"Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders."

Ps. 119:27, NIV

How do you handle calls at your store? Are they routed from the main church switchboard, or do you have your own number? Do you have a script for staff and volunteers? Do you have on-hold music?

Share your ideas, thoughts and experiences at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

"My children's pastor has given me a few of her favorites, I advertise them church-wide as her favorites and tag on a 'find them at the bookstore.' Also, I pass on to the children's pastor and our junior high pastor music CDs so they can advertise for me with the kids."

Genelle Ellis

Bookstore manager

Phoenix First Assembly Bookstore

Phoenix, Ariz.

"We build relationship with the children's ministry and find out what CDs they are playing during class (worship time). We brought in a few copies of those, and they do really well. We also tell them what books we are planning to feature during the particular holiday season, and, typically, they will order one for each classroom. That can be 15 to 20 copies of four or five titles. An example was for Valentine's Day, I Love You This Much from Zondervan. They read/sang that book every week for two or three weeks. They bought the book from me for the classroom, and then the parents bought it from us because their child was singing the song that was in the book. We sold around 50 to 60 copies of the book in total.

"The other thought is about customer service, engaging your customers. I was talking with a mom this past Saturday night after a service. We talked about her 6-year-old boy, and she shared some things that he was dealing with. I was able to relate with my own little boy and suggested some product (which she bought), but also just showed that I cared about her and her son. I took the few minutes and focused on her and her family.

"Also, most parents if engaged will give great suggestions of products they have used or know about and then you make the decision if that is something you want to try to sell or not."

Bobby Williams

Director of Resource Ministries

Gateway Church

Southlake, Texas

More than half the Christians surveyed in a recent study he identified as "casual" believers, whose professed faith did not line up with some attitudes and actions consistent with evangelical Christianity.

Barna's casual Christians are one of the groups he spotlights in his new book, The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are, What They Believe and Why They Matter (BarnaBooks/Tyndale House Publishers)

How do you determine the employee dress code for Sunday mornings?

The Sunday morning dress code should be an individual store decision. However, Betty feels that her staff should dress like the congregation dresses. Today's "Sunday dress" has changed in many parts of the country, and more casual attire can be found in churches everywhere. Nevertheless, the workers in your store should still dress in a way that is respectful of the significance of the Sunday services.

And, no matter what dress code you set, there are a few non-negotiables:

• Clothes should be clean and shoes polished.
• Employees should be bathed, with their hair neatly cut and styled.
• Clothing must not be too tight, short or revealing.
• A form of employee identification-such as a name tag or badge-should be worn at all times.

One rule of thumb, which Betty preaches all the time, is that casual dress stimulates casual work. A little extra pride in the employee's appearance can speak volumes about the value they place on their job.

Got a question for Betty Bookstore? Write to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• • Keep your attitude in check. Do not let preconceived notions or prior experiences keep you from offering the best customer service possible. Forgive customers when you feel they have offended you, and ask God to give you His heart for your customers.
  • Above all, your bookstore is a ministry, and all of your customers need to feel welcomed, loved and appreciated.

Friday, June 5, at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guest speakers will include novelist Maggie Brendan, addressing the value of Christian fiction, and David McIntyre, president and CEO of KVI Consulting, and former manager of World Harvesters Church International Bookstore in Atlanta.

There will be giveaways, a drawing and lunch will be provided at no cost.

Contact: Regional director Dottie Poythress at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 770-795-3227.

 

TEXAS

Thursday, Aug. 20, at Gateway Church's Southlake campus in Southlake, Texas, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Topics and vendors to be confirmed. A separate meeting for coffee bar managers will be held at the same time.

Contact: Regional director Bobby Williams, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

"Christian Tools of Affirmation (CTA) has been marketing directly to churches for more than 18 years, supplying congregational gifts and classroom activities. Though we have had a presence in the Christian gift market, it has not been via retail channels. Recently, CTA expanded into the bookstore market with a trade line.

"The church bookstore market is a whole new genre that we wanted to explore, so The Gathering 2009 was a great place for us to meet church bookstore buyers. Those we met seemed to be focused on not only providing resources for their church programs and congregants, but for nonchurch members as well. What a great place for CTA to be-our core line is a great fit for the bookstore's church ministries/programs, and our trade line is a great fit for the bookstore's individual gift purchasers.

"Each bookstore that ordered from us at The Gathering was mailed an acrylic sign to place near its CTA products, reading 'Christian Tools of Affirmation is able to offer special Church/Ministry Group pricing through this store. If you are interested in purchasing Christian Tools of Affirmation on behalf of your church or ministry, please see a sales associate for details.'

"We've been amazed at the way church bookstores have been able to market our products to their own churches in addition to selling stock items to individual gift purchasers. We've seen exponential sales growth through our church bookstore accounts."

Meagan Bowman

Trade Marketing

CTA Trade Sales Division

St. Louis, Mo.

www.ctainc.com

 

When I first opened The Garden Bookstore at Houston's First Baptist Church, I assumed that everyone who came to church on Sunday would flock into the store like birds around a bird feeder. I soon realized that I was wrong.

It wasn't that we were not busy, it was just that it became obvious we had a certain portion of the congregation that came to the store and others-even after 18 years-that seemed to have no clue we were even in the building.