The winter storm that shut Atlanta down this week also impacted Marketsquare International 2011, Christian Trade Association International's (CTAI) winter buying convention.

While some overseas registrants were unable to make it because their travel plans were disrupted, most of the absentees were domestic exhibitors and retailers hit by cancelled U.S. flights.

B&H Publishing Group, Whitaker House and Anchor Distributors were among several exhibitors missing, while some companies experienced delays in the arrival of their booth materials. A number of scheduled speakers were also not able to get to the Hope for the Nations event at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel.

Organizers hoped that there might be a bump in attendance today with some later arrivals coming to Atlanta to also visit the AmericasMart gift show, which opens tomorrow, Jan. 14.

The bad weather was unfortunate because "this is a very important show for a lot of buyers," said CTAI President Jim Powell. "It's restock time after Christmas, so to have the weather get in the way for domestic buyers as well as internationals might have reverberations around the world, especially until the International Christian Retail Show (in July)."

Despite the challenges of getting to Atlanta, the mood was warm and upbeat among those who did arrive, with more than a dozen countries represented including first-time attendees from Estonia and Germany.

More than 30 exhibitors have tabletop displays at the Jan. 12-13 event, which is to be followed by a two-day training school for retailers. In addition, almost a dozen companies are represented in the Inspirational Value Book Show, running alongside the CTAI event.

Click here and here for more information on Marketsquare International and the Inspirational Value Book Show, respectively.

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