Details of the four key January events

Christian retailers looking to make a strong start to the new year have the opportunity to learn about new products, stock up on
bargains and get some training at four events in January.

Jan. 10-12

MARKETSQUARE INTERNATIONAL

Atlanta Airport Marriott

Atlanta

Christian Trade Association International's (CTAI) third annual winter event for overseas buyers is opening its doors to North American retailers for the first time and also debuting America's Christian Remainder Show.

Registration for international visitors is $50 for members and $65 for nonmembers, while U.S. attendees will pay $20. Those who register before Dec. 23 receive a ticket to the Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors Celebration Dinner; tickets will not be sold separately. Keynote speaker at the dinner on Sunday, Jan. 10 will be pastor, ministry leader and conference speaker Larry Huch (The Torah Blessing, Whitaker House).

The first 50 international buyers from outside the U.S. who pre-register by Dec. 23 will receive one free night's lodging at the convention hotel. The hotel's nightly rate is $109, with a free shuttle service to and from the airport.

Workshops for Christian publishers and booksellers are free with registration, and preceded by free breakfast.

For booksellers: "How remainder books increase profits," "How I survived the recession" panel discussion. For publishers: "Negotiating international translation rights," "How to develop quality translations."

The Professional Retail Institute, led by CTAI Director of Training and Member Development Jack Scott, will run Jan. 13-14, with an additional $295 fee for the first person registered and $195 for each person thereafter from the same store or organization.

More than 40 suppliers will be exhibiting at the event, including Baker Publishing Group, Crossway, FaithWords, Harvest House Publishers, Thomas Nelson and Tyndale House Publishers. Lunch and break refreshments will be served in the exhibit hall.

For more information or to obtain the registration form, go to www.ctaintl.org or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jan. 8-12

THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL GIFT & HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET

AmericasMart

Atlanta

Though CBA has scrapped its Industry Conference, the retailers trade association is partnering with AmericasMart for any of its members attending the largest gift and home furnishings showcase of the year.

CBA member retailers can take advantage of a complimentary hotel night's stay as well as special reduced rates for an extended visit. There will also be an exclusive CBA meeting and lunch at the event Saturday, Jan. 9, starting at noon in the Grant/Lenox Room, third floor of Building 3.

CBA market vendors will be specially identified to help retailers quickly locate them.

For CBA member suppliers, there will be elevator door stickers throughout the AmericasMart complex announcing inspirational gifts featuring CBA vendors, with stickers for each vendor identifying them as a CBA/inspirational gifts supplier. They will also be identified in the inspirational classification section of the Atlanta Buyer's Guide.

For more information, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or contact Suzanne Ivezaj at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 404-220-2219.

Jan. 17-19

CHRISTIAN PRODUCTS EXPO (CPE)

Hershey Lodge

Hershey, Pa.

Munce Group's CPE Hershey offers free registration to all independent Christian retailers, who are then able to cover additional expenses by taking advantage of the show's cost-reimbursement plan, based on the number of orders written on the show floor.

Organizers say that reimbursements are "very obtainable," with 94% of retailers attending the marketing group's members-only CPE in September writing orders qualifying for some level of reimbursement and 79% of them placing enough exhibit-floor orders to receive the maximum reimbursement available.

The January event kicks off with a Bible Conference on Sunday, Jan. 17, organized to minister to the hearts and minds of retailers and exhibitors. Workshop sessions Monday, Jan. 18 will be a general session, a Vacation Bible School session and free Bookstore Manager software training.

Confirmed speakers include VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer and authors David Jeremiah and Sheila Walsh. Tween girl author Dannah Gresh will be on the exhibit show floor in the Moody Publishers booth.

For more information, go to www.cpeshow.com. Register by phone, 800-868-4388; fax, 727-593-3523; or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jan. 13-14

INSPIRATIONAL VALUE BOOK SHOW

DoubleTree Nashville Downtown

Nashville

Discounts of up to 90% off retail will be on offer at the Inspirational Value Book Show, which for its third year will have a larger gift selection, too.

Registration for the event—billed as "Less Talk. More Show!"—includes lunch for both days provided on the exhibit hall floor for suppliers and retailers so that they can continue business uninterrupted.

Among the exhibitors will be Barbour Publishing, David C. Cook, Kregel Publications, Swanson Christian Products, Thomas Nelson and Whitaker House.

The show floor will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14.

For more information or to register, go to www.ivbshow.com or contact Misty Sprinkle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The (Bend, Ore.) Bulletin

Store clerk foils robbery: A frontliner at Lighthouse Christian Gift Store in Martell, Calif., faced down a would-be robber who said that he had a gun.

The (Amador, Calif.) Ledger-Dispatch

New store's diverse inventory: Gale Black's new Gospel Christian Bookstore in Bamberg, S.C., has "a little bit of everything.”

The (Orangeburg, S.C.) Times and Democrat

Christian bookstore owner's 'miracle': A Christian bookstore owner and distributor talks about the "miracle" that changed his life.

