Like last year's show, the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) convention saw light traffic from vendors and retailers for the 22nd annual gathering, held May 28-30 at the Pheasant Run Resort in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Ill.

RBTE President Bob Byrns told Christian Retailing that the liturgical event saw an 18% decline in exhibitors—65 suppliers—and an 8% decrease in retailers—72 stores—from 2012, which had been significantly down from 2011.

Like last year's event, several publishers who had long exhibited at RBTE also skipped the convention, including Church Publishing, Abingdon Press, Westminster John Knox, Oxford University Press, Jossey-Bass and HarperOne. Baker Publishing Group skipped RBTE this year. The majority of Catholic publishers exhibited, but two didn't attend, Byrns said.

"The concern [from retailers] was that there were fewer vendors this year than in previous years, and they would like to see these vendors return," he said. "In spite of less stores, a handful of publishers came to me and said, 'We have had a good show; thank you.'

"There is nothing more disappointing and painful for RBTE to hear than 'We did not have a good show and probably will not return next year,' " Byrns added. "The good thing is no one came to us with that comment—at least not yet. We are awaiting our survey results."

InterVarsity Press (IVP) National Sales Manager Bob Hetico said the publisher had a good show.

"IVP has had a long relationship with RBTE and we continue to support the show," he said. "Thanks to international orders, sales were considerably up over 2012. If we take away those international orders, we still realized a modest increase in domestic orders/dollars over the year before at RBTE."

Byrns noted that the 2014 RBTE convention is "to be determined." RBTE could be merged with another organization, continue the show as is or create a two-track meeting, with a day dedicated to retailers and another primarily for those in professional and volunteer church ministry.

"Stay tuned," he said. "We are in conversations with several ideas for the future."

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