Christian Trade Association International's (CTAI) Marketsquare International (MI) winter convention is likely to change next year.

The organization--which founded its event in 2008 to provide a meeting point with U.S. suppliers for overseas buyers in the absence of CBA's canceled winter gathering--is in talks with organizers of the International Value Book Show (IVBS) to bring the two programs together in some way for January 2011.

While MI concluded in Atlanta on Tuesday, the 2010 IVBS remainders event opened in Nashville the following day and concludes today.

The addition of a remainders focus to MI--with CTAI's own America's Christian Remainder Show--and the event being opened to North American buyers for the first time, together with its coinciding with the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in Atlanta, are credited with this year's record registration.

Around 200 exhibitors and buyers, from almost 20 countries, took part in CTAI's event at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel. More than 50 suppliers presented new and best-selling products at tabletop displays. Bargain lines were a major focus for overseas orders and the subject of a standing-room-only workshop.

Bargain books had made a big impact on the market in Nigeria, said Sylvester Ejeh, CTAI's chairman and president of Edysyl Bookshops in Lagos. The CTAI event was "an important opportunity to meet face to face with my suppliers again and to discuss new ideas," Ejeh said.

It was "a really good show" for Kingstone Media Group, said CEO Art Ayris. The company had discussed distribution for its Bible- and faith-based comics to several countries.

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