CBA Convention

Strong Attendance Expected Despite Trade Show Industry Slow-Down
While most trade shows are currently running 10% - 20% below previous year’s numbers, CBA anticipates a healthy attendance at the West Coast show. “We won’t break attendance records this year, but we do anticipate a strong representation of buying stores,” said Anderson. According to Anderson, both retailers and suppliers are approaching the Convention with a cost-conservative mind-set due to the down-turn in the economy as well as a soft spring for Christian retail. “But we have also heard from stores who are bringing their entire staff because they see the tremendous value in giving their staff the opportunity to develop an industry-wide perspective to what they do,” said Anderson. It has been six years since the CBA Convention has been held on the West Coast, which usually bodes well for international attendance, especially from Asian countries.

CBA’s research shows that 24% of Convention attendees build a family vacation into their CBA international experience. So CBA has made arrangements with Disney for CBA Disney Night which will be Thursday evening, after the convention is over. CBA has also negotiated discount tickets for CBA attendees for the days following the convention which will be available in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center beginning on Thursday, July 18th.

Technology Takes Center Stage at Convention
When retailers enter the convention center, they will have the opportunity to pick up their pre-purchased CBA "Equipping the Pioneers of Tomorrow Tech Pack". The Tech Pack will include a Godspeed eBible and a 32 MB What Goes Into the Mind Comes Out in a Life™ media card featuring special convention software. The software includes a map and guide to the exhibit floor, a convention schedule with convention events pre-loaded, and sample digital content from leading CBA book and music suppliers. Godspeed's eBible comes preloaded with powerful mobile software such as The Bible Toolbox™, devotional, and prayer request manager and includes practical applications such as a scheduler, address book, voice recorder and integrated MP3 player.