The (Racine, Wisc.) Journal Times

Rockers aren't 'know-it-alls': The members of Christian rock band Thousand Foot Krutch "don't preach like know-it-alls. They're more subtle, writing about universal concerns that help them play to everyone."

The Erie Times-News

Stores offer 'refuge': Ruth James wants her three Ruth's Christian Bookstores across central and northeastern Oklahoma to be "the light and encouragement. A place of peace, a place of refuge."

The Oklahoman

Obama chaplain-author profiled: Army chaplain and author Carey Cash (A Table in the Presence)--"with a famous last name, a compelling life story and a fervent belief in a God who works miracles"--leads services attended by President Obama at Camp David.

The Washington Post

Selling Bibles and cars: Helping someone choose the right Bible is "kind of like the car world," according to
Gail Waddell, manager of the Mustard Seed Outlet in Springfield, Ill.

The (Springfield, Ill.) State Journal-Register

Author trio booksigning: Bestselling Christian authors Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller and Cathy Marie Hake unite for a signing at Bookery Parable Christian Bookstore in Mansfield, Ohio.

The (Mansfield, Ohio) News Journal

Digital Bible's 'Newsweek' nod: Glo, the new digital Bible from Zondervan, could help "hasten (the) decline of bound Scriptures."

Newsweek

'Mitford' the musical: Jan Karon's popular "Mitford" books make their way to the musical stage.

Broadway World

The children's category is an increasingly important one, especially in tough times

While sales in the children's department don't equate to the biggest moneymaker in a Christian retail store, the category may be one of the least affected by a downturned economy.

In many cases, experts believe, the category could even benefit from a recession. The primary reason: Parents are willing to do without in order to be able to provide for their children—and for Christians, that includes feeding and nurturing their youngsters' faith.

And when parents do buy for themselves, they often pick something up for their junior shopping companion as well.

Meanwhile, children's games lend themselves to being recession-proof not just at Christmas, but also throughout the year.

Said Rob Anderson, president of Cactus Game Design: "In tough economic and spiritual times, parents like spending more time together as a family and games are a great vehicle for family time."

Children's products are also less affected by online sales—where books and music have been hijacked—because of a high "touch and see" appeal at the store level, according to Big Idea's Brian Mitchell, director of marketing and licensing.

"In addition to the impulse sale factor for toys, games and branded children's products, consumers are more likely to physically shop with their children to make the best selection rather than buy online as they would books and music," he said.

Like the juveniles it serves, the Christian children's category has experienced some growing pains as vendors try to match the quality of products in the general market and top-selling brands become oversaturated, leaving stores and vendors in search of the next big thing.

Several factors have contributed to flattened sales, beginning with publishers who over-published, according to Christian children's market expert Mary Manz Simon, a longtime trend watcher.

"For the past 10 years, many CBA-released children's picture books were text-heavy," she said. "Parents might buy one book, but after kids won't sit for a too-long story, parents don't make that mistake again."

In the area of videos, Simon said the under-pricing of some titles changed both customer and retailer expectations.

"To rack up big sales numbers, some CBA companies dropped the suggested retail price," she noted. "As a result, everyone expected every kidvid to sell for, say, $9.99. The companies that didn't lower prices didn't sell their videos, especially as the economic climate changed."

Brand recognition

Branding still drives children‘s products, but vendors and retailers have learned that some parameters must be put in place.

Mitchell, for VeggieTales creator Big Idea, contended that offering a variety of branded and licensed products creates a much larger presence for advertising and at store level.

Licensed partners for the company for 2009 include VeggieTales shoes and shoe charms from Jibbitz, a subsidiary of Crocs, a Sing-Along Brush-Along toothbrush from Ranir Oral Care, Christmas ornaments from DaySpring and AIM Global and plush toys from Pint Size.

Michael Turner, director of special products and markets for New Day Christian Distributors, takes the same approach. "If a company that is familiar to customers makes a product, the stores will be more likely to carry it when otherwise they may not," he said.

In the last year, the distributor has brought brands like Fisher-Price, Lego and Jibbitz to the Christian market.

The category has received attention from other vendors who traditionally set their sights on other areas. In 2008, Christian Art Gifts unveiled its "Christian Art Kids" line with fun, Scripture-based educational products like puzzles, games and Bible storybooks. Integrity Music released its first quarterly curriculum this summer for ages 5-10 based on music from its "Shout Praises Kids" series.

Harvest House Publishers is seeking to expand its children's offerings.

"Up until about four or five years ago, we really had no strategy for this category only because we didn't realize the demand was so great," said Jean Christen, gift director for Harvest House. "That all changed when I took a closer look at the market and realized that our children's books were performing consistently well within our entire gift line."

Thomas Nelson is bringing back its Tommy Nelson children's imprint after scrapping it in 2007 when its "One Company" initiative was implemented and its publishing functions were organized around consumer categories.

