Christian Trade Association International's Marketsquare International winter buying convention ended on a sunny note after getting the cold shoulder, last week.

Attendance was down as a number of exhibitors and buyers stayed away or were forced to cancel their trips because of the winter storm that paralyzed host city Atlanta for several days. But more than a dozen late arrivals boosted attendance Jan. 13 for the second day of the event at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel.

"I'm very encouraged," said CTAI President Jim Powell at the close of the Jan. 12-13 event, which was followed by a two-day training school for retailers. "Yes, we haven't had quite the experience we had hoped for, but we had more buyers in the room than we had last year ultimately, and our exhibitors have been kind and considerate of all the circumstances. I'm getting some positive feedback."

Though registrants were down on their respective events last year for both CTAI and the Inspirational Value Book Show (IVBS), held in tandem with Marketsquare, the 153 international and U.S. buyers in Atlanta was more than for either individual 2010 show, Powell told Christian Retailing.

IVBS organizer Jerry Bloom said that though numbers were down in the bargain books area because of the economy and the weather, the event had been a success. He anticipated that IVBS would partner with CTAI again in January next year.

First-timer exhibitor Melissa & Doug—maker of educational children's toys and puzzles, including several faith-based items—had "an incredible show," said sales representative Chris Cofoni. "I came here hoping to write a few orders," but had well exceeded his goal.

First-time buyer Chidi Ogboku, who opened his Topmost Bookshop in Lagos, Nigeria, last year, had a "wonderful" show. "I have been developing relationships and making contacts," he said.

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