Munce Group's CPE (Christian Product Expo) returned to its longtime venue in Hershey, Pa., last month and saw a rise in overall attendance.

Munce Group President Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing that "we were all happy to be back in Hershey."

"We had a few more vendors than last year, and a significant increase in authors and speakers," he said. "Attendance overall was up. Retail attendance was about the same."

In 2012, CPE was held at the Lancaster Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa., but the marketing group decided to bring the show back to the Hershey Lodge after receiving feedback from vendors and retailers.

Held Jan. 20-22, CPE Hershey drew nearly 200 retailers, representing more than 100 Christian stores. The event featured the theme from 2 Cor. 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

"These two days are as productive as two weeks in-store," said Michelle Bails, manager of Lion and Lamb: A New Beginning in Niles, Ohio.

Lee Yeckel, sales director for Anchor Distributors, said the event was a success.

"It is a great way to meet other suppliers and distributors and gain knowledge into the Christian bookstore marketplace," Yeckel said. "Being new to this industry, I was so pleased at the friendly, caring and sharing attitude of all involved. This show is a true blessing."

CPE Hershey kicked off Jan. 20 with a Bible conference led by authors Linda Evans Shepherd and Johnnie Moore, (Dirty God, Thomas Nelson) followed by a special dinner with author and producer Bill Myers and Dwight Mason, author of Only God (Barbour Publishing) during the Night of Worship.

Following the Night of Worship, there were screenings of Ring the Bell (Provident Distribution) and Home Run (Provident Films), scheduled to hit theaters April 19.

"We love CPE," said Bill White, vice president of sales for NOTW. "This was only our second show, but the business we do there is growing with each event. The size and location of the shows provide an intimacy that just isn't achieved in other tradeshow venues."

Munce, which serves more than 500 stores nationwide, emphasizes order-writing at CPE by motivating retailers with a reimbursement program that helps to offset travel, food and hotel expenses.

CPE Murfreesboro is set for Sept. 22-24 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro hotel and conference center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

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