Annual trade convention for Catholic, Episcopal product industry had stable attendance and steady sales as ‘market tries to find itself’

Organizers of the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) convention reported stable turnout among retailers and steady sales for exhibitors for the 18th annual gathering, held May 26-29 at the Pheasant Run Resort in the suburban Chicago area of St. Charles, Ill.

Held around the time of Book Expo America in New York City, RBTE drew approximately 140 booksellers, roughly 10 less store representatives than last year’s show.

Due to the continuing tough economy, there were fewer exhibitors as the show drew 121 suppliers—down 22% from 2008, organizers said. At least five booth areas in the exhibit hall’s empty back section were converted into meeting areas.

“Our revenues come from exhibitors,” RBTE President and Program Director Bob Byrns told Christian Retailing. “So when exhibitors who traditionally had three booths took only two this year, it hurts our total revenues.”

Chicago-based Loyola Press was notably absent in the six-aisle exhibit hall. “We decided not to exhibit this year at RBTE as we’re putting our marketing dollars into other initiatives,” said Melissa Tomar, director of marketing for Loyola Press.

Veteran bookstore owner Nancy Marshall said the economic downturn impacted publishers and booksellers at RBTE.

“We’re on a roller coaster ride,” said Marshall, owner of Episcopal Bookstore in Seattle and founder of the Episcopal Booksellers Association. “But we’ll make it. I’m sure.”

For newcomer Billy Mitchum of The Cathedral Gift Shop at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, RBTE was an “eye-opener.”

“I’ve done much bigger shows,” he said. “But at RBTE, every single booth is relevant to my store. This experience caters to those religious retailers that cannot buy evangelical product.”

Gift suppliers saw steady traffic, with Episcopal booksellers “a buzz” over DVB New York’s contemporary jewelry line, Mitchum said.

Several exhibitors said they were “pleasantly surprised” that sales from the show were nearly on par with last year.

“I think the market is trying to find itself,” Joe Riley, marketing director at Liturgical Press, told Christian Retailing. “We’ve adjusted our (sales) forecast to be less (for RBTE) this year.”

RBTE’s Dealer Day seminars featured several topics, including “Customer Loyalty: How Do You Keep Your Customers Coming Back to Your Store?” and “Explode Your Sales Even in Tough Times”—both led by Bob Negen of WhizBang! Training—and “The Future of Religious Retailing.”

Chris Weickert, Vineyard Books, Gifts & Church Supplies in Rockford, Ill., said the dealer seminars offered excellent programming that will strengthen the stores. “The workshops offered concrete ideas with a fresh perspective,” he told Christian Retailing.

Paul Fortney, of Viva! Books in San Antonio, said his business was down 10-15%, but this year’s Dealer Day seminars were the best workshops in his 17 years of coming to RBTE.

The show’s speakers included Bert Ghezzi, Esther de Waal, Paul Wilkes, Richard J. Foster, Gayle Beebe, Robin Meyers and Frank Hanna.

The 2010 RBTE convention is scheduled for June 1-4.

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