A modest number of people, including an excited first-timer, gathered yesterday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking CBA's 61st convention.

Author Jackie M. Johnson was thrilled to attend her first ICRS and meet best-selling author and speaker Josh McDowell, who presented a brief devotion during the gathering outside the exhibit hall.

"It's so good to be here," said Johnson, whose latest book, When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton is Empty, was released by Moody Publishers in May. "I got saved in high school in 1978 during a Josh McDowell conference in Urbana, Ill., and now I write Christian books. I was able to shake his hands (with McDowell).

A standing-room-only crowd received a crash course yesterday from a former retailer on how to have "the mindset" to effectively use social media.

Gunnar Simonsen, former general manager of the Christian Supply Centers in the Pacific Northwest and now a social media consultant who has helped CBA take an active role in educating retailers on the technological trend, led the workshop called "New Marketing: Using Social Media to Market Your Store."

"I want to bring you up to speed on the different social media platforms," said Simonsen, who took a photograph of the crowd with his cell phone before the start of the workshop for his daughter in Oregon to see on Twitter, the wildly popular micro-blogging site. "It's really a mindset how you use social media, and how you can use these platforms effectively to impact your customers."

Distributor Spring Arbor (SA) has followed the announcement of its renewed commitment to Christian retailers by turning over a new leaf.

The company has unveiled a new logo as it talks with retailers about service changes that include broadening inventory to offer communion ware and family-friendly DVDs.

The new look for SA is a single green leaf alongside the name, replacing the former triangular tree that formed part of the initials SA. The designers said that the new logo was intended to illustrate how spreading the Word of God begins with one person's mission as an author, bookstore owner, pastor, publishing company owner or musician.

A large group of retailers were urged Monday afternoon to get more hands-on toys and games to capitalize on a trend and boost sales for their children's department.

"Play is coming back for a number of reasons," said children's market consultant and author Mary Manz Simon, who again hosted the popular Children's Product Trends event. "Michelle Obama has made physical activity a centerpiece in her ‘Let's Move' campaign against childhood obesity. Even the White House has a swing set.

"Children live in a test culture," she added. "Childhood stress is on the increase. Parent encouragement of play might be considered part of the backlash against the accountability era in schools."

Generous attendees will help make it possible for Eastern European publishers and booksellers to travel to Romania to get training this fall.

A special offering taken at the Sunday evening Worship Him event to sponsor attendance of Christian product industry representatives in countries such as Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Belgium at Marketsquare Europe in October raised $4,697.75, CBA Chair-elect George Thomsen announced at yesterday's show-floor ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Hachette Book Group has announced the hiring of two new senior level employees in its New York office. Kate Hartson has been named senior editor for the Center Street imprint, and Andrea Glickson has been named marketing director for the FaithWords and Center Street imprints.

"These appointments help fulfill the strategic realignment we announced last month," said Rolf Zettersten, senior vice president and publisher for FaithWords and Center Street. "We are excited to have strengthened our team with such experienced and dynamic publishing professionals."