsbury hosts, courtesy of Zondervan, the new Heart of the Author Luncheon, which runs 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CBA members pay $15, nonmembers $20. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet several authors, with the aim of the luncheon to help retailers understand the heart of the authors whose books they sell.

The new Product Intelligence Tours run 1-4 p.m.

Indie Time, 1:30-2:30 p.m., is another new addition to the schedule, designed for independent retailers and addressing how prosperity in business is found through partnership among fellow independent businesses. Indie Time will offer hands-on, tactical methods from successful projects. Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance, will share simple ways to persuade customers to “shop local.” Retailers will learn how to create a culture of support for independent businesses in their communities.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

On the last day of the show, participants can register from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

The exhibit floor opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.

The 7-8:15 a.m. CBA Members Breakfast & Town Meeting, hosted by Chris Fabry, fills in CBA members ($10, no non-member admission) on what’s new from the retail association. CBA plans to convey to retailers how they can operate more efficiently and thrive in the difficult economic times through industry partnership and more. The breakfast event also addresses tough topics and offers real retail solutions.

MORE DETAILS

For the final information from CBA on this year’s International Christian Retail Show, go to www.christianretailshow.com.

Meet with ‘Christian Retailing’

Take a few moments to visit with the editors of Christian Retailing at the show. Bring your ideas for articles, comment on something we’ve written, share some news with us—or just stop by to get acquainted—during the 2-3 p.m. hour.

At the Christian Retailing booth (#1814), you will find:

MONDAY: Andy Butcher, editor

TUESDAY: Eric Tiansay, news editor

WEDNESDAY: DeWayne Hamby, assistant/book editor

For our on-the-floor comments on the show, follow Christian Retailing on Twitter. Go to http://twitter.com/ChristianRetail. And to receive daily show news, sign up for our free e-newsletter, Christian Retailing Update, at www.christianretailing.com.

CITY GUIDE

Downtime in Denver: ICRS host city has plenty of interest

If a shortened schedule for this year’s International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) gives attendees more free time in the host city, there will be no shortage of things to do.

Named the “most photo-friendly city” in America by Popular Photography magazine, Denver is home to a wide array of attractions, from culture and history to entertainment, recreation and shopping.

That may partly explain how MSNBC came to name the Mile High City as one of its “7 Great Tax Refund Vacation” spots, earlier this year. Other 2009 accolades include making the list of Fast Company magazine’s “Fast Cities” for “exemplary initiatives ... improving neighborhoods, transforming lives, and helping build better, faster cities for the future.”

There’s plenty to see and do without venturing far from ICRS accommodation near the Denver Convention Center—which, incidentally, is home to a new solar power system. Covering 30,000 square feet atop the center, the 300-kilowatt system is “both a practical example and a symbol of the city’s commitment to renewable energy,” according to Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Those ready to explore on foot will be pleased to learn that Denver’s downtown was graded the fourth most walkable downtown in the country, by the Brookings Institution. The city’s famed 16th Street Mall, lined by 200 trees, stretches a mile from Broadway to Wynkoop and is serviced by a fleet of free extra-low emission hybrid-electric shuttles, for anyone whose feet get tired.

In addition to stores, there are 39 street cart vendors and 28 sidewalk cafes, while 28 horse-drawn carriage companies operate on the Mall and downtown.

Visitors to the Colorado State Capitol that pause on the 13th step on the building’s west side will find themselves at 5,280 feet above sea level—one mile high.

The city has spent more than $8 billion in the last decade on attractions, including building three sports stadiums, a downtown amusement park, a world-class aquarium, three art museums and an opera house.

Away from downtown, Denver also boasts the largest city park system in the country, 90 golf courses and more than 850 miles of paved trails.

Visitors lifting their eyes will see further draws on the horizon. More than 100 miles of snowcapped peaks of the Front Range can be seen from Denver.

Best mountain viewpoints are the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, with an outdoor deck that identifies visible peaks; The rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol, with bronze plaques naming visible peaks; and Cranmer Park, at Cherry and East 3rd Ave., which also has a plaza that names some of the visible peaks. State law prohibits building any structure that would block the view of the mountains from the state Capitol.

With 300 days a year of sunshine, Denver boasts an average maximum August temperature of 85.9 degrees Fahrenheit and minimum of 57.4 degrees. The sun feels warmer because it is that much closer, and visitors are advised to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

All that is available for tourists to do might account for the fact that Denver was also recently named the nation’s third “Fittest City” by Forbes magazine.

However, ICRS attendees staying the weekend after the convention who want to sit and take things easy might check out Colorado’s Mile High Music Festival, to be hosted at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, July 18 and 19. Headliners include Christian band The Fray on the Sunday (July 19).

Other performers will include Ben Harper and Relentless7, Buddy Guy, Ani DiFranco and India Arie.

Source: Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, call 800-2-DENVER (336837), or visit Denver’s official Web site at VISITDENVER.com.

LOCAL MEDIA:

Newspaper:

www.denverpost.com

Television:

www.9news.com

www.thedenverchannel.com

www.kdvr.com

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