Lindsey Nobles, director of corporate communications, said that the return of Tommy Nelson was due to feedback from retailers and consumers.

DaySpring has a new entry into the Christian children's products market with its "Really Woolly Kids" initiative.

Rooted in significant consumer insights that showed kids' interest in the Internet and inspired by the company's No. 1 greeting card brand in the last 13 years, the company has partnered with Flying Rhinoceros to release two DVDs that tie in to a virtual world at www.reallywoolly.com, with retailers asking for more.

Small size for small fries

Small space doesn't necessarily mean small kid revenue. With the exception of jewelry and maybe framed art, toys and games can deliver as much retail dollar per square foot as anything else in the store, according to Anderson.

"Merchandisers could create a ‘Little Things for Little People' area near the register to showcase fun, colorful, inexpensive items for curious kids and parents," said Jilene Framek, president of Angel Toes, parent company of Good Newz Temporary Tattooz. "Compact racks will densely display hundreds small books, stickers, furry pencils or, in our case, themed temporary tattoos in an organized, efficient manner. For small stores, this keeps the cost per square foot down, and the kid content up."

Small stores can always start their children's department by ordering through distributors.

Mastering a small space seems to be working for stores, according to Laura Minchew, vice president and publisher of specialty books for Thomas Nelson.

"We've been delighted at the strength of the independent stores with children's product over the last 12 months," Minchew said. "Call out a kid's area—even a small one with color and merchandising material that look different from the rest of the store."

More creativity is required in the children's area than in other areas of the store—and more hands on to keep it looking that way. The wood fixtures and neutral colors that are typical for adult sections of the store would never keep the attention of an 8-year-old boy looking to kill some time while his mother shops.

"We keep it fresh by totally overhauling the department once or twice a year, including painting the walls and moving furniture," said Jennifer Marshall, manager of the Christian Book Outlet in Harrison, Ark. "It's also this department that we have to straighten more than any others, but it's to be expected."

Marshall noted that children's products are an immediate need, not something parents are interested in special-ordering should what they need—or what their child wants—not be on the shelf.

For some small stores, the best hope for a kids' department might be e-commerce.

"All stores, regardless of size, are missing a huge opportunity if they don't have a vibrant, up-to-date Web site," Simon said. "Small stores, with limited in-store inventory, should work especially hard to build their online services."

Consumers also expect fresh content and continuing innovation, with multi-channel selling becoming important in the coming year.

"This implies that mom will place an order online for a child's birthday party gift and dash by the store pick-up window to get her wrapped gift," Simon said.

Measuring up

The gap in quality between general market and Christian children's products has become much smaller in the past five and 10 years, according to Dan Lynch, vice president and publisher—family entertainment and vice president—children's marketing at Thomas Nelson.

"More time and consideration is spent in the creation of virtually every product, as it's not just about profit and sales," Lynch said. "Yes, that's key, and it keeps us all in business, but the message is critical, and we work hard to make sure these products are designed and produced at high levels."

The Christian market is a step behind in creating and selling quality video games in various platforms, Mitchell said, though "this category has eclipsed music and DVD sales at an astounding rate over the past five years. It's low-hanging fruit awaiting the right product to hit the market."

Despite a pricetag at just under $100, one such product that has done well is Guitar Praise, a family-friendly alternative to the general market favorite Guitar Hero. Maker Digital Praise reported that many Christian retailers sold out of its Guitar Praise game during the Christmas season last year.

Last month, Digital Praise released an expansion pack with 25 hits from artists ranging from Steven Curtis Chapman to Stryper—songs compiled from customer requests.

Simon believes that while kids' products should reflect that their world is digitally driven, they should also help kids develop 21st-century skills.

"Critical thinking, problem solving, self-reliance, cross-cultural awareness and media literacy will become increasingly important," she said. "This skill set is rarely reflected in CBA-generated products, and yet our companies could consider incorporating these elements in developmentally appropriate ways."

Charitable giving is also helping children grow up as citizens of the world.

"Retailers, suppliers and publishers need to offer opportunities for children and their families to demonstrate generosity and empathy, both locally and around the globe," Simon said.

This fall, Big Idea teamed up with Operation Christmas Child to help collect gifts for needy children throughout the world. More than 65,000 churches will have the opportunity to hold a screening of Saint Nicholas, where kids and families will be encouraged to "share the spirit of giving" this Christmas by donating shoe box gifts.

Hage's Educational Supplies in Muskegon, Mich., which started in the 1930s, reported seeing more children in the store in June buying books for summer reading and in August to get ready for the next school year.

"The key is to segment what people are asking for and make that available so that they can shop easier," said Patrick Ritsema, store manager and grandson of the store's founder. "We organized our kid's area by category rather than by age."

Several 4-foot units showcase devotionals, Bible storybooks, early readers, coloring books, mid-level readers and a special-needs category that includes titles on coping with death, adoption, divorce and illness.

