Relocation will allow key distributor to 'handle future growth'

STL Distribution North America has consolidated its four warehouses, moving to new facility in order to increase space and improve shipping efficiency for the nonprofit distributor.

According to company officials, 110 employees along with 275 volunteers moved 65,000 SKUs of inventory as well as truckloads of office furniture, fixtures, files, machinery and equipment to the new offices and warehouse at 100 Biblica Way in Elizabethton, Tenn., in early September.

Formerly Appalachian Distributors, STL Distribution North America has been operating in Johnson City, Tenn., since 1973. The company had three warehouses and rented an additional off-site warehouse in 2007 due to lack of space.

"It has been very difficult to operate out of multiple warehouses for 36 years," said STL Senior Vice President and Chief Distribution and Logistic Officer Robbie Edgar, the first employee ever hired by Appalachian Distributors founder Tom Torbett. "We were constantly moving product from one place to another. … With our guarantee of same-day shipping, it was often quite frenzied by mid-afternoon."

"With the new facility, there will be no delays waiting for stock to be moved around from one to another building or picked up from an off-site warehouse," continued Edgar, noting that the new warehouse was originally built as a book distribution center. "(It's) perfectly suited for our business."

STL President Glenn Bailey added that the Labor Day weekend move "will give us two-and-a-half times as much storage capacity. Plus, there is enough room on the property that we could add more square footage in the future as needed."

A ministry of Biblica, formerly IBS-STL Global, STL has grown more than 12% in the last year, experiencing growth for the past 10 months.

"We are extremely pleased with this growth in light of the tough economic downturns many companies are facing," he added. "For over 30 years, this company has almost constantly operated at the limit of its facilities. For the first time in our history, we will be able to really handle future growth in our business."

The volunteers for the weekend move came from area churches and local civic organizations as well as students from East Tennessee State University.

"We accomplished a monumental task," Bailey said. "We successfully relocated 750 tons of inventory, shelving, office equipment, files, fixtures and equipment from three different warehouses and offices—a distance of almost 13 miles in just three days.

"Our goal was to have no interruption in our ability to serve our stores," he added. "The day after a holiday is always a very big one for us."

Twitter, Facebook, iPhone efforts and offers on books and other products seek to tap into growing digital communities

Christian publishers and suppliers are finding ways to plug into a wider audience through the popular iPhone as well as widely used online services like Twitter and Facebook. They say that by tapping into the benefits of social-media technology, their companies are promoting their authors, books and other products.

Standard Publishing has seen positive results from offering a free iPhone application based on Tony Jeary's new book, Purpose-Filled Presentations.

With more than 1,600 downloads since July 1, the free app—available at a.tapstack.com—presented instruction and insight to help Christians better communicate their faith, Standard officials said.

"We are reaching an entirely new audience who might not have known about Purpose-Filled Presentations otherwise," said Sarah Felkey, Standard's marketing manager who developed the application. "By offering this app, we generate sales for the book, but we're also getting valuable content out to more people through this channel."

For retailers, the app also functioned as a book preview, giving a more in-depth cross-section of the content than the first chapter featured on the book's Web site.

Standard Publishing President Larry Carpenter said the company will pursue other iPhone opportunities. "This first application was intended to gauge the response to this new content-delivery method," he said. "With this level of demand, we are pursuing more mobile applications."

LifeWay Christian Resources launched three iPhone applications in June based on The Love Dare (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group) by Fireproof movie-making brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick, which has sold more than 2 million copies since it was released September 2008.

The applications include a digital edition of The Love Dare with pop-up scripture references and the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible (available for $9.99); a "40 Dares" program that lists each day's challenge from the book and allows users to check off the dare when it has been completed (available for 99 cents); and a daily reminders application with 365 quotes from the book that users can mark as favorites and e-mail to others.

Big Idea also recently launched the first VeggieTales application for the iPhone and iPod touch with name personalization.

The "VeggieTales Just For Me" app featured the voices of Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber singing and speaking the name of users as part of an interactive experience. The application offered 3,500 names and nicknames from which to choose, allowing users to listen and watch their very own personalized VeggieTales theme song sung by Bob and Larry.

Meanwhile, DaySpring recently launched a new online community to benefit women, www.incourage.me. The Web site was created by a group of women employees at DaySpring who wanted to share the company's vision of "messages of hope encouragement, everyday, everywhere" in new and fresh ways.

