CBA's 60th summer convention closed with attendance down significantly on 2008, but with mostly positive verdicts from suppliers and retailers alike.

Total professional attendance at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Denver this week was 1,903. The 534 international attendees-from 56 countries-represented a 28% drop on the number for last year.

Total attendance and exhibitor personnel figures were not disclosed, as they were in previous years.

Show attendees attributed the upbeat mood to several factors: low expectations coming into the event, a positive attitude from those who were there and changes to the event-including one less exhibition day and a shrinking of the floor that fostered a sense of busyness. Some expressed the belief that with many suppliers having reduced their booth space this year, the event had "right-sized" itself.

"Everybody was quoting doom and gloom (before), and instead it was more like boom," said Carlton Garborg, president of Ellie Claire Gift & Paper Expressions, who reported good business. "We really had a great show. It was very encouraging."

For CBA President and CEO Bill Anderson, the turnout was something to "feel very good about," especially in the light of other trade shows' attendance being down as much as 40% because of the economy. "The trade show is a reflection of our industry, which has been going through consolidation and compression," he said.

He credited suppliers for helping draw retailers to Denver with special offers for the show, and CBA staff for their efforts.

Announcing that ICRS will be in St. Louis, June 27-30, next year, Anderson said discussions were taking place with others about the possibility of some sort of collaborative event in the future.

"What that looks like and how soon is undetermined, because the organizations that we would think to work most closely with also have events and commitments with contracts. So we are working both fronts," he said.

Any new event would "have to make sense not only to the organizations, but (also to) the exhibitors and the attendees. ... One of the great things about hard times is that it drives home the value of looking at things differently," Anderson added.

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