CBA Chairman-elect George Thomsen said that there was "interest in bringing several parties together to discuss possibilities." The move follows previous talks about possibly combining events or holding them in the same city.

"In the last few months there has been some interest and discussions in industry consolidation and possible event co-location," Thomsen told Christian Retailing. "We initiated and already have had some meetings and discussions with other parties who also have an interest..."

More demand for escapist fiction, great consumer emphasis on value—though not necessarily price—and the need for heightened customer service. These are some of the key trends for the Christian products industry in 2010, according to a group of leading publishers, retailers and suppliers looking ahead at the coming year.

Representatives of 10 Christian Retailing award winners address the major challenges and issues they see, in a special forecast in the January 2010 issue of the magazine.

John Thompson, vice president of marketing for B&H Publishing Group, sees publishers concentrating "on fewer, better books," while also predicting continued high interest in self-help titles. Karen Watson, Associate Publisher for Fiction for Tyndale House Publishers, observes: "As we continue to recover from these difficult economic times, readers will be looking both for stories that can speak to struggles they're experiencing and for stories that can help them escape."

Marilyn Largent, senior director of trade sales for David C. Cook, sees a welcome end to "fluff.... I'm seeing some pretty 'meaty' books that push the reader to think through what true Christianity is about, challenging readers to get serious about their faith... and live like there really is an eternal life."

The contributors-also including representatives of DaySpring, Baker Publishing Group, Howard Books and Zondervan-are all from winners of prizes in the 2009  Retailers Choice Awards, and Christian Retailing and The Church Bookstore awards.

Read the complete article in the January 2010 issue of Christian Retailing.

* This article has been corrected since first posted.

Bill Simmons has stepped down as president and CEO of Berean Christian Stores, less than three months after leading the regional chain through bankruptcy.

His October resignation was a personal decision and not related to the business, said Deanna Gimelli, who with her husband, Joseph, bought the Cincinnati-based chain for almost $2 million in August.

A Christian remainder house based in the Midwest—which has a permanent showroom in New York City—plans to construct a multimillion-dollar distribution center to meet growing demand.

Jerry Bloom, president of Treasures Media—comprised of a 500-square-foot store, online business and wholesale arm—said he expects to break ground on the new facility in Racine, Wis., in March 2010. To be located in an industrial park, the 80,000-square-foot distribution center—expected to cost $3 million to $4 million—should be constructed by October 2010, he said.

A major era in the Christian products industry has ended with the sudden departure of the longtime head of the Christian retailers organization, Bill Anderson.

His resignation as president and CEO of CBA after almost a quarter-century caught many by surprise when it was announced by the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based group Oct. 30. No reason was given for his leaving.

Running through Dec. 31, the online birthday party allows families, churches or Sunday school departments to log on to the Really Woolly site and interact with live teachers who appear on-screen, encouraging each child by name. Each log-in allows for a 30-minute session with a trained teacher, daily sessions on the user's schedule, games and activities, and stories from the lambs of the "Really Woolly Kids" series.