"A lot of companies make the mistake of trying to use social media and those involved in it for a quick transaction, when really it's about building a lifelong relationship with the consumer, incorporating all aspects of her life, including products," said Stephanie Bryant, DaySpring's business development manager. "I get excited to think that our personal passions and corporate mission can coexist and create real life change for women."

Elsewhere, Thomas Nelson recently launched a multifaceted social-media campaign to promote Max Lucado's newest book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, released Sept. 8.

Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt kicked off the campaign in August on his blog with a video book review, while offering Fearless' first chapter to download. He also offered those who submitted the first 100 comments a free copy of the book and 1,000 copies for bloggers via the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program.

Nelson gave away a total of more than 1,200 copies of Fearless. "When we decided to give away copies, I assumed we would get a lot of interest," Hyatt said. "But even I was caught off-guard by the surge of traffic that overwhelmed my blog's server. The response was tremendous."

During a video town hall meeting in August, Lucado answered questions from live audience members related to various subjects, including fear of job loss and losing loved ones, which were later posted on the Fearless Web site.

Fans of another Thomas Nelson author, Donald Miller, followed his updates on social-networking sites to find the locations of hidden manuscript copies of his latest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, released last month.

Sixty numbered and signed "bootleg" copies of the manuscript were hidden in secret locations in 60 cities across the country. Miller sent out daily messages via Twitter and Facebook with information on the location of two of the manuscripts. Those who found them also received Miller's personal phone number, so they could call him to talk about the book.

The Donald Miller Hidden Manuscripts game started in mid-August with manuscripts hidden in Portland; Seattle; Memphis, Tenn.; Fremont, Calif.; Fairhope, Ala.; Longmont, Colo.; and Atlanta. The response had been phenomenal, with manuscripts being picked up within a few minutes of Miller's Twitter and Facebook updates, Miller's publisher said.

Nelson also gave consolation prizes to people who didn't arrive in time to find the manuscript, including a free download of the audio version of Miller's best-selling Blue Like Jazz (Thomas Nelson).

Controversial 'gender' translation is to be phased out as new one aims to cement share in increasingly competitive Bible market

The best-selling New International Version (NIV) is to be updated for the first time in 25 years, while the controversial Today's New International Version (TNIV) is to be phased out after the revision.

The move was announced last month by Zondervan, which publishes both the NIV and TNIV; the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT); and Biblica, holder of the NIV copyright.

With more than 300 million copies sold since its first publication in 1978, the NIV is the world's best-selling Bible translation, although more recent translations such as the English Standard Version (ESV) and New Living Translation (NLT) have grown in popularity in an increasingly crowded Bible market

The NIV's market share percentage last year was 34%, followed by the King James Version (KJV, 14%), New King James Version (NKJV, 13%), NLT (13%) and ESV (4%), according to Zondervan research. In 2005, the NIV had 35% of the market, followed by KJV (15%), NKJV (13%), NLT (11%) and ESV (2%).

"I don't believe this is a commercial decision," Zondervan CEO and President Moe Girkins said of the planned NIV update. "I believe it's a right decision."

Comprising a team of global biblical scholars, the CBT is slated to finish its revision—which will reflect changes in English usage and advances in biblical scholarship—late next year, with publication of the new NIV in 2011. The year will mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Version, and will be "a great celebration year for the Bible," Girkins said.

"We want to reach English speakers across the globe with a Bible that is accurate, accessible and that speaks to its readers in a language they can understand," said Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, formerly IBS-STL Global, during the news conference in September at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. He added that the original charter called for the NIV to be evergreen, with revisions and updates.

Previous efforts to remake the NIV for contemporary audiences in different editions have been hindered by controversies regarding gender language. Zondervan released a New Testament of the TNIV in 2002 and the complete Bible in 2005, which critics decried for changing some gender-specific pronouns.

Zondervan reported that in 2007—two years after the release of the complete TNIV—it had sold 1 million units, including the company's celebrity-driven audio Bible, Inspired By… The Bible Experience.

But during the September press conference, Girkins said the TNIV had "divided the evangelical Christian community," and the Grand Rapids, Mich., publisher will phase out the translation in a period of 18 months to three years after the release of the revised NIV. Zondervan currently has more than 200 products featuring the NIV and TNIV, company officials said.

