Publishers aim to maximize value for today’s children’s book shopper

Recent news reports tout an economic upturn and growing consumer optimism, but Christian retailers still see customers spending cautiously and motivated by value. This includes, of course, parents and grandparents—the primary buyers of children’s products.

CBA show offers retailers significant opportunities to learn

The theme of the 2014 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Atlanta may be “Cause to Celebrate,” but for stores it’s an opportunity to go beyond the sales floor and hone their retailing craft. Taking place June 22-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), CBA’s trade show offers stores the chance to see the latest in upcoming books, trends in décor, entertainment and gift items all in one place. It offers retailers a chance to catch up with old friends and attend some fun film premieres and events, but it also should be seen as a “boot camp” where veteran retailers, suppliers and business experts give store owners and frontliners the chance to learn more about operating a store.

33.3 Media Booth 435

AAmstamp Machine Company Booth 1259

Abbey Press Booths 617, 1319

Adventist Media Network Booth 1143

Adventist Media Network Booth 1750

Alfred Music Booth 1133

American Bible Society Booth 1535

Anchor Distributors/Whitaker House Booths 1017, 1115

Anchor Wallace Publishers Booth 1253

Art & SoulWorks—Gifts that Give Back Booth 612

Artistic Churchware Booth 1235

Authentic Publishers Booth 1352

B&H Publishing Group Booth 1218

Baker Books Booth 1201

Baker Publishing Group Booth 1201

Barbour Publishing Booth 1228

Bargain Books Wholesale Booth 1455

Beechdale Frames Booth 420

Bethany House Booth 1201

Bible Blessings Booth 417

Biblica Booth 1217

Bob Siemon Designs Booth 429

Book Depot Booth 1458

Booklog Booth 937

Bookstore Manager Software Booth 1043

Bridge-Logos, Inc. Booth 1336

Bridgestone Multimedia Group RM 103

Brilliance Audio Booth 1150

Brilliance Publishing Booth 1150

Brilliance Publishing Booth 1152

Brownlow Gifts Booth 500

BYU Music Group Booth 1142

Cactus Game Design Booth 808

Capitol Christian Distribution Booth 929

Carolina Retail Packaging Booth 713

Carpentree Booth 507

Cathedral Art Booth 422

Charisma House Booth 1151

Chosen Books Booth 1201

Christ for the Nations Booth 1355

Christian Art Gifts Booth 811

Christian Focus Publications Booth 1731

Christian Life Outreach Booth 1354

Christian Small Publishers Association Booth 1334

Christian Tools of Affirmation (CTA) Booth 518

Christianity Today Booth 1353

City on a Hill Studio Booth 1146

CLC Publications Booth 1301

CMD Distribution Booth 1139

CNI Distribution Booth 1029

Concordia Publishing House Booth 1105

Creflo Dollar Ministries Booth 1238

CrossBooks (division of LifeWay) Booth 1204

Crossway Booth 1001

Dake Publishing Booth 1317

David C Cook Booth 1117

DaySpring Booths 800, 801

Dexsa Co. Booth 723

Dicksons Booth 529

Discovery House Publishers Booth 1206

Divinity Boutique Booth 715

Dr. Hector Caram-Andruet Booth 1154

Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk Booth 1759

Eerdmans Publishing Co. Booth 1646

Emkay Candle Co. Booth 820

EndTime Ministries Booth 939

Entertainment One Booth 945

Eternal Life (Avid Life) Booth 635

Evergreen Press Booth 1262

Every Good Gift Booth 504

Faith Library Publications Booth1229

G.T. Luscombe Co. Booth 428

Game Show Mania Booth 1145

Genesis Marketing Group Booth 640

GI Jewelry Booth 637

Good L. Corp. Booth 1047

Good Work(s) Make a Difference Booth 401

Goodknight Sales Booth 1234

Goodknight Sales—Books Booth 1234

Goodknight Sales—Gifts Booth 1234

Gospel Light Booth 1255