Serving young customers

While parents enjoy a quick lunch or Bible study in the café of The Crave Bookstore in Lebanon, Tenn., their children can enjoy a healthy lunch of their own or be entertained with a movie or book within their parents' view.

With a goal to create a safe environment for families, Bridgette Belew, store owner and mother of four, created a menu with healthy choices for kids.

She continues the theme of building healthy families by offering products that bring families together. A display in the center aisle of the store features games—including the popular Find It game distributed by New Day—and Christian DVDs.

The store offers select dolls and plush at half price with the purchase of a kid's book, in order to turn slow-moving dolls. In the process, doll sales have increased to 10 in six months.

"We want this to be an oasis for people, and it includes moms who have been to Wal-Mart for an hour and can't keep their kids in the buggy," Belew said. "If children come as children, they'll want to come back as teens. You are creating lifelong relationships."

As with any store, when kids are around, things get broken. And some kids may not understand about store etiquette, so mishaps and breakage happen. Parents are embarrassed, and children may feel like they are not welcome to return.

"Our response has to be careful," said Beverly Snyder, events coordinator for the Northwestern Book Stores location in Maple Grove, Minn. "We approach calmly and squat down to the child's level and ask if they are OK. I remind them that we have to be careful in the store, (that) we don't want them to get hurt, and we don't want to hurt or scare other people either.

"Although we may inwardly cringe at the cost of some broken item, it is better to just let it go. The well-being of our customer and the compassion we show their children will go much farther to draw them back into our store again."

Category leaders

The popular "Berenstain Bears" titles from Zonderkidz have made their mark in the Christian retail market, with four out of the top 10 titles for the first six months of the year from the series. Bibles for children are ongoing best-sellers.

1. The Beginner's Bible (Zonderkidz) $16.99

2. Jesus Wants All of Me: Limited Edition, Oswald Chambers and Phil A. Smouse (Barbour Publishing) $4.97

3. Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers, Mike Berenstain (Zonderkidz) $3.99

4. Berenstain Bears: God Loves You!, Mike Berenstain (Zonderkidz) $3.99

5. Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule, Mike Berenstain (Zonderkidz) $3.99

6. The Lion Day-by-Day Bible (Kregel Publications) $24.99

7. Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School, Mike Berenstain (Zonderkidz) $3.99

8. Mission Possible: A 40-Day Adventure With Jesus, Charles R. Swindoll (Thomas Nelson) $2.99

9. Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zonderkidz) $16.99

10. Little Bible, black (David C. Cook) $1.19

The ECPA list is compiled from sales of Christian books in hundreds of Christian retail outlets nationwide, collected using Pubtrack Christian (www.ptchristian.com). These best-sellers reflect sales from January through June 2009.

Suppliers who invest overseas stand to reap spiritual and economic benefits

As the global economic crisis shakes nearly every industry, many are calling international sales a bright spot in the current Christian products market. Is this true? Yes and no—but mostly, yes.

In general, industrialized nations are feeling the slowdown more, while developing countries are affected less. CLC International—a distributor with branches worldwide—reports sales in Western countries are down, but overall sales are up 8-10%, and sales in some developing nations are even stronger. CLC's International Director Neil Wardrope reports that in Sierra Leone sales are up 30%.

Koos Fouché, a senior manager with South Africa-based Lux Verbi, which owns rights to the New International Version in Africa and distributes products from companies including Zondervan and LifeWay, reports similar findings. Sales in more developed South Africa are struggling, while those in many other African nations are not.

"Africa is growing as a market because Christianity is growing in Africa. Nations there are growing more stable politically," Fouché said.

Ghana-based Parchment House—the publishing arm of evangelist Dag Heward-Mills' Lighthouse Chapel International, which includes more than 1,000 churches in 54 countries—also credits its financial tactics with protecting the company from the brunt of the crisis. President Robert Dodoo said the economy has affected sell-in somewhat, but not company operations.

"We work on cash, building resources until we can afford to publish," Dodoo said.

The recession is affecting more economically developed regions—such as Western Europe, South Africa, Canada and Australia—in similar ways to the U.S. However, those countries also have viable, often long-established customer bases that still need and want Christian products.

Although the overall worldwide demand for Christian resources is growing, some U.S. business-as-usual approaches may not work well internationally. So, what can U.S. and other Western suppliers do to connect with this vast potential?

Strive for cultural relevance.

Cultures are different country by country and people group by people group.

"Learn how different cultures grasp and understand the gospel," Lux Verbi's Fouché said.

Two ways suppliers can make sure they connect with their target audiences are by honing re-published resources for that market—going beyond simple language translation—and finding and developing indigenous authors. Something written by a Western author could have a radically different—or even offensive—connotation in a different culture.

In Africa, Fouché said: "At the very least, Western publishers should have a local expert/editor to tweak products to mesh the message with the local culture and avoid danger areas."

Fouché suggests having local writers create introductions for re-published books, building relationships between the supplier and indigenous author, and presenting a Western book's relevance to that culture. He also recommends that Western authors with a desire to reach another nation should go there and learn firsthand about the people they want to reach.

