Reed Canada Buys CBA Trade Show

Leah Eichler |

Aug 21, 2000

News
Reed Canada Buys CBA Trade Show Leah Eichler -- 8/21/00 *The Canadian Booksellers Association has sold its annual convention and trade show to Reed Exhibition Companies-Canada.* After months of being courted by multiple buyers, the Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) has finally sold its annual convention and trade show to Reed Exhibition Companies-Canada (REC). "We couldn't be happier; we're really excited about working with Reed," Sheryl McKean, executive director of the Canadian Booksellers Association, told PW. In June, the CBA was on the brink of selling the convention and trade show to Reed, which already had the money in hand, when it called off the deal on the eve of this year's show to consider other contenders, most notably Key Media. McKean insisted that Reed was the most suitable candidate. "In addition to the international expertise and the economies of scale that Reed has, Reed is truly a third party in that they are professional in what they do," McKean explained, adding that Reed had presented ideas for expanding the show that CBA found very exciting. "It was clear to us that they could open up the show even more to book lovers and stakeholders in Canada's book community, and outside of Canada as well, which is a big plus." Reed runs BookExpo America, the U.S. trade show equivalent, and the London International Book Show. The CBA show has suffered a rift in the last couple of years. A row with Chapters in 1999 resulted in this country's largest bookseller being uninvited from the show, prompting the chain to create its own, starting this September. The question remains as to whether Chapters will return to the CBA trade show now that it has been sold to Reed. A Chapters spokesperson said, "Chapters is open to invitations to participate in book shows, regardless of who owns them." The CBA will continue to be active in the trade show and convention, acting as an adviser to Reed. It will also continue to produce its annual meeting in conjunction with the event, along with its bookselling school, bookseller-publisher forum and the Libris awards. CBA members will still receive a discount at the show under its new ownership. "We are pleased to make this acquisition that we believe is beneficial for both CBA members and for all constituents of the Canadian-based book industry," John Lewinski, president of REC, said in a press release. "We will still work closely with CBA and will add the strength of global book partners in the U.S. and worldwide to provide new opportunities for expanding Canada's book market."

News

Reed Canada Buys CBA Trade Show
Leah Eichler -- 8/21/00
The Canadian Booksellers Association has sold its annual convention and trade show to Reed Exhibition Companies-Canada.

After months of being courted by multiple buyers, the Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) has finally sold its annual convention and trade show to Reed Exhibition Companies-Canada (REC).

"We couldn't be happier; we're really excited about working with Reed," Sheryl McKean, executive director of the Canadian Booksellers Association, told PW.

In June, the CBA was on the brink of selling the convention and trade show to Reed, which already had the money in hand, when it called off the deal on the eve of this year's show to consider other contenders, most notably Key Media.

McKean insisted that Reed was the most suitable candidate. "In addition to the international expertise and the economies of scale that Reed has, Reed is truly a third party in that they are professional in what they do," McKean explained, adding that Reed had presented ideas for expanding the show that CBA found very exciting. "It was clear to us that they could open up the show even more to book lovers and stakeholders in Canada's book community, and outside of Canada as well, which is a big plus." Reed runs BookExpo America, the U.S. trade show equivalent, and the London International Book Show.

The CBA show has suffered a rift in the last couple of years. A row with Chapters in 1999 resulted in this country's largest bookseller being uninvited from the show, prompting the chain to create its own, starting this September. The question remains as to whether Chapters will return to the CBA trade show now that it has been sold to Reed. A Chapters spokesperson said, "Chapters is open to invitations to participate in book shows, regardless of who owns them."

The CBA will continue to be active in the trade show and convention, acting as an adviser to Reed. It will also continue to produce its annual meeting in conjunction with the event, along with its bookselling school, bookseller-publisher forum and the Libris awards. CBA members will still receive a discount at the show under its new ownership.

"We are pleased to make this acquisition that we believe is beneficial for both CBA members and for all constituents of the Canadian-based book industry," John Lewinski, president of REC, said in a press release. "We will still work closely with CBA and will add the strength of global book partners in the U.S. and worldwide to provide new opportunities for expanding Canada's book market."

A version of this article appeared in the 08/21/2000 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: