CRT Retailers & Suppliers Retreat Returns to the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick in September 2023
Over the past few months Steve and Mandy Briars have been in discussion with Alexandra McDonald and Jon Adams regarding the ongoing future of CRT and the Retailers & Suppliers Retreat. It is with real pleasure that it can now be announced that Alexandra and Jon have formed a new company, CRT Events Ltd, to take over the responsibility and running of CRT commencing with the 2023 event which will be held at the Hayes Conference Centre, Alfreton, Derbyshire on Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 September.
The 2022 Christian Resources Together (CRT) awards will take place on Thursday 13 October at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park organised by Steve and Mandy. In 2023 the awards will return as a much-loved part of the CRT event at the Hayes.
Steve comments, “It has been a privilege and honour to support retailers, suppliers and authors over the past twelve years that Mandy and I have been running CRT but now believe it is the right time to handover the responsibility. We have no doubt that Alexandra and Jon will bring new energy and ideas to the event that will support the trade for years to come. It is mine and Mandy’s intention to continue publishing Together magazine as it enters its tenth year.”
Alexandra and Jon will be reaching out over the next few months to all areas of the Christian publishing, retail and writing industry to ensure that the 2023 event brings the trade back together. They will retain the best loved bits of the previous events and hope to bring new speakers, innovations and training opportunities to the event to make it even more valuable to take part.
Alexandra said, “I’m delighted to be involved with CRT in 2023 and for the years beyond – the pandemic robbed us of the valuable time we used to spend together at the Hayes in fellowship, so it is a pleasure to be able to play a part in bringing community back to the UK Christian book, music and gift trade.”
Jon said, “Since I have been back on the road this year customers have been constantly asking me when CRT will be back so it is great to be able to definitively announce that it will return. I am really looking forward to helping put together the new event for 2023 with many of the elements we all know and love.”
Andi Bray, Chair of the BA Christian Booksellers Group comments, “The CRT Retreat is always such a good opportunity to get all sides of our business together, and I’m relieved that we’ll be able to meet again in person next year. I’m looking forward to helping to make sure that the event is a must-attend feature on everyone’s calendar.”
During this period of transition please contact Alexandra and Jon regarding any aspects of the CRT Retailers and Suppliers Retreat 2023. For enquiries regarding the CRT Awards 2022 and Together magazine contact Steve Briars at steve@christianresourcestogether.co.uk
Alexandra McDonald was formerly Commercial Director at SPCK Publishing for 11 years, but now is independent and runs the UK/EU sales and marketing for the Baker Publishing Group and can be contacted on alexandra@synergybooksales.co.uk or 0777 616 7261
Jon Adams is the Sales Director at Teal Press Limited, having worked for them for nearly 16 years. For CRT purposes Jon can be contacted on jonadams999@hotmail.co.uk
