Retailers join forces to help one another |
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Sunday, 08 June 2008 08:00 PM America/New_York |
Independent Christian retailers are getting together in informal marketing groups to help them survive the changes in the industry. Along with another retailer, Phil Biddle-owner of Vine & Branches Christian Bookstore in Lodi, Calif., about two hours east of Oakland-started the Independent Christian Bookstore Co-Op "to make Romans 12:5 a reality," which says, "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." "Our purpose was to share prayer requests and praises, establish a communications network, share ideas, successes and failures, and explore ways to collectively improve sales, effectiveness of advertising, improve gross profit, lower shipping charges and meet regularly to help each other," Biddle told Christian Retailing. In April 2005, Biddle and Ken Hill, owner of Lighthouse Christian Supply in Dublin, Calif., contacted eight stores in the region to meet together. After the first meeting, the group decided they needed to meet every month. Biddle's co-op is not the only informal marketing group for independents. Speaking in a forum during the CBA Industry Conference in January, Ed Nizynski, vice president of sales for Lighthouse Christian Products Company, said that he knew of several independent retailers that were joining forces to leverage their buying power. "While CBA brings retailers together to encourage and help each other on a national level, we encourage retailers to work together to help each other, and encourage each other on the local and regional level," CBA President Bill Anderson said. "Informal marketing groups such as the one led by Phil Biddle are one way CBA members are finding strength in working together."
Read the full report in the June 9 issue of Christian Retailing |