Christian Retailing

Movie tie-in licenses are expanding Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 13 December 2010 02:35 PM America/New_York
With the box-office success of faith-based films such as Fireproof, movie tie-in products have become a special niche area for Christian suppliers and retailers.

DaySpring has licensed items for Fireproof, Letters to God and Courageous—a police drama addressing issues of fatherhood that will be released in theaters next fall.

"Most of our movie tie-ins to date have been cards, but we plan specialty gifts in the future," said DaySpring's Director of Marketing Communications Brenda Turner. The company has sold more than 1.4 million Fireproof cards.

Leading apparel company Kerusso has produced movie-related products for Left Behind, End of the Spear, Fireproof and Like Dandelion Dust.

"We are always looking, and have great relationships with the people who are producing great Christian films these days," said Kerusso President and CEO Vic Kennett. "The bigger the film, the better the product sells. There is a direct correlation for sure. The sales of licensed product is always going to depend upon the popularity of the movie. In some cases, movie tie-in products have done better than our regular line at the time."

Angie Adams' Guiding Light Christian Bookstore in Barboursville, W.Va., has done well with movie tie-ins. "They are really good sellers," she said. "With the free advertisement you get from the movie, people recognize and see the related product, and they want to buy it."

Read the full report in the January issue of Inspirational Gift Mart.