ChristianTrade held Marketsquare Asia 2009  for 6-8 September in Hong Kong, in conjunction with  the Korea Christian Rights Fair 10-11 September in Seoul, Korea. 

This year's show drew Christian suppliers and booksellers from more than a dozen countries, including Asian buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan, plus retailers and suppliers from 16 provinces in mainland China. Booksellers and publishers from mainland China were able to attend  thanks to approximately $10,000 raised through offerings taken in July at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver. 

 “The Christian market in China has just started growing. The training for booksellers at Marketsquare Asia 2009 was very helpful.”  —Andrew Zhou,  Suzhou Mustardseed Bookshop, Jiangsu, China

The Marketsquare experience kicked off with the Tyndale Celebration Dinner, an evening of inspiration, an excellent meal, and heartfelt praise led by worship leader David Woo (right), Fisher Music president (South Korea). During the entire show, devotions and training were provided in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Translators were available each day on the exhibit floor to assist U.S. and Chinese suppliers with their negotiations.

“I made a lot of contacts, meeting with publishers with exciting products that I can bring into my country.”  —Abner G. Lacson, Church Strengthening Ministries, Manila, Philippines

BOOKSTORE WORKSHOPS, led by respected instructor Jack Scott, gave bookstore owners and managers practical tools and tactics to increase both their store’s business base and its ministry outreach. “I was amazed at the dedication of booksellers from China,” Scott said. “Some traveled for days to come to the two-day event!”

PUBLISHER WORKSHOPS were taught by Kent Wilson, who worked at NavPress Publishing for 21+ years, 11 as publisher, and has taught book and magazine publishing internationally for the past 10 years in Europe, Russia, Asia, and Central America. At right, Wilson welcomes Kim Pettit, ChristianTrade's newest addition, who represented the association at the event.

EXHIBITORS attending Marketsquare Asia included:

(Click on the company name to contact them.)

For more information on Marketsquare Asia 2009, please write: info@ChristianTrade.com. For information about advertising or exhibiting, please contact Gary Foster (+1-419-238-4082 or gfoster@ChristianTrade.com).

For a report on Marketsquare Asia 2008, click here.