The Munce Group has decided to move its Christian Product Expo (CPE) from the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa., to the brand new Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa., next winter.

"It is a beautiful facility that is just a short drive from Hershey, so people who fly or drive will not really experience any changes," Munce Group President Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing. "This new facility will better suit our needs and reduce costs."

CPE Lancaster 2012 will be held Jan. 29-31, featuring pastor and popular author Charles Stanley as keynote speaker.

The Munce Group has hosted CPE in Hershey since 2006. "We have loved our experience with the Hershey Lodge," Blank said. "Many of the staff members have become like extended family to us. The new facility in Lancaster was recommended to us by retailers and vendors.

"Lancaster is also a wonderful area to see independent specialty retail thriving," Blank added. "With several shops, boutiques, restaurants and area attractions, we are excited to spend our time in January with the new home for CPE."

Munce emphasizes order writing at CPE by motivating retailers with a reimbursement program that helps to offset travel, food and hotel expenses, based on reaching order-writing goals. Marking its 20th anniversary in 2011, the marketing group has more than 500 stores nationwide.

Munce took over the former Evangelical Christian Publishers Association trade shows in Hershey and Riverside, Calif., when the publishers group decided to end its five annual trade shows in 2006 because of falling attendance. Munce scrapped its CPE Regionals West in Riverside in fall 2008, citing a glut of trade events scheduled for the show's January time frame.

Click here for more information on Munce Group's CPE Lancaster 2012.

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