Granny Jo Products Booth 512

Group Publishing Booth 1121

Hachette Book Group/FaithWords Booth 1435

Haggai Books Booth 1360

Hal Leonard Corp. Booth 935

Halle Joy Booth 709

HarperCollins Christian Bargain Books Booth 1452

HarperCollins Christian Publishing Booth 1637

Harrison House Publishers Booth 1429

Harvest House Publishers Booth 1009

He Speaks Today Booth 516

Heart Gifts by Teresa Booth 534

Heartfelt/Christian Brands Booth 638

Hendrickson Publishers Booth 1305

Hermitage Art Co. Booth 1440

Holy Land Gifts Booth 539

Hotline To God Store Booth 514

Howard Books Booth 1101

Howard Imprinting Machine Co. Booth 1450

Ideals Publications/Guideposts Booth 1342

Ingram/Spring Arbor Booth 1529

Innovative Booth 816

Integra Interactive Booth 1135

International Publishers Marketing Booth 1729

James Lawrence Co. Booth 719

Kerusso Booth 501

Kid Tees by Stephen Joseph Booth 506

Kingstone Media Group Booth 1335

Kirkbride Bible Co. Booth 1243

Kregel Publications Booth 1345

Lexham Press Booth 1239

Lighthouse Christian Products Booth 701

Lion Hudson Booth 1444

Merry Christmas From Heaven Mooney TunCo Booth 419

Moody Publishers Booth 1629

Munce Group Booth 1240

Murphy Robes Booth 1553

My Healthy Church Booth 1209

Nanjing Amity Printing Co. Booth 1552

Nazarene Publishing House Booth 1051

New Day Christian Distributors Booth 517

New Leaf Publishing Group Booth 1242

Not of This World (NOTW) Booth 700

OM Ships International Booth 1558

Oodles World Booth 629

Outline Bible Resources by Leadership Ministries Booth1303

Outreach Media Group Booths 1828, 1830

P. Graham Dunn Booth 421

Parable Group Booth 1341

Plough Publishing House Booth 1652

Pretty Girls 4 Christ Booth 400

Provident Distribution Booth 1034

Rainbow Publishers/Legacy Press Booth 1550

Reformation Heritage Books Booth 1340

Revell Books Booth 1201

Rose of Bethlehem Jewelry Booth 434

Rose Publishing Booth 1212

Scripture Candy Booth 522

Send The Light Distribution Booth 1217

Shades of Color Booth 513

Shadow Mountain Publishing Booth 1453

Sight & Sound Ministries Booth 1129

Spirit & Truth Christian Jewelry Designs Booth 704

Stencib Booth 639

SW Press Booth 1451

Swanson Christian Products Booth 821

Tabbies (Xertrex International) Booth 1351

Talicor Booth 812

The Good Book Co. Booth 1315

The Great Bible Race Booth 538

Trinitarian Bible Society Booth 1241

TRISTAN Publishing Booth 1642

TurnKey Solutions Corp. Booth 1156

TwoBy2 Booth 1115

Tyndale House Publishers Booths 917, 921

Union Gospel Press Booth 1640

Universal Designs Booth 601

Warner Press Booth 1329

Waterfall Press Booth 1152

Wee Believers Booth 822

Wesleyan Publishing House Booth 1053

WestBow Press Booth 1634

Word Distribution Booth 1037

World Wide Printing Booth 1651

Xulon Press Booths 1439, 1539

CBA Town Center

American Christian Fiction Writers Booth 913

CBA Booth 903

Meadowbrook Insurance Group Booth 911

Church Store Connection Center

1Eighty Apparel CS 05

Building a Family Legacy CS 03

EndTime Ministries CS 01

Harvest Time Partners CS 02

Inspirations in Wood CS 04

Creative Pavilion

August St Anthony Publications Booth 550

Dan Hayden Booth 852

Dorcas International (H.K.) (Dorcas Puppets) Booth 752

Dr. Shane Wall Booth 650

Enjoy! Booth 952

Gareth J Goosen Booth 756

Generations with Vision Booth 751

God’s Song Booth 653

Holy Cheer Gear Booth 754

J and M Inspirations Booth 855

Joey Nicholson Booth 656

Kendall Neff Publishing Booth 954

Lanny Smith Booth 755

Lucy Schultz Booth 956

Mike Genung Booth 851

S.K. Muinde Booth 657

The Good Deed Manger Booth 853

Tom Janicik Booth 654

TxTimony Booth 854

Vicky Branton Booth 850

Debut Avenue