Make products affordable.

Economies vary wildly from nation to nation. Barebones production costs in an industrialized country, plus shipping and import costs, make prices prohibitive in many developing nations.

One solution is to shift production in-country. This avoids high shipping and import fees, and puts production and sales figures on the same economy.

Another is to develop creative financing and distribution paradigms. It's not unusual for an international supplier to spring directly from a ministry and therefore use ministry-style tactics.

For example, Parchment House sells books direct through leadership conferences and negotiates terms to make them accessible for bookshops. As the publishing arm of an international ministry, the company may use donations, partnerships and volunteers—as well as benefit from its strong no—debt policy. One of Parchment House's distribution tactics is "Dag's Literature Crusade," which floods a given area with books through large discounts, partnering with pastors and other individuals who share its vision of "Let the Books Go."

One approach that several American publishers have tried is "international" editions (trade paperbacks of best-sellers priced lower than the Western hardcover). Barine Kirimi of Evangel Publishing, Kenya, points out the problems with this: "When publishers in the developed world insist on selling English versions of their books internationally rather than through rights to local publishers, the latter run out of resources and cannot afford to produce local translations. It's the English editions that are most profitable and help subsidize the cost of translation to local indigenous languages. In addition, international editions tend to still be higher-priced than local production."

Those in more economically developed nations can also be mobilized to help operations in countries with fewer resources. Money may be worth far more (in practical terms) somewhere else. For example, CLC's autonomous branches may cooperate by helping a branch in another country with a building project.

Know the market.

Take the time to learn as much as possible about Christian-industry operations in a nation you want to serve. Relationships between producers, distributors and retailers have evolved uniquely everywhere.

Government and customs regulations also vary widely. Some nations—such as mainland China, some Islamic countries and India—also have various requirements and restrictions on content, sales and/or marketing and promotion. Suppliers need to be able to navigate these successfully.

Invest in training.

In many countries, Christian retailers are ministry-minded individuals with little practical knowledge of finance, customer service, marketing or any of the myriad disciplines that make stores effective.

Suppliers can provide training helps—printed, online and/or in person—for retailers who sell their products in various nations. They can partner with in-country distributors who offer training, enable retailers to attend business seminars and support organizations—such as CTAI—that specialize in training international retailers and distributors. CTAI, a worldwide association of nations, companies and individuals, holds regional conventions in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America—all including training—and provides other international training opportunities.

Jesus commanded us to "go into all the world," and making Christian resources available globally is a significant facet of answering that call. The international market is also a steady bright spot in a gloomy economic picture. Savvy Christian-industry professionals who go the distance to make their products relevant and accessible around the globe will reap benefits in business now and in eternity to come.

Thomas Nelson tops the 'Christian Retailing' contest; Tyndale and Zondervan tie for second place

Retailers: help generate sales for your store by making customers aware of the award winners. To print copies of the winners' list, go to www.retailerschoiceawards.com/09winners.html.

Thomas Nelson takes the top spot in the 2009 Retailers Choice Awards, winning six trophies in the Christian Retailing-sponsored competition. Retailers chose the winners from among more than 250 products nominated by suppliers in 30 categories.

Nominated products were judged on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to hearts and evoke emotion, open minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christlike living.

The winning products were announced at a press conference during the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, last month.

Thomas Nelson came out strong in Bibles this year, winning with The Word of Promise: Next Generation—New Testament (Audio), Baby's First Bible (Bibles: General), and Chronological Study Bible campaign (Marketing/Promotion Campaign).

Movie-related books fared well this year, as Eric Wilson's novelization of Fireproof (Thomas Nelson) won in Fiction: General, while The Love Dare (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group) rose to the top of the Relationships category.

Berenstain is a famous name that took the win in Children's Fiction for Zonderkidz with The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School, and Zonderkidz also won the Children's Nonfiction category with the Adventure Bible Storybook.

Backlist—one of three new categories—saw four strong titles as finalists, with Don Piper's 90 Minutes in Heaven (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) as the winner.

Four companies shared victories in the gift categories, with Carpentree the favorite in Wall Décor with a Ten Commandments plaque and DaySpring getting the votes in General Gift Product for its inspirational mugs.

Since its introduction in 2001, the Retailers Choice Awards program has been increasingly acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant new life-changing materials.

