The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association is hosting a new book convention, the Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009. The EPCA states, “This event, a first for ECPA and the first Christian book fair of its type, will bring together publishers, authors and consumers. ECPA is holding this event to reach a critical demographic – anybody making or influencing book buying decisions.”
I suppose that could be more broadly defined–can’t think of how at the moment. The event is affordable ($50 for three days) and open to the public.
The ECPA president says, “We are trying to build future retail sales. We believe these influential Christians will experience these authors and their message and take that message back to their friends and church families and in turn refer them to their local retailer. Our goal is for awareness and exposure.”
Years ago I worked for a manufacturer that sold gift items in Christian Bookstores. Between approximately 1985 and 1995 I watched the market consolidate from roughly 8000 independent ma & pa stores to a handful of chains and buying groups dominating the market. By the mid 90’s a dozen buyers controlled over half the market. The remaining independent shops were so few and far between that it became unprofitable to market to them via over the road salesmen.
With so few buyers controlling so much of the market, they don’t want to deal with small potatoes nor unproven products. Therefore, we see the Christian book market stagnating with the same handful of authors repackaging the same ideas over and over again. At the same time, new authors or vendors are finding it harder and harder to break into the marketplace.
Hopefully this event will break the logjam and open the doors to connect new upstarts with the retail public.