Suppliers and retailers who spoke to Christian Retailing expressed positive experiences from the 59th annual International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), which ended yesterday at the Orange County Convention Center.

"It was a really, really good show for us," said Chuck Warlick, co-owner of the apparel company Life Is...God., whose booth won a CBA Impact Award for the second year in a row. "We had 50% more business than last year in Atlanta. We added several international customers, which is a first for us."

First-time exhibitor Deedra Scherm, president and CEO of Lemon Vision Productions, which creates Christian preschool materials, said ICRS was "quality versus quantity." "I have been so overwhelmingly blessed by the people who stopped by my booth," she said. "I've had a very positive experience. ... My expectations were not so much sales, but connecting. I made so many contacts with chains, large independents and prospective new retailers. For me, it was a God-ordained week."

Kirk Walker, another first-time exhibitor and co-owner of Shadrach, Meshach & ABeanToGO, a coffee company that caters to Christian retailers and church bookstores, said his family was "overwhelmed." "People have been so thankful for the free gourmet coffee and espresso," said Walker, who manned his booth with his wife, Amy, and two children. "We've had a lot of opportunities to talk to retailers. It's been wonderful."

Amy Stephansen, marketing manager at Crossway Books & Bibles, said it was "a great show" for the Wheaton, Ill., publisher, which drew positive feedback for The ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible, to be released Oct. 15.

Gift company P. Graham Dunn President Peter Dunn said coming into the show he had been anticipating less space this year, but he had experienced "a wonderful show." Dunn added that he was surprised by how good the show had been, exceeding his conservative expectations.

He also did not see the fatalism of previous years. "It's like there's an acceptance of what needs to be done to be successful in the industry," Dunn said. "The people that are left are entrepreneurial and committed to makings things happen."

Les Dietzman, chairman of Berean Christian Stores, said that although attendance was noticeably down, he saw a lot of new ideas and opportunities for business. "I hope that the show remains strong," he said.

Brenda Harrison, co-owner of Lighthouse Christian Bookstore in Bedford, Ind., said she and her husband, Keith, "loved the show." "It seemed less busy than last year, but a lot of booths said they were doing well," Harrison said. "We bought a lot. We'll be back next year in Denver."

Andrea Rizzito, co-owner of Churchtown Book & Gift Shoppe in Pennsville, N.J., said she enjoyed ICRS because "it's not as crowded. It seems more roomy. I'm a little claustrophobic." Noting that they had a family reunion in the area before the start of the show, her husband, Joseph, added: "I think the Orlando location is definitely the best."

Lisa Phillips, manager of Dalton's Christian Bookstore in Franklin, N.C., said the event was "awesome," one of the best conventions she had attended, with the Disney Institute presenting "the icing on the cake."

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