For a printable list of the winners, visit www.retailerschoiceawards.com. For more information, contact Managing Editor Christine Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BOOKS/BIBLES

Audio

The Word of Promise: Next Generation—New Testament (Thomas Nelson)

Auto/Biography

Mistaken Identity, Don & Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak with Mark Tabb (Howard Books)

Bible Reference/Study

Rose Guide to The Tabernacle (Rose Publishing)

Bibles: Devotional/Study

ESV Study Bible (Crossway Books & Bibles)

Bibles: General

Baby's First Bible (Thomas Nelson)

Children's Fiction

The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School, Mike Berenstain, et al. (Zonderkidz)

Children's Nonfiction

Adventure Bible Storybook, Catherine DeVries and Jim Madsen (Zonderkidz)

Christian Education NEW

Noah's Ark: Thinking Outside the Box, Tim Lovett (Master Books/New Leaf Publishing Group)

Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C. Cook)

Church and Culture

What in the World Is Going On?, David Jeremiah (Thomas Nelson)

Evangelism

The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren (Howard Books)

Fiction: General

Fireproof, Eric Wilson (Thomas Nelson)

Fiction: Mystery and Suspense

Dead Heat, Joel C. Rosenberg (Tyndale House Publishers)

Fiction: Women's

"Sunrise Series": Sunset, Karen Kingsbury (Tyndale House Publishers)

Health and Fitness

HEAL: Healthy Eating & Abundant Living, Allie Marie Smith and Judy Wardell Halliday (Group Publishing)

Fasting, Jentezen Franklin (Charisma House/Strang Book Group)

Relationships

The Love Dare, Stephen and Alex Kendrick (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group)

Social Issues

American Heroes, Oliver North (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group)

Women's Nonfiction

John: 90 Days With the Beloved Disciple, Beth Moore (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group)

Youth/Teen

Teen Study Bible, NIV, Lawrence O. Richards and Sue W. Richards (Zondervan)

GIFTS

Accessories/Apparel

Stick With Jesus T-shirt (Kerusso)

Inspirational mugs (DaySpring)

Gift Books

Looking Up When Life Is Looking Down, Beth Moore (Thomas Nelson)

Wall Décor

Ten Commandments #22780 (Carpentree)

OTHER

Backlist NEW

90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper with Cecil Murphey (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)

Children's Media

'Friends and Heroes' No. 5: True Heroes (Tyndale House Publishers)

DVD/Video

Nooma 019: Open, Rob Bell (Zondervan)

Marketing/Promotion Campaign NEW

Chronological Study Bible campaign (Thomas Nelson)

Spanish

Amor redentor (Redeeming Love), Francine Rivers (Tyndale Español)

Vacation Bible School

God's Big Backyard (Standard Publishing)

From sharing space with an auto repair shop and hosting a local high school prom to selling flowers and wigs, several Christian retailers nationwide have discovered that it is good for business to broaden their appeal with some unlikely combinations.

They say branching out from the offerings of traditional Christian bookstores has helped spur sales and boost foot traffic as well as alleviate the impact of the recession, big-box retailers and the Internet.

Authors and artists offer their book and music suggestions

Customers may be enjoying the fruits of their labor, but what’s on the hearts and minds of some of today’s top Christian authors and artists? Christian Retailing asked some Christian retail favorites to share what has most touched their lives recently.

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI, music artist:

“One of the most influential books in my life over the past few years has been Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (Thomas Nelson). It’s one that I keep coming back to year after year because, as a woman, I find I’m constantly needing to be reminded of how God views me as His daughter. It’s a book that I think every woman, teenager to grandparent, should add to her library. Tenth Avenue North’s debut album, Over and Underneath (Reunion Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution), is one that’s really made an impact on my life. The lyrics are heartfelt and glorify God, and the music is awesome.”

ROB BELL, author of Velvet Elvis (Zondervan):

“I can’t say enough about John Dominic Crossan’s book God & Empire (HarperOne). I was deeply moved by Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God (Dutton Adult), and Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright (HarperOne) is a must-read. Shane Hipps’ Flickering Pixels (Zondervan) will blow your mind, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Thomas Cahill’s A Saint on Death Row (Nan A. Talese/Random House).”

BONAFIDE, GRITS:

“There are a couple of books that I would recommend—Every Young Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey (WaterBrook Press) and Every Young Woman’s Battle by Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn (WaterBrook Press). Those are books that will help young people go through the challenges they have to face that are taboo to other people, the way they think on certain things, especially when it comes to relationships, so we definitely encourage young people to go out and pick up that literature. Those are books that are trying to help them in life, with male and female relationships, how to handle them in a level of integrity with the character of Christ.”

SHELLEY BREEN, music artist, member of Point of Grace:

“I have absolutely fallen in love with a new artist named Meredith Andrews. Her record, The Invitation (Word Records/Word Distribution), has got to be one of the best releases that I have encountered over the last several years, to be honest. She has a fresh intensity and candor in her songwriting. Her project is not only encouraging to me when I need a lift and need to be reminded of who God is, but her worship style is unique and current, without being overly ‘trendy.’ I believe she is going to be a leader in our industry for a long time. The Invitation is and will be a gift to all who listen.”

COLLEEN COBLE, author of Cry in the Night (Thomas Nelson):

“I seldom read nonfiction since I’m a storyteller gal all the way, but I recently read Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore (Thomas Nelson). It was life-changing and made me stop and take stock of my life and how I’m interacting with others. Too often we make snap judgments about other people, and it affects how we treat them. I think everyone in the country should read it. I can see why it’s been on the best-seller list so long.”

