Though office supply stores and other general market outlets may snag most of the after-summer back-to-school market, the season does offer a business boon to Christian retailers, too.

The key to cornering some of this seasonal multibillion-dollar spending is to concentrate on what the Christian stores do best, advised retailers interviewed for Christian Retailing's latest Retail Focus report, addressing the school opportunity.

The back-to-school season offers a time to focus not only on parents and children, but also on Sunday school teachers and church curriculum buyers who are gearing up for another year of Sunday school, children's church, small groups and Wednesday night classes.

They do that at Pee Dee Christian Book & Supply in Florence, S.C., which makes the most of back-to-school by staying busy through the summer contacting schools and teachers and giving coupons to classroom buyers.

The Scroll in Tyler, Texas, has centered a significant portion of its business on the homeschool market, developing a reputation that reaches across several states as the place to go for all things curriculum-related.

Christian retailers can also boost sales by making sure they know which Bible translations local church schools require and by stocking up on price-friendly Bibles, student and study Bibles and traditional translations.

Read the full report-which includes highlights of major new back-to-school Christian products-in the June 9 issue of Christian Retailing magazine.

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