How to best help your store’s customers as you put the Scriptures into their hands

After rejoining the commercial Christian publishing industry for the second time recently, I was excited when Christian Retailing asked me to write an article about selling Bibles. It has been striking to see how much has changed and yet how much has remained the same.

Sixty years ago, a trade magazine was launched to serve the burgeoning Christian retail industry. Known at its start in 1955 as Christian Bookseller, the publication that later was renamed Christian Retailing now is going through another significant innovation in response to the changing business environment.

Two experts offer tips for your Christian retail store

Looking to learn from the broader retail environment, we asked two retail experts to answer some key questions for Christian retailers. Consider how these responses from Britt Beemer of America’s Research Group and Carol Schroeder of Orange Tree Imports might apply to your store.

What are one or two things Christian retailers can learn from the larger market about key retail practices?

Christian retailers can meet customer needs in light of 21st-century cultural patterns

The Bible calls us to be “as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” In 1 Chronicles 12:32, we are told about the men of Issachar who had “understanding of times and what Israel should do.” As you prepare for the year ahead, here are some important trends that you need to know about that will matter to your Christian retail store.

Looking back on big licenses and significant products in children’s and gifts

As we did last issue, reflecting on the year 2014 in a number of product categories, this issue we look back on the year that was in two key categories for Christian retailers—children’s and gifts.

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Fostering a ‘solid connection’ with churches can pay off in Christian retail sales

The future is bright in Christian publishing as new, talented authors are discovered. Each one of the following authors we’ve noted here has at least one book out or soon to be released, reaches out to readers online—through websites, blogs or social media—and points readers to the God they love and serve.

From a Lebanese-American emergency room doctor to the son of a famous theologian, from a woman writing for teen girls to a novelist offering gritty biblical tales for men—all offer readers a new perspective on life and writing.

Robin Barnett, senior publicist for Revell (Baker Publishing Group), sums up what publishers are looking for in an author they see as a rising star.

“We want to get a sense from the author that they have something to say. It doesn’t have to be revolutionary, but they should offer a new slant,” Barnett said.

She adds that publishers want authors who are engaged online, pointing to bloggers who already have created an audience who want to hear what they have to say.

“The quality of writing is important too,” Barnett said. “If an author doesn’t have the writing goods to follow up their first book, they won’t have a long career in publishing.”

The standards apply to fiction and nonfiction authors.

“We are looking for authors we can build past one book. This definitely applies to fiction, but also nonfiction,” she said. “If you get a good Christian Living author, you can work with them for years.”

Booksellers look for the same things in authors whose books they stock—longevity, good storytelling, an eagerness to connect with readers. The list below is a forecast for authors whose books Christian retailers should expect to see on store shelves for years to come.