Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit saw light traffic and fewer vendors at its May Chicago-area show

The Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) convention saw light traffic from vendors and retailers, leading organizers to reconsider its future. This year’s gathering—going now for 22 years—was held May 28-30 at the Pheasant Run Resort in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Ill.

RBTE President Bob Byrns told Christian Retailing that the liturgical event saw an 18% decline in exhibitors—65 suppliers—and an 8% decrease in retailers—72 stores—from 2012, which had been significantly down from 2011. 

Like last year’s event, several publishers who had long exhibited at RBTE also skipped the convention, including Church Publishing, Abingdon Press, Westminster John Knox Press, Oxford University Press, Jossey-Bass and HarperOne. Baker Publishing Group didn’t exhibit this year. 

The majority of Catholic publishers exhibited, but two didn’t attend, Byrns said. 

“The concern [from retailers] was that there were fewer vendors this year than in previous years, and they would like to see these vendors return,” he said. “In spite of less stores, a handful of publishers came to me and said, ‘We have had a good show. Thank you.’ 

InterVarsity Press (IVP) National Sales Manager Bob Hetico said: “Thanks to international orders, sales were considerably up over 2012,” he said. “If we take away those international orders, we still realized a modest increase in domestic orders/dollars over the year before at RBTE.”

Byrns noted that the 2014 convention is “to be determined.” 

“Stay tuned,” he said. “We are in conversations with several ideas for the future.”

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