The CBT has invited questions and comments on the new revision process at the Web site www.nivbible2011.com. Christian retailers with concerns about the TNIV and critics of the translation were glad to hear that it will be phased out.

Beverly Hall, manager of Salt Cellar in Lawton, Okla., said the TNIV should be discontinued. "It has been a hard sale for us and generally has been a marked-down or return item," she said.

"The main reason we have seen (from) our customer base is the gender-neutral aspect of the TNIV has not been well-received. The TNIV products currently in our store are majority mark down and we will be doing deeper discounts to liquidate them further."

Hall added that the NIV was not her top-selling Bible, but it did produce good sales. "Hopefully, as they update the NIV, it will not just become the TNIV with a new title," she said. "I feel like sometimes we try to hard to be relevant with today's culture. To simplify the Word doesn't mean to compromise the meaning."

Lorraine Valk, co-owner Banner Books Parable Christian Store of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Mich., said the TNIV had been "a hard sell" to her customers, and had "under-produced in the market."

Brenda Harrison, co-owner of Lighthouse Christian Bookstore in Bedford, Ind., said the NIV was her best-selling Bible, but she carried only a small stock of the TNIV.

"When the TNIV first came out, we did not want to carry it because of the gender-inclusive language," she said. "We saw no point in it, and felt uneasy about this change. We did start carrying a few, since we had customers asking for it. … I hope that this updated version will not be with the gender-inclusive language."

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association CEO Mark Kuyper said that he looked forward to the updated version of the NIV.

"I admire the courage demonstrated by Biblica, the Committee on Bible Translation and Zondervan to acknowledge and respond to the challenges offered by readers and the academic community regarding the TNIV," he said.

Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and author, said the "unfreezing" of the NIV was announced in a way that was "respectful and honest."

"Those of us who have had significant concerns with TNIV should communicate these concerns respectfully, candidly and directly to the Committee on Bible Translation, Zondervan and Biblica," Mohler wrote on his blog.

"We must all pray that their work will produce an updated translation we can greet with appreciation and trust," he added. "We must take the Committee on Bible Translation at their word that they will consider these concerns."

CBT Chairman Douglas Moo said during the news conference that the new NIV will include a "complete review of every gender-related change since the publication of the 1984 edition."

"We recognize that not everyone will be happy with all the decisions that we make," said Moo, adding that 95% of the revised NIV would be the same as the current version.

Girkins added: "We are expecting less than 5% of (the NIV) to change. Zondervan has great respect for Doug Moo and the CBT. They are committed to reconsider all critical input."

She said the move to update of the NIV was not a unilateral decision. "Zondervan and Biblica have ongoing strategic-planning meetings for all NIV- and TNIV-related products," Girkins said.

"The idea surfaced in one of these strategic meetings. In the end, it was a joint and unanimous decision by the leaders of Biblica, the CBT and Zondervan that was then presented to the Biblica board of directors, who unanimously approved the go-ahead."

GMA regroups for survival as full-time head steps down

Gospel Music Association (GMA) President and CEO John Styll has stepped down as part of an effort to ensure the survival of the cash-strapped organization.

The move is part of a concentrated "re-set" of the organization, which will use more volunteers and a managerial position to oversee its reduced staff, said Ed Leonard, president of Daywind Music Group and new chairman of the GMA board of directors.

The association's changes spotlight the challenges faced by the music industry as it continues to be impacted by digital sales and the economic downturn.

"The GMA, like many other organizations and businesses, has taken hits during this prolonged downturn in our economy," Leonard said. "It has forced the GMA board to evaluate our association's current business model and to acknowledge that in order to meet current financial obligations and needs of our members, and to ensure GMA's vitality in the future, we needed to make some significant changes."

Leonard told Christian Retailing that part of the inspiration for the move came during the organization's summer Immerse music training conference.

"About 100 people came together—between volunteers and staff—to plan, run the event and market it," he said. "We were very energized and excited about that because it gets people more involved in their association and helps them to network better."

Meanwhile, some of the industry's leading artists—Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant and Casting Crowns—were due to take part in a $1,000-a-plate "Save the GMA" event, which was scheduled Oct. 12 in Nashville.

