Hello Media Friends,
Make plans now to attend the International Christian Retail Show July 15-18 in Orlando, FL, where you can connect with leading Christian thinkers, artists, and ministry leaders. We will have compelling stories to share that will be trending topics for your audience, including fair trade in action, a Christian film festival and inaugural film awards, new consumer research by the Barna Group, new fiction research sponsored by Thomas Nelson Inc., children’s trends research by childhood education expert Mary Manz Simon, and more.
Christian stores help provide the economic network that enables such broad production and distribution of Christian ideas, new voices, and missional outreach that supports missions, churches, ministries, and other service.
According to various studies, Christian consumers say they learn about resources in Christian stores almost as much as they do from friends and family.
Because we value your work and respect your need for efficient work areas, you will have access to free wireless Internet in the media room if you wish to post daily stories, access electronic media kits, or check e-mail. Free beverage refreshments are provided.
ICRS 2012 Orlando is the place to connect with leading voices regarding the Christian faith and tradition – including every aspect of the Christian Retail industry, ministry, and business leadership that will interest your audiences.
Fair Trade:
A special emphasis on fair trade business will include hands-on demonstrations by fair trade beneficiaries whose lives have been changed by ethical business practices. The Fair Trade in Action exhibit shows how stores are and can be participating in economic development in emerging economies – development that often helps people escape prostitution, drugs, human trafficking, and other ills common in impoverished nations. Christian stores, as partners in ministry, enable many missional programs dedicated to local and international ministry service funded through store proceeds and programs. Fair trade items have been a recent addition to many stores and this project will encourage more retailers to get involved.
ICRS Film Festival:
Take the opportunity to enjoy premieres of upcoming feature films and DVDs that are part of the new Resonate Film Festival at ICRS. This will include comprehensive information on all Christian film media events at ICRS. The inaugural Resonate Film Awards will be presented to highlight new films that bring positive life messages to a struggling culture.
Children’s Trends:
In a time when some parents delay naming newborns until they check domain name availability -- the first step toward Internet identity -- the family is being reshaped and redefined. Mary Manz Simon, Ph.D. and early childhood education expert will explore implications of screen-hopping digital natives at the beginning of the digital age in a special session featuring research findings and product-trends examples.
New Research:
Thomas Nelson commissioned research on Christian fiction readers and will reveal surprises regarding reading habits, especially among young readers. CBA commissioned consumer research that includes how Christians’ media usage is changing and how they relate to new media technologies.
Award Ceremonies & Concerts:
Author groups will present top literary awards to leading authors, and important keynote speakers will talk about writing and publishing issues at key events, such as The Christy Awards, The Golden Scroll Awards, and more. Check the Exhibitor Events schedule to gain insider looks at new releases, national projects, programs, and to meet the authors and artists behind them. Check out the New Voices concert after Sunday’s worship service to see up-and-coming artists you soon will hear online and on the radio.
We hope to see you in Orlando. If you need help or have questions, please check with Marianne Filary (mfilary@tbbmedia.com cell (616) 540-3679) or Diane Morrow (dmorrow@tbbmedia.com 800-927-1517, cell (817) 319-9805) of The B&B Media Group.
Safe travels to Orlando!
Curtis Riskey
CBA Executive Director