CPE at AmericasMart offered Christian retailers a place to gather at the summer’s major gift show, the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, held July 8-15.

A one-day event sponsored by Munce Group but open to all retailers, CPE at AmericasMart was held in Atlanta for the second time this year. The Jan. 8 CPE was held on a Wednesday, but the event was moved to a Saturday to take advantage of greater mart traffic for the July 12 CPE.

New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury brought her name recognition and big personality to CPE as a guest of Munce and DaySpring. She and her daughter Kelsey Kupecky signed gift products from their DaySpring “Possibilities” line of greeting cards and gifts.

“By the time Karen Kingsbury came in for an event appearance, we had probably 100 retailers in the room, and it was much better attended than January,” Munce Group President Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing. “We were pleased with that.”

Kingsbury’s appearance also drew several general market retailers who knew of her work.

“A couple of them for the first time were able to see a great selection of Christian products,” Blank said.

Vendors present at the event included DaySpring, Barbour Publishing, Innovative, New Day Christian Distributors and Anchor Distribution.

Next year’s two CPE events in Atlanta also are slated for Saturday. The winter event will be held Jan. 10 and the mid-year one July 11.

“The Saturday date really works well,” Blank said. “This was our very first year that we attempted something like this, and we continue to be encouraged by the vendors to keep improving and keep figuring it out, and they thank us for the effort.”

Along with the “great sense of community” Blank said Christian retailers felt in the middle of a big show, the Episcopal Booksellers Association stores held their annual meeting in conjunction with CPE at AmericasMart.

“They came to the mart specifically for gift selection, but coordinated their day to be there with us,” Blank said. “One of their key stores just happens to be in Atlanta, so it was very convenient for them to actually see a store. They could utilize the facility that we had, then that evening they went to the store in Atlanta. It worked out really well for them.”

The next CPE will be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sept. 21-23.

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