An online initiative to help Christian retailers realize a successful Christmas season launches Wednesday.

Christian Retailing's Virtual Christmas Showcase will spotlight key products for the coming weeks and offer promotional and marketing ideas for the most important season in the Christian retail world.

Twenty suppliers have so far signed on for the Sept.30-Nov. 30 event. Among those taking part will be Kerusso, Lighthouse Christian Products, New Day Christian Distributors, Standard Publishing, STL Distribution North America and Thomas Nelson.

Also participating is B&H Publishing Group, which presents the first Webinar in the Virtual Christmas Showcase, on its opening day. The session, "Christian Fiction-more than just a pretty cover," will be presented live at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 30, and recorded for subsequent viewing.

Joining B&H Senior Fiction Acquisitions Editor Karen Ball and B&H Fiction Marketing Manager Julie Gwinn will be two 2009 Christy Award finalists, John B. Olson, author of Shade and Powers, and T.L. Higley, author of Shadow of Colossus, City of the Dead and Guardian of the Flame.

In addition to showcasing products, the online showcase will also offer interviews, new release spotlights and other offers.

Retailers who spend place orders totaling $500 retail with one of the exhibitors will be given a free registration for The Gathering 2010, the training and business event for stores to be held in Louisville, Ky., April 21-23.

The Virtual Christmas Showcase follows the success of the Virtual Christian Retailing Show, held July 20-Sept. 15. The event drew more than 3,000 unique visitors from 64 countries, with almost 17,000 total page views.

"It exceeded our expectations," said Dave Condiff, Christian Retailing publisher. "We believe there will be equally strong interest in the Virtual Christmas Showcase. Christmas is always important for Christian retailers, but especially so this year in the light of the economy. We want to do all we can to help ensure they are as successful as possible."