42aFurnace Christian Clothing & Design Booth 831

Anointed by Grace Designs Booth 942

Big God Life Booth 830

Cepher Publishing Group Booth 928

Christian Art & Bronze Booth 828

Global Access Sales & Marketing Booth 934

Harvest Time Partners Booth 832

In His Light Ministries Booth 728 

Inspirations In Wood Booth 729

John Ritchie Ltd. Booth 736

Kid Niche Publishing/Susan Bonner Booth 833

KIPPOD 3D Booth 846

Majestees Booth 735

Mindfully Made Studios Booth 847

MudLOVE Booth 746

My Little Guardian Angel Booth 731

Painted Stuf Booth 732

Pieces of the Promise Booth 730

PrayerBowls Booth 734

ReMade Apparel Booth 930

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Booth 944

Ulla Ltd. Keywi Cards Booth 834

Fair Trade & Missional

Family Research Council Action Booth 611

Global Handmade Hope Booth 712

Saved By Grace Booth 609

ABridge International Booth 1716

B&H Publishing Group Booth 1412

Baker Publishing Group Booth 1518

Banner of Truth Booth 1511

Barbour Publishing Booth 1612

Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City Booth 1516

Bible Societies Booth 1616

Bill Noller International Publishing Booth 1519

Copenhagen Publishing House Booth 1707

Cromwell Leather Booth 1613

Crossway Booth 1402

David C Cook Table 05

Discovery House Publishers Booth 1515

Eerdmans Publishing Co. Table 01

F.J. Rudy and Associates Booth 1513

Gospel Literature International (GLINT) Booth 1705

Great Value Books Booth 1604

Harrison House Publishers Booth 1421

Harvest House Publishers Table 04

InterVarsity Press Booth 1517

IVP (UK), Inter-Varsity Press Table 06

Josh McDowell Ministry Table 02

Life Publishers International Booth 1406

Nori Media Group Booth 1413

Nutech Print Services Table 03

P&R Publishing Booth 1602

Riggins International Rights Services Booth 1709

Scandinavia Publishing House Booth 1619

Standard Publishing Booth 1512

Tyndale House Publishers Booth 1719

Beyond-this-life testimonies assure believers of a sweet bye and bye

Don Piper, author of the best-seller 90 Minutes in Heaven, sums up the allure of books about heaven in one word: hope.

“People want hope for a better place some day, and hope for a better life along the way to that place,” Piper said. “Heaven books are about hope. Can you go there? Yes. Can you have a better life on the way there? Yes.”

New pope, new media draws fresh attention to products for Catholic customers

After a year of big changes for the Roman church, Catholic retailers hope the positive media attention and popularity of the new pope will translate into sales. Pope Francis was inaugurated in March 2013; former popes John Paul II and John XXIII were canonized in April, and media outlets are reporting that lapsed Catholics have begun asking themselves if it is time to return to the church. The changes are galvanizing sales of some Catholic products, but will it drive enough customers to buy at brick-and-mortar stores?

Baker Publishing Group moves into the future holding true to its evangelical heritage

Baker Publishing Group celebrates its 75th anniversary in April 2014, a significant milestone for the family-owned business under its third generation of Baker leadership.

Five ways publishers are getting creative to attract consumers to new Bibles

Few binding options were available when Bibles first were produced en masse, but today, readers of God’s Word have the luxury of having hundreds of Bibles from which to choose. With technology comes an abundance of options—and fierce competition for Bible publishers to create products that stand out from the crowd. Moreover, the large number of choices can leave the consumer feeling overwhelmed when attempting to make a purchase.