You can't be involved in the church bookstore world for too long before facing the question, "Is it proper to 'sell' in a church bookstore?"

That's because, oftentimes when someone mentions salesmen or selling we think used cars, washing machines, meeting sales goals. Our minds go to the unscrupulous tactics that we have been confronted with on the telephone by those pesky telephone sales callers.

Yet, every day we sell something in our church stores. So what's the answer to that common question? I believe it's a fresh perspective on what we are doing.

Terry has been manager at Lakewood Bookstore-at Lakewood Church in Houston, home to best-selling author-pastor Joel Osteen-since it opened in 2005. The store was named Church Bookstore of the Year by The Church Bookstore in 2007.

Surgery is scheduled for July 29, with radiation treatment to follow through October. In an e-mail update to family and friends, Ted's wife, Lorie, asked for prayer that "we all have endurance and strength to walk this out. That we will be joyful and encouraging. ... "

Monday, Aug. 10, at Harvest Bookstore at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill. (within three hours of St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis). Topics and vendors TBD.

Contact regional director Susan Chipman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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. Will include discussion and training for church coffee bar managers and staff.

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

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, just a few miles from Disneyland. A church bookstore track will be featured in the church leaders' day that follows the Nov. 7-9 Connect conference taking place at the church.

There will be training and discussion, with speakers to be announced. Helping with the planning and preparations is Jayson Payne, manager of the Rockpile bookstore at The Rock Church in San Diego.

Contact Cottonwood Church bookstore manager Rose Seeley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 714-947-5356.

RSVP to Robb Faust at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about ICRS, go to http://www.christianretailshow.com/

Church bookstores are uniquely positioned to take advantage of outreach events like Vacation Bible School (VBS) and the increased foot traffic it brings to the church bookstore. Consider:

Is your store open during VBS hours? Many church bookstores don't keep regular hours, especially when VBS may take place. Make sure your store is open at the end of each day's VBS, when parents are picking up their children. Position your VBS product, promotions, posters, etc. near the front of the store so passers-by can quickly see you are selling VBS material.

If your church's VBS doesn't take place near your store's location, create a satellite store where parents pick up their children after each session. Making it easy for parents to find you is a great way to improve sales.

Offer products at different price levels. Kids and families have varying amounts of expendable income, and by offering products at different prices everyone who wants to take something home from your store will be able to. VBS publishers often provide ancillary items at different price levels, but often items can be found at local party stores who specialize in themed items.

"Endcap display" means the location in the retail sales area that is at the immediate end of the aisle.

"Endcap" is also jargon used in merchandising, sometimes to show off one's retail expertise.

However, realize that a lot goes into making an endcap a good investment of time and space. Endcaps can vary in subject, design and nature.

For example, music endcaps can feature a new CD and use posters, bright signage and eye-catching cutouts to draw attention. Usually teenagers will be attracted to these displays. On the other hand, an endcap featuring Bibles will be more subtle, and will appear very professional and organized. This endcap will draw the attention of adults who are searching for the newest study Bible or translation. These two endcaps use the same space but in a very different way.

Some publishers provide ready-made endcaps with their products. Other endcaps are created by talented employees.

Endcaps can consist of slatwall or can merely be products or posters attached to the sides of bookshelves. Some endcaps have signage; others just product. Even a table placed beside a bookshelf can be considered an endcap. But no matter what the use, the endcap is prime space for the retailer.

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..

Going to Sunday school is more likely to be detrimental to the spiritual and moral health of children than non-attendance, according to a surprising new study.

Compared to the 39% of 20-somethings who did not attend Sunday school while growing up interviewed by America's Research Group (ARG), the 61% who said they did were more likely to have doubts about the Bible, view the church as hypocritical and believe that good people don't need to go to church.

Those were some of the findings of the poll carried out by consumer research expert Britt Beemer's ARG on behalf of Ken Ham's Answers in Genesis creationist ministry. The two men presented the results and their conclusions in Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It, recently published by Master Books.

"How can buyers get the most out of their reps? From a gift rep's point of view, I think by seeing the rep as a source of advice and consultation rather than just someone selling stuff. Ask questions, and there are no stupid questions. I think as a whole, we reps really do want to help the buyer and the store make sound decisions."

Ken Shirek
President, Magi Marketing

Share your ideas and experiences with others. Write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..