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The Steve Laube Agency

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Home » Get Published » ICRS

ICRS

ICRS Observations 2016

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2016
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On the last week of June Dan Balow and I attended the 2016 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Cincinnati. It was my 35th consecutive year attending…which only means I’m old…

By now you may have heard some reports regarding the low attendance, which are true. There were only 2,114 registered attendees, nearly a 30% drop from last year. Fortunately the convention hall was the right size for the event. We didn’t feel like we were swimming in an ocean of empty space.

A few observations from my perspective as a literary agent, which is admittedly different than the perspective of a retailer or publisher or author.

1) Every single meeting we had was invaluable to our agency and to our clients. Unfortunately there were fewer than in past years. We made some invaluable connections simply because were were in a face-to-face meeting and not as slammed by time restraints.

2) With the convention center being one block away from the major hotels it was easy to get from an appointment on the sales floor to an appointment at a hotel and back again without having to sprint or cut short a meeting. It has been years since it was this convenient.

3) There were fewer editors in attendance which was disappointing. But again, those we did see were invigorating meetings. Very few fiction editors were there partly because the Christy Awards were done differently this year and there wasn’t the normal draw for novelists and their publishers.

4) There is no other place or event where the entire industry gathers at the same time. I enjoy walking slowly through the various exhibitor displays, no matter how big or small, just to see the variety in products and ideas. Non-book products can be instructive in predicting trends in the market and in design.

5) It was a delight to attend an early Monday morning SpeakUp breakfast, hosted by Gene and Carol Kent (Carol sporting a sling for her broken arm…let Gene tell you that story.) Despite the three hour time difference in my body clock it was great to hear many inspirational stories from some of our industry’s best speakers and writers.

6) “Hallway Conversations” are also invaluable. These are those unscheduled discussions that occur just because you are in attendance. Sometimes they can have big dividends in the future.

7) Thanks to a generous invitation from Carl Dobrowolski of Goodwill Rights Management Corp. over a dozen of us attended a nighttime Cubs vs. Reds baseball game at the Great American Ballpark (formerly Riverfront Stadium). We saw major league baseball history that night when Kris Bryant hit three home runs and two doubles. Something never done before in a single game in baseball history! So while that had nothing to do with our industry, it was great to make some new industry friends.

Conclusions

I count the event as a success. It would be easy to complain about attendance and modest appointment opportunities, but the valuable meetings we did have made up for quantity with quality.

 

Next year it will be in Cincinnati again from June 28-30, 2017 (Wednesday-Friday).

 

 

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Category: Book Business, Conventions, ICRSTag: Book Business, Bookselling, ICRS, International Christian Retail Show Observations, Trends

Tamela’s 2015 ICRS Report 

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 9, 2015
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As Steve Laube reported on Monday, ICRS was enlightening, entertaining, energetic, and frenetic. (I ran out of “e” words.) One “s” word I looked forward to upon my return home? Sleep! As a member of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), I entered ICRS infused with a great amount of love and support from many sisters in Christ because the AWSA conference takes …

Read moreTamela’s 2015 ICRS Report 
Category: Book Business, Conventions, ICRSTag: Book Business, ICRS

ICRS 2015 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 5, 2015
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Last week the industry gathered in Orlando for the annual booksellers convention (I.C.R.S. – International Christian Retail Show). This was my 34th consecutive event and this year had some new benefits. I’ll run through some of the highlights and then make some observations. 1) Like last year, Tamela Hancock Murray and Dan Balow attended as well. We tried to do our meetings with publishers as a …

Read moreICRS 2015 – Observations
Category: Book Business, Conventions, ICRSTag: Book Business, ICRS

ICRS 2014 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 7, 2014
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A couple weeks ago the industry gathered in Atlanta for the annual booksellers convention (I.C.R.S. – International Christian Retail Show). This was my 33rd consecutive event and have enjoyed every one. If I may I’ll mention a few of the meetings we attended and then make a few observations. 1) Tamela Hancock Murray and Dan Balow attended as well. We tried to do our meetings with …

Read moreICRS 2014 – Observations
Category: ICRSTag: ICRS

A Brave Heart

By Dan Balowon June 24, 2014
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The 2014 Christy Awards were held last night in Atlanta, Georgia. Check the Christy Award’s website for the winners and other information. Three years ago in 2011, when the International Christian Retail Show was last held in Atlanta, the keynote speaker for the Christy Awards was Randall Wallace, who had a novel about to release from Tyndale House. Mr. Wallace is known for his writing and work in …

Read moreA Brave Heart
Category: Awards, Book Business, Creativity, Dan, ICRS, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, Christy Awards, publishing, The Publishing Life

Another Productive ICRS!

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2013
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Tamela Hancock Murray

Two weeks ago I enjoyed the privilege of attending ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) as part of The Steve Laube Agency, marking my third ICRS with Steve.

As usual, our schedule was packed but seeing our colleagues is why we attend, so a full agenda is welcome. Year after year, reports say ICRS is getting smaller, and indeed we did miss seeing some of our …

Read moreAnother Productive ICRS!
Category: Book Business, Conventions, ICRSTag: Awards, ICRS

ICRS 2013 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 1, 2013
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by Steve Laube

This year was my 32nd consecutive annual bookseller’s convention now known as ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) held this year in St. Louis. As always it is a time of conversations, meetings, and business opportunities.

I arrived on Saturday afternoon, despite every attempt by the transportation industry to delay me…with 15 minutes to spare before giving an hour …

Read moreICRS 2013 – Observations
Category: Awards, ICRS, SteveTag: Christy Awards, ICRS, Lee Hough

Reason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)

By Karen Ballon June 12, 2013
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Good thoughts and discussion on last week’s blog. Thanks for your honest input. Before we continue, I want to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding of the purpose behind my blog last week. I’m not expressing my opinion of ICRS or of its value for authors. One only has to look at what is being offered there (explained so well by Curtis Riskey, president of CBA, in the comment section of last …

Read moreReason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)
Category: Book Business, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, CBA, ICRS

Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1

By Karen Ballon June 5, 2013
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It’s just around the corner. That time of year when publishers, retailers, agents and yes, some authors, descend upon a select conference center (this year in St. Louis in late June) to attend the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS).

ICRS. The trade show formerly known as CBA (Christian Booksellers Association). Where publishers gather with their editorial, sales, & marketing folks …

Read moreTop 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1
Category: Book Business, Conferences, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, conventions, ICRS, Marketing

ICRS Report 2012

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 26, 2012
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 This was my second ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) as an agent with The Steve Laube Agency. Once again, the show proved to be a marathon of information, entertainment, new connections, and strengthened friendships.

On a personal note, this year marked my younger daughter's eighteenth birthday so our family devoted Sunday to her celebration. Armed with a new camera, she took many …

Read moreICRS Report 2012
Category: Awards, Book Business, ICRS, Tamela
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