Support for the event was "vital to GMA's ability to continue operating," said Leonard in an invitation circular. "What would it be like if events like GMA Music Week, the Dove Awards and Immerse went away and there was no organization to bring us all together?"

Leonard said that the fundraising idea—spearheaded by EMI CMG Publishing President Eddie DeGarmo and The Premiere Group founder Roy Morgan—was intended to retire ongoing debt incurred from a last-minute sponsorship drop for the Dove Awards five years ago.

The venue "seats around 800 and our payables are about $800,000," Leonard said. "If we sell it out, we pay off the debt and re-set the organization. That's what we're trying to do."

Styll, who remains a GMA board member, has led the organization and its affiliate group—Christian Music Trade Association—through a challenging period, as attendance was significantly down at this year's GMA Music Week, despite efforts to attract attendees by lowering registration rates and offering seminars on financial management to address an unstable music environment.

Leonard said that the debt as well as dwindling GMA Music Week attendance and declining membership are directly connected.

"When you go register for an event and see a discount for members, you become a member," he said. "If event registrations are down, then it just goes to show that memberships are down."

Leonard—who estimated that the organization's current membership of 3,000 is down from a high of 4,000—said there was a 20% drop in registrations at this year's GMA Music Week.

The organization faces an additional challenge if Christian radio programmers, who comprise a significant portion of GMA Music Week attendance, completely pull out of the event. Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB)—which has traditionally offered an educational track during GMA Music Week—held its own event, Momentum ‘09, in Orlando, Fla., last month.

Coinciding with Disney World's annual Night of Joy Christian music concert series, the event attracted more than 400 radio industry professionals. Momentum included educational tracks on subjects such as programming strategy, digital music, shareathons and donor relationships as well as performances by a wide range of artists, including Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Jeremy Camp and MercyMe.

Meals and events during Momentum were sponsored by Christian music companies, such as Integrity Label Group, Provident Label Group, EMI CMG and Word Records.

Don Burns, program director for KXGM in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, compared the gathering to the CMB track during April's GMA Music Week, but said that Momentum was "a lot quicker pace and more concentrated."

Although CMB Executive Director Linda Meyers did not comment on how the new event would impact Gospel Music Week, Burns said: "In my opinion, this will replace (the GMA radio track). Attendance at Gospel Music Week wasn't as big as this is."

Leonard, who attended Momentum, said radio was a "key driver for our music" and hoped for continued involvement during GMA Music Week.

"I thought it was a fantastic event for radio, but I think there's a place for another event, where people are used to gathering with everybody," Leonard said. "I hope radio will support that effect, and we're going to do everything to make it attractive for them to come."

Unexpected success of 'The Love Dare' contributed to a successful 2009 and 'marriages healed'

Despite a tough economy, LifeWay Christian Resources (LCR) "had a very good year," according to LifeWay's top executive.

During a plenary session in September at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, N.C., LCR President Thom Rainer told the trustee board that "tremendous expense control" was the key reason, Baptist Press (BP) reported.

Additionally, the unexpected success from The Love Dare (B&H Publishing Group, LifeWay's publishing arm)—a focal point of the surprise hit movie Fireproof—also contributed to a successful 2009. The Love Dare recently became the all-time best-seller for B&H Publishing Group, surpassing the late golfer Payne Stewart's biography, BP reported.

"The business side of this success excites me, but the ministry side does even more," Rainer said. "It is phenomenal to see marriages healed, strengthened and renewed through The Love Dare. The Lord is using it in a mighty way."

B&H Publishing Group Vice President Brad Waggoner said besides spending 52 weeks at the No. 2 spot on The New York Times Paperback Advice best-seller list, The Love Dare has resulted in countless saved marriages.

Waggoner also highlighted the continued popularity of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, while spotlighting the release this fall of the Holman Christian Standard Bible Study Bible.

LifeWay Christian Stores Vice President Mark Scott told trustees that the 152-store chain had responded strategically to the recession. First, the stores emphasized Christian resources that addressed people's felt needs. Second, the chain responded to tighter consumer and church spending with strong offers that created value for customers. Third, the stores were offering strong and frequent promotional events, Scott said.

"LifeWay Christian Stores continue to support our partners in ministry through the Minister's Discount," Scott said. "By God's grace and the hard work of our team members, we've seen wonderful ministry results in 2009.

