THE GATHERING 2010: Ten 'must' factors

by Sara Peters

We are very excited to be hosting The Gathering 2010 at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., April 21-23. We are confident that during your time with us you will experience growth, refreshment and a more solid assurance that God has called you to your role in sharing the good news with others through Christian retail.

As we make final preparations for what promises to be a special time of training, fellowship, inspiration and business, let me offer my Top Ten reasons why you must join us, if you have not already planned to do so.

10. Louisville is accessible. We are within driving distance of many areas-St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville and places in between are all within a few hours' drive (or less). You could save a few dollars and carpool with people from your area. We are just off of I-64 and close to I-65. For those traveling from some distance, Southwest Airlines flies into Louisville.

9. The Gathering is back in a church setting, and Southeast Christian Church is equipped and ready. We can provide the space needed for an easy-flow conference. There are separate places for worship, meals, workshops, exhibit floor and the popular author/artist autograph party. Be sure to bring some comfortable shoes! Our facility has elevators and escalators and is very handicap-accessible.

8. Visiting another church with a store allows you to see how others function, but it's also a great time to relax and enjoy. You won't have to worry about the daily operations and behind the scenes-let us take care of you!

7. The times of worship at The Gathering allow us to lay our burdens and prayers at the feet of our King, rejoice in the life we have in Him and bond with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are excited to be able to introduce you to the Southeast Christian Worship Team. Our times of worship will refresh you as we worship together.

6. The exhibit floor will be home to vendors who are committed to you and your ministry. It is a great time to enhance your relationship with key suppliers and learn more about some of their upcoming products. Many of you are in stores that may not have opportunities for face-to-face visits with vendor reps, so be sure to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.

5. This year for the first time, our education track will also offer classes for church librarians and coffee bar personnel. The workshops are designed to help you grow and enhance your ministry and are presented by those who have "been there, done that."

4. We have diligently scoped out the local accommodations ... and there will be no need to bring flip flops for the shower! The area around the church has several great options for resting your head at night. The businesses have offered us great rates to make it affordable for everyone. Free breakfasts are offered at the hotels so you can get fueled up for your day at no extra cost.

3. The author/artist autograph party is always a highlight of the event, and this year it promises to be a razzle-dazzle experience. We are excited to present the evening in a fresh way that you won't forget-you'll just have to come to experience it! Stay tuned to find out who is coming.

2. How often can you attend your favorite conference at no charge? Free registrations for The Gathering 2010 are still available. You can take advantage of this opportunity by visiting the Virtual Christian RESTOCK Connection and placing a qualifying order.

1. Ultimately, everything we do hinges on relationships. Working in a busy store can make you feel a little separated from what's going on "out there," so The Gathering is a tremendous way to bring it all home.

"I'm not alone!" I exclaimed after my first time at The Gathering. Getting to know other store personnel is like finding family you didn't know you had.

The event is large enough to offer new and different experiences, yet small enough to make it possible to develop relationships that can last through eternity.

We are a conglomeration of retailers, suppliers, authors and artists, yet we have one goal in mind-sharing Christ with others through Christian resources. The Gathering is like a little taste of heaven-please, come and experience it with us.

I look forward to seeing you in Louisville!

-Sara Peters is bookstore manager of The Living Word Bookstore at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky.

-To find out more about The Gathering 2010, click here.

The Virtual Christian RESTOCK Connection...

...is more than a connection to the products you need and the suppliers who provide them.  VCRC is also connected directly to The Gathering.  Do you know you can earn a FREE registration to The Gathering 2010 by visiting the Virtual Christian RESTOCK Connection (VCRC) and purchasing products that you already need?

Here's how....

By spending $500 (in retail dollars) with any of our participating vendors, your store can receive a FREE Registration to our upcoming event - The Gathering 2010 - April 21 - 23, 2010 - at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. Simply FAX your qualifying order to us at 407-333-7133 or 407-333-7116 and we will handle the rest!

Which Suppliers can I visit at the VCRC?

Check it out...

Booklog

Bridge-LogosFoundation

Judson Press

Lighthouse Christian Products Co.

Right Stuff Kids Books

Standard Publishing

Strang Book Group

Thomas Nelson, CRS

So what are you waiting for?

Just click on any of the links above and browse the many products your suppliers have to offer you...and we'll see you soon in Louisville!

AMG PUBLISHERS

ANCHOR DISTRIBUTORS

ART OF THE SPIRIT

ATHLETES FOR CHRIST - SERVANT

BARBOUR PUBLISHING

BEC & CHELLE CANDLES

BOB SIEMON DESIGNS

BOOKS OF LOVE - OMCO

BOOKSTORE MANAGER

BRIDGE LOGOS PUBLISHERS

BRIDGESTONE MULTIMEDIA GROUP

BRISTOL GIFTS - OMCO

CBA

CHANA JEWELRY - SERVANT

CITY ON A HILL PRODUCTIONS

CLEARPLAY, INC.