NATHAN COCHRAN, MercyMe:

“I still listen to Phil Wickham’s Cannons (INO Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution) a lot. It’s a great worship record for us. We get the privilege of knowing Phil and knowing his heart so it makes it even better.”

BRANDILYN COLLINS, author of Exposure (Zondervan):

“The book I’ve been telling everyone about is Same Kind of Different as Me (Thomas Nelson), a true story written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, with Lynn Vincent. Ron Hall is white, a wealthy art dealer. Denver Moore is black, raised in virtual slavery. Ron’s wife, Deborah, and her dreams bring the two men together. You will be a better person for having read this book. Lynn Vincent has done a masterful job in re-writing the original manuscript written by the two men. The story is presented in first person, both from Ron’s point of view and from Denver’s. These points of view—so radically different in perception and sound—come across distinctly, strongly characterizing each man.”

RAY COMFORT, author of The Way of the Master (Bridge-Logos Publishers):

“I was so impressed with Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs (Bridge-Logos) I ordered (it) in bulk to give to donors of our ministry. In these days, when it is popular to preach that the Christian life is one of abundance and prosperity—where Jesus is the answer to all of our worldly problems—it’s refreshing to have a solid book that tells it like it is. Eleven of the disciples were murdered for their faith in Jesus. Stephen was stoned to death. Before I changed the name of my book to The Way of the Master, it was called God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life and had a picture of Stephen being stoned to death, on the cover. I often regret changing the title. Millions have died cruel deaths down through the ages, and it is good to be reminded that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs is 473 pages of sobering reminders that if we are not suffering persecution, we probably aren’t living godly in Christ Jesus.”

MICHELLE DUGGAR, co-author of The Duggars: 20 and Counting! (Howard Books), and star, with husband Jim Bob and their children, of TLC’s 18 Children and Counting:

“My girls like to read Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally (Tomorrow’s Forefathers). It’s such a good resource for young ladies. We buy as many copies of that book as we can. Our girls even buy it with their own money. They look for opportunities to give to other young ladies. It’s a good book for young ladies because it shows them where their heart should be when they’re going through changes from age 11 on up.”

MARGARET FEINBERG, author of The Sacred Echo (Zondervan):

“Andy Crouch’s Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling (IVP Books/InterVarsity Press) is simply the best book that I’ve read recently. Not only is it brilliant—in thought, pen and design—but one of the things that makes Andy’s writing so great is that while it’s intelligent and well-spoken, it’s still accessible. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t moments when you won’t be stretched, but by the end of each chapter, the truths explored are explained in a simple, reachable way. I cannot gush about this book enough. It really is that good.”

SHAUNTI FELDHAHN, author of For Women Only (Multnomah Books):

I recently read John Bevere’s 2006 book Driven by Eternity (FaithWords), and it has profoundly affected me. His message has given me such a vision of what matters most from the perspective of heaven, and has directed a piercing spotlight on just how much I focus on in my life that will simply not matter in the end. Once you start thinking about things from the perspective of heaven, it changes everything. Suddenly, so many things that I cared about—even if I would never have admitted it—seem so small and unimportant. And I suddenly see everywhere the opportunities that God presents to do what He cares about and values most.”

GLORIA GAITHER, author, songwriter and music artist:

“Three recent books that I would recommend to Christian readers are Andy Andrews’ The Noticer (Thomas Nelson), Chuck Colson’s The Faith (Zondervan) and Leonard Sweet’s 11: Indispensable Relationships You Can’t Be Without (David C. Cook). Andy Andrews’ use of story to pull the reader into the discovery of powerful and necessary life skills and healthy attitude adjustment makes all of his books a ‘double whammy.’ The Faith is a reality check and a refocusing on the major tenets of our faith. Colson’s clear and direct style of communication makes him, in my opinion, one of the great apologists for the faith in our time. Leonard Sweet’s 11 is a joyful survey of the 11 character types we need in our lives to give us balance, advice, experience and spiritual health. Sweet uses 11 biblical characters with different traits.”

LIZ CURTIS HIGGS, author of Bad Girls of the Bible (WaterBrook Press):

“I read Robert Benson’s latest book, The Echo Within (WaterBrook Press), en route to a spiritual retreat with four other Christian friends. On the long flight, I savored every page, laughing out loud at Robert’s delightfully droll sense of humor, blinking away tears when his gentle words of truth probed a tender spot. Once we gathered, I found myself sharing passages from the book, describing how God has called each of us to live and to work. As our days together unfolded, The Echo Within served as a lovely ‘echo’ of the many things we were discussing while we studied Scripture and compared notes about our separate yet intertwined journeys. Again and again we reached for Robert’s book and found just the wisdom needed. Stock your shelves with this small, powerful resource, meant for readers of all ages and stages.”

