LARGO, Fla.—During these difficult days, CPE Fall 2020 was a time for the Christian retail industry to come together and build each other up.
Like CPE Winter 2020, CPE Fall 2020 (August 23-25) was held at the Chase Center in Wilmington, DE. However, this show looked a little different with face masks, provided by Kerusso for all attendees, and social distancing at all the events and on the show floor. Since some vendors were unable to attend due to company travel bans, they utilized Zoom to give product presentations and take orders at the show.
Each morning, retailers enjoyed a time of spiritual refreshment with devotionals via a pre-recorded video from Paula Faris (Baker Publishing Group) and a live presentation of the new Epic Bible from Tyndale House Publishers.
The show officially kicked off on Sunday, August 23, with live praise and worship from Cheri Keaggy, who reminded attendees that God’s love endures forever, along with a message on prayer from Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) founder Linda Evans Shepherd.
On Sunday afternoon, retailers enjoyed an in-person social media training with industry experts and a meet-and-greet Personality Party with 19 authors. One generous author, Sandra Boyd, even gave away a COACH purse.
Sunday evening concluded with a compelling testimony from Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipient Jakeline Hernandez and an interactive Zoom performance from illusionist Harris III, author of The Wonder Switch, compliments of CPE’s gold sponsor HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
When the show floor opened Monday morning, retailers were ready to stock up and the vendors were ready to assist. There were over 40 stores and over 40 exhibitors at CPE Fall 2020. Most vendors came expecting simply to show support to the retailers. Collecting orders at the show was a bonus. On average, there were 22 orders written per store.
“VOM BOOKS was thrilled and honored to be part of the CPE event in Wilmington, DE,” said Chris Robinette, Executive Director of Voice of the Martyrs Books. “We went there with the mindset to pray for, encourage and bless those stores who attended the event, knowing they might be discouraged. Instead, we were blessed by all the encouraging words and optimism expressed by the retailers. . . . Many expressed how their business was starting to turn around as they were able to recently reopen and were very optimistic about the fourth quarter.”
On Tuesday, the show floor closed early at 2:00 PM with three cash prize drawings. The grand prize of $1500 went to Rachel Savage of Watermark Christian Store in Melbourne, FL. Second place went to Body Builders Bookstore in Rahway, NJ and third place went to Truth that Rocks in Northfield, NJ.
CPE is FREE to attend and offers retailers a generous reimbursement program, based on the number of orders written and presentations received at the show. For this show only, CPE decreased the required number of orders for reimbursement as well as added a $50 travel allowance to the lowest tier to help offset retailers’ travel costs.
Retailers and exhibitors have already signed up for the Winter 2021 show which will be on February 14-16 at the Embassy Suites & Concord Convention Center in Charlotte, NC.
To learn more about CPE show updates, visit cpeshow.com.
The Munce Group was founded in October 1991 and currently serves nearly 200 member retailers across the US. The mission of the Munce Group is to provide member retailers with the highest quality Christian materials and services to equip independent Christian retailers for the work of their ministry and business. Munce Group also hosts Christian Product Expo (CPE). CPE is the only industry trade show that is free to attend and provides a generous reimbursement program. Visit www.cpeshow.com.
Uhrichsville, OH— Barbour Publishing is pleased to announce the launch of a one-of-a-kind new fiction series where history and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance. Each book in the Doors to the Past series will feature a dual-time period romantic suspense story set against a historic American landmark.
Miami, FL (August 17th, 2020) — Spanish House Ministries appoints Lorraine Blancovitch as Publisher. After five years of serving within the organization, Lorraine becomes one of the youngest female publishers in the history of Spanish Evangelical publishing.
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 1, 2020 — Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul, is pleased to announce the release of the Reformation Study Bible in Spanish, published in partnership with Poiema Publicaciones. This long-anticipated resource, La Biblia de Estudio de La Reforma, is now available in a variety of cover styles on
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (
[NASHVILLE, TENN., August 31, 2020—] Pursuing the “American Dream,” for many, means making a decent living at a comfortable job and saving for an early retirement, so you can spend your senior years checking exciting activities off your “bucket list” before you die. J.D. Greear, pastor, author and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, calls for a rejection of this typical notion in his new book, “
Santa Rosa, CA – Janet Kobobel Grant, founder and president of Books & Such Literary Management, announced on August 31, 2020 that Barb Roose, national speaker and author, will join the agency as a literary agent.
(Nashville, Tenn.) Aug. 25, 2020—The Jesus Calling Podcast has officially surpassed five million downloads, Thomas Nelson announced today. Lauren Akins, philanthropist, author, mother and wife of multi-platinum entertainer Thomas Rhett, will appear as the special guest to commemorate the milestone. Her episode will air Sept. 17.
Iron Stream Media is excited to announce that Laine Lawson Craft’s new release, Enjoy Today, Own Tomorrow, debuted as the #1 New Release in Personal Growth and Christianity, #1 New Release in Christian Church Leadership and #1 New Release in Christian Stewardship last week. It remains the #1 New Release in Personal Growth and Christianity.
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (August 26, 2020)—Tyndale House Publishers (@TyndaleHouse) announces that Gretchen Saffles, author and founder of the online community Well-Watered Women, has written The Well-Watered Woman, leading readers to discover the bottomless, refreshing well of God’s Word so they can experience a fullness and peace beyond their circumstances. The Well-Watered Woman and the companion devotional journal, The Well-Watered Life, are scheduled for release from Tyndale Momentum on April 6, 2021, and mark the first two products in a major multi-book deal.




