'Christian Retailing' launches a new Web site

Written by Eric Tiansay

Monday, 26 January 2009 03:25 PM America/New_York

Christian Retailing magazine has launched a new Web site as part of digital moves to better serve retailers and suppliers.
In addition to making all the publication’s print content available online, the new site features additional services to help raise the profile of the Christian products industry. Extras include blogs, breaking news, new product listings and an at-a-glance media appearances calendar detailing which Christian authors and artists are appearing on television or radio on specific dates. Other new features include weekly round-ups of Christian retail promotional offers to help stores keep abreast of what others are doing, the latest key personnel news, a guide to the most important and interesting new blogs from around the industry and reviews of relevant new business books.
“While our print editions will still be central to what we do, we are supplementing them with digital and online initiatives that will offer further benefits,” said Christian Retailing publisher Dave Condiff. “The industry continues to change, and we want to continue to help retailers and suppliers by providing timely and relevant information.”
Existing online features have been made more navigable: Industry Radar tracks how other media is reporting on the Christian products world and its people, while Industry IQ offers a quick test on how much you know about this business and its history.
Free access to the magazine in digital format—with print-a-page, forward-to-a-friend and link-to-advertisers functions—is being extended to consumers who want to know more about the latest Christian products available.
The digital edition is also being used to reach new audiences—the 2009 Vacation Bible School guide, published with the Nov. 10, 2008, issue of Christian Retailing, was recently made available to 100,000 pastors.
Following The Gathering 2009, hosted Jan. 7-9 by Christian Retailing, short “virtual tour” videos from exhibitors are being posted at the magazine’s Web site to give non-attendees a taste of what they missed—and also provide them with an opportunity to take advantage of some of the showtime offers.
Plans are also underway to launch an online community section, posting photos and information about stores from around the country, encouraging retailers and suppliers to pray for one another.

See the new Christian Retailing Web site at www.christianretailing.com.