CREATION BY DESIGN, LLC

CROSSWAY BOOKS & BIBLES

CROWN T-SHIRTS & ACCESSORIES - OMCO

DAYSPRING CARDS

DEIRDRE HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY

EUFORMA, LLC

EVANGEL PUBLISHING

EVERY GOOD GIFT

FOREVER SHINES - OMCO

FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS INC

GLORY HAUS

GOD IS GOOD

GOSPEL LIGHT

HACHETTE BOOK GROUP/FAITHWORDS

HANKIE BLESSINGS - SERVANT

HARTNELL HOUSE PUBLISHING

HEAVEN'S LIBRARY - SERVANT

HIS GEM

HIS HANDS - SERVANT

HOLIDAY EXPRESSIONS

INNOVATIVE, INC.

INSPIRATIONS BY THE 1928 JEWELRY COMPANY

INSPIRED FAITH

INTERVARSITY PRESS

IRON CHINCHILLA - SERVANT

JHOUSE PUBLISHING

KADOSH L'CHA PUBLISHING

KERUSSO

KINGDOM RETAIL SOLUTIONS

KINGSTONE MEDIA GROUP

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN PRODUCTS

LUKAS MEDIA DISTRIBUTION

MCBETH CORPORATION

MESSIANIC JEWISH PUBLISHERS

MOSTLY MEMORIES - SERVANT

NEW HOPE PUBLISHERS

NEW LEAF PUBLISHING GROUP

NO GREATER JOY

NOTW/TRUTH

OMCO

ONE TOUCH AWAKENING

PENNY STONES

PETRAGRAPHICS

PRAYERSHOP PUBLISHERS

PRECIOUS OILS

REVELATION MARKETING GROUP

RIGHT STUFF KIDS BOOKS

ROBERT SPOONER GALERIE

ROSE PUBLISHING

ROYAL ELECTRONIC BIBLES - OMCO

SAS/WHOLESALE CHRISTIAN BOOKS

SCRIPTURE CANDY

SDS DESIGN ASSOCIATES

SERVANT MARKETING

SHOW OFFs ART

SIGNATURE TUMBLERS - SERVANT

SPRING ARBOR

STACK & LEARN THE BIBLE

STANDARD PUBLISHING

STL DISTRIBUTION

STRANG BOOK GROUP

SYMTIO

TABBIES - OMCO

THE CROOKED CROSS - SERVANT

THE HOLDING CROSS - SERVANT

THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS

TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS

VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT

WATERBROOK / MULTNOMAH GROUP

WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX PRESS

WHITAKER HOUSE

WINGSPREAD PUBLISHERS

WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP

WORLDCRAFTS

ZONDERVAN 

On Thursday evening, April 22, 2010, we have planned our Annual Author/Artist Autograph Party & Dessert Extravaganza. First, meet your favorite Authors & Artists as they join us for the Thursday evening dinner.

Following the evening program, we will move to a designated area where you can meet and greet all of the Authors & Artists--and even have them autograph copies of their books!

This is an opportunity for you to pick up copies of the authors' books to review personally or share with a member of your staff. The event is not intended to be an activity to take books home that will never be reviewed or shared with staff.  If collecting books to sell on your shelves is your plan or goal, you will miss the point of this special evening.  This event is designed to assist bookstore managers with connecting with authors and getting to know them better.  It was a highlight of last year's Gathering, and promises to be the same in 2010!

Dinner 6:00pm-7:30pm

RCA Award Presentations 6:30pm - 7:00pm

Author/Artist Introductions 7:00pm - 7:20pm

Author Autograph & Dessert Reception 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Who is participating:

The Amazing Race

Cash Incentives for Stores!

We are offering our attending stores the opportunity to earn $100.00 cash. We require that each participating store meet and/or place orders with 30 different Exhibitors on Thursday or Friday morning. When you do, the Exhibitors will sign your Game Card--but only if an order is placed or a qualifying visit is made.

On Friday afternoon, prior to leaving the event, we ask the stores to redeem their game cards for their cash awards.

Here are our incentive guidelines for The Gathering 2010:

Every store representative that makes 30 visits to exhibits, committing to participate in a 5 - 10 minute sales presentation at each location, will receive $50 in cash.

Every store that makes 30 visits or more to exhibits, and places a minimum of 15 orders, will receive $75 in cash.

Every store that makes 30 visits or more to exhibits, and places a minimum of 20 orders, will receive $100 in cash.

What Counts as a Visit?

1. Listening to a 5 - 10 minute sales presentation updating you on what products the exhibitor is offering your store and/or,

2. Placing an order with an exhibitor