The 2013 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) concluded yesterday in St. Louis after three days of networking, order-writing and fellowship.

Professional attendance was down 15% to 1,485 buyers with more than 3,700 total. International attendance also dropped, decreasing 21% to 288 from 57 countries.

George Thomsen, who came to the event as CBA board president, but also as a church bookstore manager, said he was "very positive about the show."

"To me, people seem upbeat," he added. "It seems like what we've seen the last few years, the people that are here are here for the long haul, and they know that our economy and the industry that we work in is different than it used to be. They've accepted it, and we just keep on moving on, so they're upbeat."

CBA President Curtis Riskey also was positive about the overall event, held June 23-26 at the America's Center Convention Complex.

"The people that I spoke with were encouraged, and that's really our goal," he said. "Our goal is to educate and encourage, inspire. I think we did that with a number of things. I think the worship service, Worship Him, was fantastic. I really think the show continued on that plane and was very positive. I was excited about some of the new things that we're doing."

Sunday night's Worship Him event brought together Max Lucado and recording artists Steven Curtis Chapman and Laura Story in a night of inspiration and encouragement that was also open to the public. The event highlighted a partnership wherein Christian stores will participate in the fall launch of an exclusive ministry outreach Bible for Salvation Army clients.

Riskey also observed that "with everyone who's represented here, it reminds me that ICRS remains the apex of the industry, where all who have the common mission to distribute Christian resources come together to celebrate what God's doing in their lives, ministries and businesses."

This year, ICRS continued its focus begun last year on authors connecting with retailers for co-marketing initiatives. Events included an author boot camp; a fiction product event that highlighted opportunity categories, such as young adult; Author Avenue, a special area for book signing and meet-and-greets; and meetings and award events from Christian Retailing, American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Authors Network and American Writers and Speakers Association, among others.

"It's been good show, and we've enjoyed our time," Ohio retailer Eli Hochstetler said.

"ICRS has been an incredible encouragement this year as once again buyers and sellers have been given an opportunity to be connected at a relational level," said Eddie Nostrand, president of Spirit & Truth Christian Jewelry Designs. "It's about exalting Jesus through the distribution of God-glorifying products for the purpose of spreading the gospel."

Sharon Dumas, a new product provider, said she believes she was here at God's appointed and anointed time.

"CBA, SuzyQ and Shoppes that Poppe have given me a vision for what I need to do," Dumas said. "What an honor and privilege to meet so many and be connected with fellow believers in such short order."

ICRS 2014 will be June 22-25 in Atlanta.

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