"These results were accomplished during a very difficult period in the American economy, so we know the Lord has sustained us through what's become known as the Great Recession," he added.

Despite the gloomy economy, Chief Financial Officer Jerry Rhyne said LCR's financial health was good, citing a strong balance sheet, no debt and a strong and diverse customer base.
"LifeWay is a ministry funded by a business model, but that model needs to be adjusted from time to time," Rhyne said.

For example, LifeWay has budgeted no salary increases for 2010 and was holding the line on prices for most literature to help struggling churches, he added.

It's an ugly little secret in our country that 18 million adults in America can't read this sentence. Thirty million American adults can't read at an 8th-grade level. Sixty-two percent of prison inmates can't read at all. Imagine getting out of jail and trying to make a new life for yourself when you can't even fill out a job application. We take this basic life skill for granted, while millions of struggle in secrecy and shame.

Illiteracy is linked to just about every evil under the sun: child abuse, spousal abuse, violent crime, poverty, HIV/AIDS. I believe it is our duty as followers of Christ—a rabbi Himself and the Word of God—to effect good in the world. And supporting literacy is one of the few, simple things we can do that can actually make an enormous difference. It touches every area of life—including spiritual life.

For these reasons, I've decided to launch a campaign to support adult literacy in America: I Told Two Friends (www.itoldtwofriends.com) . Readers are invited to join the effort to raise $100,000 by purchasing two copies of my latest Dylan Foster thriller, My Soul To Keep, giving each to a friend and encouraging their two friends do the same. One-hundred percent of my profits will go to ProLiteracy (www.proliteracy.org), an international nonprofit whose mission is to end adult illiteracy worldwide.

You can help an eager adult learn to read this sentence. And they can walk away from crime, get good jobs, lead productive lives, pull themselves and their families out of poverty, help their kids with their homework, read John 3:16 and so on. Please join us and be part of the solution.

Melanie Wells

Author, When the Day of Evil Comes,

The Soul Hunter and My Soul to Keep

(The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of Random House)

The editorial "Measuring Ourselves Down" from the Aug. 24 edition was the best I have read this year. The part about the "classic slap down of a rival" made me pause and recognize how much emotion we as an industry have wasted over defense of our own turf. I count myself as having made that miss-take. Humility is truly virtuous.

To your comments about authors and artists and their signing sessions, I'm reminded of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Mel Cheatham, both 'gentle' men who set the example of humility always. They know who to give the glory, praise and honor to .. .and it's God.

Most importantly, this editorial showed me a "condition of the heart" that has changed. I have always looked up to you as a brainy, opinionated person, but now I look at you as a sage....but don't get too prideful. After all..."do not think of yourself more highly than you ought."

Rick Tocquigny

CEO of Gracefully Yours Greeting Cards

A division of Artbeat of America

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Marketsquare International extends its reach as CBA scraps winter Industry Conference

Christian Trade Association International (CTAI) is to open up its winter event for overseas buyers to North American retailers, Jan. 10-12, 2010, in Atlanta.

The move follows CBA's decision not to repeat its January Industry Conference and is the latest change in the industry's evolving trade show calendar.

CTAI President Jim Powell said that he expected additional exhibitors to take part in Marketsquare International—to be held at the Atlanta Airport Marriott—in the light of the anticipated domestic attendance.

"Because there's no other competing show, we feel like this is a prime opportunity to grow the event for the sake of our exhibitors by inviting American buyers as well," said Powell, predicting drive-in attendance from stores within a 500-mile radius of the venue.

More than 60 suppliers are expected to be at the third Marketsquare International, founded to provide a second buying gathering in the year for overseas market after CBA canceled its Advance convention in 2007.

In addition to opening up to U.S.-based retailers, the CTAI event will feature a special remainders focus. "We have learned that international buyers are very interested in buying remainders, as of course everyone is these days," said Powell. "We will have a special section on the floor for remainders."

CBA President Bill Anderson said that the decision not to repeat the organization's Industry Conference had been made based on feedback from retailers and suppliers urging "one show where everyone meets and major industry business is accomplished"—the annual International Christian Retail Show (ICRS)—and the need to "be sensitive to the difficult economy."

The first CBA Industry Conference in 2008, a two-day event, drew 188 retailer and supplier representatives. This year's program was trimmed to a single day and attracted around 100 attendees.

