Christian Trade Association International (CTAI) is to hold a small-scale winter trade show in 2008 to serve the needs of overseas members.

The event will be staged Jan.31-Feb. 2-the dates for CBA's recently scrapped CBA Advance-in a yet-to-be-determined location probably somewhere in the South, according to CTAI President Jim Powell.

The decision was made by the CTAI board this week after representatives from international visitors to ICRS were "asking us to hold an event because they have to come to the U.S. twice a year for business and couldn't be flying all over the country" to see suppliers in the absence of CBA Advance.

CBA announced just before ICRS that it would not be going ahead with its winter trade show next year, replacing Advance with a new event that would provide suppliers and retailers an opportunity to discuss industry issues and present new product without the expense of an exhibit floor.

Powell said that the early reaction to CTAI's plans from exhibitors had been "that this is something that needs to happen." While U.S. retailer attendance had dropped at Advance, international representation had increased, "and I think will continue to grow," he said.

Supplier displays at the CTAI event will be "table top"-style, and likely limited to around 50 participants, Powell said. There will also probably be training offered as part of the program.

• Prev
• Next