More than 200 retailers publishers, distributors and retailers from such countries as Australia, Nigeria and India gathered Jan. 14-17 in Atlanta for the second annual Marketsquare International sponsored by the Christian Trade Association International (CTAI).

More than 60 exhibitors were present to meet with potential buyers and overseas companies—including Dicksons, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson and DaySpring Cards—at the event promoting “a world of opportunity” as its theme.

The number of attendees was down from last year’s final tally of 302, but CTAI President Jim Powell told Christian Retailing that holding last year’s convention in Toronto had opened the door there for a large group of Canadian retailers, which, along with the strained economy, contributed to this year’s decline.

Powell said he had received reports of substantial growth in areas like Brazil and Nigeria as recently as November, but sales had plummeted suddenly, forcing some retailers to back out of the event. “I think sales held up longer than they did in America and probably started to tumble mid-November through the end of the year,” he said.

Still, Powell said he was “very pleased” with the turnout. A “different kind of buyer” attends Marketsquare, he said, as many overseas retailers purchase in bulk from the exhibitors. Powell said that one buyer he knows routinely ships a 40-foot container of product from the U.S.

Marketsquare International also featured a pre-convention intensive workshop for professional booksellers along with panel discussions and workshops. Industry veteran and Christian Trade training and development director Jack Scott presented the two-part “Professional Bookseller Institute” and “Excellence in Customer Service.”

The convention also included a Celebration Dinner, sponsored by Whitaker House, including special guest artist Kim Hill and author Myles Munroe, who challenged the crowd with a presentation on leadership.

Powell said plans are already being made for Marketsquare International 2010, which he anticipated will return to Atlanta.

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