Although there will be no January event, CBA is to partner with the Atlanta Gift Mart to hold a meeting for Christian buyers attending the Jan. 8-12 gift industry show, Anderson said.

Meanwhile, there was "a great deal of excitement and anticipation" building for the next ICRS, returning to St. Louis for the first time since 1979, June 27-30. "The earlier date is being lauded, as is the advantage of going to a new city," Anderson said.

Powell said that he expected buyers' attendance at the next Marketsquare International to double this year's 74. Though some exhibitors might take two booths instead of one, the event would still be tabletop style. "We are committed to this not being a show where you have to bring a big display," Powell said.

The first 50 international registrations for the CTAI event—$50 for CTAI members—are eligible for a free night's lodging at the hotel. The show will feature bookstore training sessions and will be followed by a daylong Professional Booksellers Institute. Powell said that the new location would be more attractive to visitors, with a free shuttle from the airport and a $109 room rate lower than this year's event.

Munce Group's members-only show 'reinforced importance of independent Christian retailing'

The mood of retailers and suppliers for last month's Munce Group's Christian Product Expo (CPE) was "upbeat, yet realistic," according to officials from the marketing group.

"The reality is that it is still a tough economy," Munce Group Chief Operating Officer Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing. "There was a great variety of retailers and vendors who were either up, flat or down. Through it all, every retailer is committed to their ministries, businesses and communities.

"Every message from the speakers and artists reinforced the importance of independent Christian retailing—and the impact that independent Christian retailers have in their communities," Blank added.

Held Sept. 13-15 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, Tenn., CPE opened with a Bible conference featuring Kay Arthur. The keynote speaker was author Emerson Eggerichs, with Stan Toler and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound among the authors and artists in attendance.

Blank said retailer attendance was nearly identical to last year's CPE, a Munce Group members-only show. "We did experience an increase in exhibiting vendors," he said. "The increase in vendor attendance is due to the fact that typically one sales rep cannot handle the amount of order-writing alone. The Munce Group stores write significant amounts of orders on the exhibit floor."

Michael Turner, director of products and markets for New Day Christian Distributors, said he looks forward to exhibiting at CPE.

"Their shows are always our favorite and the best," he said. "We are an independent distributor, and we love serving independent Christian retailers. This CPE has been an excellent show for making connections with retailers and certainly, without a doubt, for writing significant orders."

Paul Dlouhy, manager of national accounts for EMI CMG, said the music company "received strong orders" at the event. "This has been the best show I've ever attended. CPE is well-organized," he said. "The Munce Group retailers are the nicest and most excited retailers that I've seen."

Joy Myers of Joy's Christian Store in San Clemente, Calif., said she was recharged at the event.

"The facility was great," Myers said. "Munce has always done a great job of organizing and running CPE. I have been encouraged beyond words. Kay Arthur and the Bible conference was life changing."

Jennifer McClelland of Danville Christian Store in Danville, Ky., agreed. "The way Munce has structured this show, it's easy to write orders, and the reimbursement plan is fantastic," she said.

Munce emphasized order writing at CPE by motivating retailers with a reimbursement program that helped to offset travel, food and hotel expenses, based on reaching order-writing goals. Munce serves more than 600 member stores in 49 states and in Canada.

Formerly called CPE Regionals East, Munce Group's CPE Hershey is scheduled for Jan. 17-19, 2010, at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. Open to all independent Christian retailers, the event will feature as the keynote speaker best-selling author David Jeremiah—who dropped out of the Murfreesboro CPE due to his wife's surgery.

New Bible products from Zondervan and Thomas Nelson seek to engage people 'really hungry for the Word in every way and format'

The Bible once again leaps from the printed page this month as publishers continue to deliver God's Word in modern formats.

Releasing from Zondervan, the Glo Bible is the latest software product aiming to marry the Scriptures with new technologies. With a suggested retail price of $79.99, Glo has three DVDs, allowing users to experience the Scriptures through five "lenses" —the Bible, using the New International Version; an atlas, to see where major Bible stories happened; a timeline, with the ability to view the events chronologically and visually; topical, with searches of keywords and articles by scholars and teachers; and media, which includes a large collection of HD video, art and more. Included in the set are 7,500 encyclopedia articles, almost 2,500 photos and more than 450 virtual reality tours.

