CBA's new winter show will be held in Indianapolis, the site of the canceled Advance 2008. CBA Industry Conference is set for Jan. 28-30 at the Indianapolis Marriott, the booksellers' trade association said.

CBA President and CEO Bill Anderson said that a setting was needed “for leadership from supplier companies and progressive retailers to come together for relationship-building, problem-solving and strategy development to create the future of Christian retail.

"And while we look forward to holding this event in warmer locations such as Miami, Phoenix, Austin (Texas), Houston or San Antonio in future years, we needed to fulfill the commitments we made in Indianapolis several years ago for 2008," Anderson added.

"Although we are still paying some cancellation fees (for Advance 2008) to some Indianapolis hotels, our decision to hold the CBA Industry Conference in Indianapolis in 2008 has reduced those cancellation penalties significantly and helps preserve our industry's reputation with the various cities we work with."

Although the event won't include an exhibit floor or training sessions, retailers will be able to shop a New Product Gallery as well as visit numerous hospitality suites hosted by suppliers for meetings and product presentations, CBA officials said.

The schedule for the conference is still being finalized, but the event will include sessions about retail issues and facilitate networking to discuss applications for Christian retail industry growth.

"We've designed an event that offers our industry forward-focused business intelligence and opportunities for connecting with other key contacts and peers," said Anderson. "For suppliers, CBA Industry Conference will be a powerful and productive forum for introducing new product and building relationships with customers separate from sales calls and without the incremental costs that come with a show floor booth space."

Jason Green, Mardel Christian Stores president, added: "(CBA Industry Conference) will provide a unique opportunity to process and apply cutting-edge retail methods and work through industry issues-things we can't do in the crowded atmosphere of the international summer show or in one-on-one meetings with suppliers."

CBA announced the cancellation of Advance 2008?scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Indianapolis?just before the start of the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta in July. CBA said that it would replace Advance-which had seen dwindling attendance in recent years-with a new event designed to bring retailers and publishers together but at a reduced cost.

• Prev
• Next