More Christian retailers are signing up for suppliers' core inventory programs, but they have mixed opinions on how helpful they are.

Slightly more than half (55%) of stores participating in Christian Retailing's latest "Vital Signs" industry survey reported using core inventory programs of some kind, with two-thirds saying they participated in two or three vendor-sponsored programs. Slightly less than a third (29%) used only one vendor's plan.

The No. 1 reason given for using core programs, cited by 62%, was the "better discounts" offered by suppliers to stores who maintain minimum levels of a particular vendor's plan. Only 46% of those who use core programs said they achieved better selection under the plans. Just 38% said they have seen sales actually increase as a result.

Meanwhile, 77% said that core programs "force" them to carry items they "probably wouldn't carry," though 83% recognized that such programs help them carry items they would "probably have missed."

Read the full "Vital Signs" report on core inventory programs in the Sept. 22 issue of Christian Retailing.

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