Nelson Saba, creator of Glo and CEO of Immersion Digital, said that the goal of Glo is to engage those increasingly focused on digital media.

"We have entire generations that were born into a digital world, and if you don't take the Bible to their world, they will become disconnected from it," he said. "If you're going to tap into those generations, you really have to have a product that will allow them to experience the Bible, to look for things the way they are used to looking for things on the Web."

Saba, who also created the best-selling iLumina Bible software for Tyndale House Publishers, visited this summer's International Christian Retail Show to preview Glo for Christian retailers, who will get a head start on sales because the product will debut first in the Christian retail channel.

Dan Merrell, chief marketing officer of Immersion Digital, said that if the track record of iLumina—selling 25% of its total sales in its first three months—holds true for Glo, "retailers are going to have a great opportunity."

One unique element of Glo is its ability to be expanded and adapted through integrated information from Bible publishers through online "Glo Stores," which will feature add-on packs such as animations and various translations, Merrell said.

"People are excited about the possibilities of this, not only as a personal engagement tool but as a platform to publish all forms of content," he said. "Publishers can push whatever type of content they want and connect it to the five lenses so that any piece of content can show up as a result of whatever a user is studying."

Meanwhile, the complete edition of The Word of Promise Audio Bible—retailing for $124.99—was to be released this month by Thomas Nelson. The follow-up to The Word of Promise New Testament Audio Bible—which received the Book of the Year award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in 2008—the new release includes the full text of the Bible, with dramatic performances by well-known Hollywood actors such as Richard Dreyfuss, Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander and Jon Voight.

Carla Ballerini, vice president of marketing for Nelson's Bibles group, said she was expecting a big launch for the product and that the company was targeting listeners "beyond the traditional Bible buyer." The key factor in connecting customers with the new Bible would be to move beyond simply telling them about it, she added.

"Everything we're doing is all focused on allowing the consumer to experience the product before deciding if it's the right one for them," she said. "All of our purchase displays will have on-the-spot audio sampling, and we will still have our toll-free number where you can call and listen to samples."

Like Saba, Ballerini believes the end result is connecting new, technologically inclined generations with the Bible.

"We're at a time when people are really hungry for the Word," she said. "They're hungry in every way and format. We've never had a better opportunity to deliver it to them."

Places to be given away through online Virtual Christmas Showcase

Stores are being given the opportunity to qualify for free registration for The Gathering 2010, Christian Retailing magazine's annual conference and trade show for church and other Christian retail stores, to be held April 21-23 next year in Louisville, Ky.

The free places at the event to be hosted by Southeast Christian Church are being offered to stores that participate in the Virtual Christmas Showcase, the publication's latest online initiative.

Featuring details of suppliers' holiday season promotions, with some special offers, the virtual presentation will run Sept. 30-Nov. 16 at the magazine Web site, www.christianretailing.com.

It follows a "very positive" response to the Virtual Christian Retailing Show that ran July 20-Aug. 31, featuring 25 exhibitors who presented new products and some special offers to buyers. The initiative attracted more than 3,400 visits—including 2,000 visitors—from 61 countries in the first month.

"While we knew this was an idea that stores would love, the response has far exceeded my expectations," said Christian Retailing Publisher Dave Condiff. The virtual event also included new release spotlight interviews with artists and Webinar training for stores.

Kerusso Vice President of Marketing Chris Rainey said the company received "great feedback" from the Webinar.

"We love being a part of something that is new and fresh for our industry," he added. "The ability to interact with retailers through this channel is exciting and we're looking forward to even more involvement with it."

Carpentree Marketing Manager Sherry Morris called the virtual tour a "great out-of-the-box idea," which has increased Web traffic, phone calls and interest in the company's specials.

The free registrations for The Gathering 2010 will go to stores that place qualifying orders during the Virtual Christmas Showcase.

Up to 90 exhibitors are expected to be part of the live event at Southeast Christian Church, whose The Living Word bookstore won the Christian Retailing and The Church Bookstore Large Bookstore of the Year award for 2009.

The Gathering will also include training sessions, teaching, prayer for the industry and fellowship. Previously held in Texas and Florida, the event has been moved back from January to after Easter to avoid busier periods and make it easier for stores to send representatives, Condiff said.

"The fact that it will be located in the center of the U.S. should also make it easier for more stores to drive in for the event," he added.