KARI JOBE, music artist:

“I have been enjoying the worship of Kim Walker (Jesus Culture Music). She is a refreshing voice of prophetic worship, and I enjoy turning on worship and just having time with the Lord with her music. I also download teachings from Hillsong conferences—what amazing tools to learn more about worship, leadership and just loving people.”

DAVID KINNAMAN, co-author of unChristian (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group):

“I was coming home from a trip, and on a long flight back to California. I popped The I [Heart] Revolution (Integrity Music/Provident-Integrity Distribution)—the DVD featuring the worldwide tour of Hillsong United—into my computer. It’s hard to explain in a paragraph how God used the worship, the band’s story, the music and the imagery to change my heart that night, but He did. I have watched the DVD a lot recently, just to to get a better sense of what God is doing today.”

MANDISA, music artist:

“My favorite CD that’s come out in the past year is Francesca Battistelli’s My Paper Heart (Fervent Records/Word). I adore her. Of course, I hear her music on the radio all the time, but when I actually got the CD and listened to all the songs, I felt like I was actually able to hear her heart. I personally think, especially for young people today, it’s such a great album, because she’s so vulnerable and transparent in what she has to say, and I think it makes a lot of sense for young people today.”

BART MILLARD, music artist, member of MercyMe:

“I’ve been able to hear Aaron Shust’s new record (Take Over, Brash Records/Word Distribution) that’s soon coming out, and it could possibly be one of the best records I’ve ever heard in my life.”

FRANCINE RIVERS, author of Redeeming Love (Multnomah Books) and The Last Sin Eater (Tyndale House Publishers):

“Right now, I’m reading Carol Kent’s When I Lay My Isaac Down (NavPress). It’s wonderful. Another favorite is Heaven: My Father’s House by Anne Graham Lotz (Thomas Nelson). I try to keep that on hand to give away. And anything by Robert Benson. His newest is The Echo Within (WaterBrook Press), and it’s Robert’s account of his own search for what he is truly called to do and be. I love his work.”

TODD STARNES, author of They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick (Pathway Press):

“I’m a huge fan of Joel Rosenberg. I got hooked on the fast-paced action of his novels, but right now I’m reading his nonfiction Inside the Revolution (Tyndale House Publishers). It’s given me some amazing insight into the political and spiritual battles in the Middle East. I’m sort of all over the map when it comes to my taste in Christian music. Mandisa’s new album, Freedom (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution), is in my iPod. Her music helps take my daily five-mile runs in Central Park to a new level.”

GARY THOMAS, author of Sacred Marriage (Zondervan):

“(I’d recommend) Overcoming Emotions That Destroy by Chip Ingram and Becca Johnson (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group), because it expresses the reality of anger, demystifies it, and helps us to marshal this emotion in healthy and biblical ways. Start Your Family by Steve and Candice Watters (Moody Publishers) because it applies solid biblical teaching to some of the most fundamental issues any Christian couple faces—why and whether to have children, and when.”

GARY WHEELER, director of The List (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/Word Distribution):

“For me, one of the most powerful viewing experiences I’ve had in recent years was the film Bella (Lionsgate). Rarely do I see a film that is both artistically excellent and spiritually powerful. This film was both, and left me wanting to see it again and again.”

DALLAS WILLARD, author of The Divine Conspiracy (HarperOne):

“Todd Hunter’s Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others (IVP Books/InterVarsity Press) is a really important book by a frontline leader in contemporary church planting on a discipleship model ... church planting that brings in people outside the pre-existing churches: people who are our contemporary, not-church people, often because they just don’t know about Jesus’ project on earth. Also, Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion by Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe (IVP Books/InterVarsity Press) is a rich feast of Christian life and practice drawn from the lives of Christ’s people from the post-apostolic age to the 19th century. It is powerfully instructive on how serious people make real progress in the life with God.”

ERIC WILSON, author of Haunt of Jackals and the novel Fireproof (Thomas Nelson):

“I am a big fan of Claudia Mair Burney. Her novels Zora & Nicky (David C. Cook), Wounded (David C. Cook) and The Exorsistah (Pocket Books) are cutting edge, relevant and so full of spiritual depth in the trenches of real life and relationships.”

JOSH WILSON, music artist:

“There’s a book that made an impact on me recently, and it’s The Reason for God by Timothy Keller (Dutton Adult). It really is just digging into who God is, who the Bible says He is, learning about God so we can grow closer to Him.”

BETH WISEMAN, author of Plain Perfect and Plain Pursuit (both Thomas Nelson):

“The Christian book that has enriched my life the most is The Shack by William P. Young (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group USA). Everyone has heard of it, and I struggled to see if there was another book that inspired me the way that The Shack did, and there just isn’t. Even though it’s fiction, it represents the way I see myself identifying with God—as a friend I can casually chat with and who is always with me in a way that I can know Him, not be afraid and face my troubles with the faith that He is always there. I’ve read too many books about fearing God, and while I’ve enjoyed some of them, The Shack was in line with my beliefs about who the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit really are.”