Christian Retailing

REGIONAL REPORT: Lakewood prayer Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Friday, 24 July 2009 10:14 AM America/New_York

Lakewood Bookstore Manager Ted Terry is in need of prayer as he faces surgery Wednesday, July 29, and radiation treatment for cancer of the mouth, neck and tongue.

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

Following surgery, Ted will have a trachea for about a week and will be unable to talk until it is removed, and he will also have a feeding tube for about three weeks or the duration of the radiation treatments. The surgery is expected to take eight to 10 hours, and Ted will be in the hospital for eight to 10 days.

Ted asks for specific prayer that his speech be normal since he deals with the public so much. In an e-mail update, Ted's wife, Lorie, said that "We know that prayers are the most important thing we can do because prayer is a direct petition to the throne room of God."

The family appreciates the phone calls and correspondence they have received in support.

 

 
GENI: 'For such a time as this' Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:52 PM America/New_York
A message from Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network:

This year's International Christian Retail Show was very positive in many ways, but for those of us in the church bookstore world, one of the most exciting things was the announcement of the new chairman-elect of CBA, our retailers trade association.

That's because George Thomsen was named as the person who will now take over the chairmanship in October next year. The manager of the bookstore owned and operated by Harvest Church in Riverside, Calif., George served as one of the first regional directors of a very young and undefined Church Bookstore Network.

He was a guiding force in those first years and brings to any leadership table not only expertise in finance and management, but a passion for this industry as a whole-and church bookstores in particular. I am excited about what I believe he will now bring to the wider industry. I believe that George, without showing partiality to any part of the industry, will lead CBA in these challenging times of change in a God-honoring manner.

Read more...
 
ICRS REPORT: Laughter and learning Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:49 PM America/New_York

by Bobby Williams

We had a very productive week at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), July 12-16. We saw some new product lines and got some good deals from many of the vendors (higher discounts, free freight). We walked away better prepared for the third and fourth quarter, I feel.

One of the highlights for me was The Power of Music event-a great night. My wife and son were with me, and we laughed, danced and worshiped. My little boy is four, and he really enjoyed Go Fish, while my wife and I enjoyed Jeff Allen doing the hosting.

I also attended both the church store training classes. Bev Miller did a great job in "Volunteers-You Love Having Them, but They Drive You Nuts!", and offering some practical steps and resources to keep strong volunteers and how to work through situations where "it might just not be the right fit."

She rolled out the BEST steps: Believe, Evaluate, Scheduling and Training. I walked away with some great tools from this class. We have more than 100 volunteers between our two bookstores, and I needed some refocusing in this area.

Read more...
 
REGIONAL MEETINGS: Training time Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:47 PM America/New_York
CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Monday, Aug. 10, at Harvest Bookstore at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill. (within three hours of St. Louis, Chicago & Indianapolis). Speakers: Author and founder of Hearts at Home mom's ministry Jill Savage, and sales reps from Zondervan (Bible training), Spring Arbor (teaming with vendors for a win-win) and IntegriTeam (merchandising gifts in small spaces) are on the agenda.

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

 

 
INSIGHTS: Frequent shopper programs Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:45 PM America/New_York
by Jackie Johnson

Many people are looking for a bargain or an incentive for them to shop a particular store. Even though we may not be in a position to discount our entire inventory, there are ways we can offer incentives to frequent shoppers.

Some P.O.S. systems provide software that enables you to gather customer information simply by entering in each shopper's phone number. Names already in the system will automatically come up and their purchase will be recorded. If the customer isn't in the system, you can enter in the customer information in a matter of seconds.

Once you have this information, you can set parameters within the system to inform you when a customer has reached a particular incentive level-perhaps when they have spent $100 in your store. Then, you can design a coupon for a percentage off an entire purchase or off one item to reward them.

Read more...
 
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: Doors done right Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:42 PM America/New_York
The eyes may be the window to the soul, but it's your doorway that in many ways is the key to the heart of your store. What sort of a welcome do your open doors offer? The entrance needs to do two things-offer enough interest to draw people inside, without being so busy or crowded that it discourages them from entering. Avoid sticking posters on the glass, as they can make it look messy, and also end up facing the wrong way once the doors are pushed open.
 
ADVICE: Dear Betty Bookstore Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:39 PM America/New_York
Why do we have to charge sales tax if we are a nonprofit?

First, involve your church's business administrator in helping you understand your state laws. Each state differs on which items are taxable and which are not. While doing this homework, also read up on your state and city regulations regarding retail operations.

In most situations sales tax is due to your city and state if you re-sell product that was purchased at a non-tax rate. For example, if you bought 20 copies of The Purpose-Driven Life from Zondervan with your wholesale status as a retailer, you didn't pay tax on them. However, when you sell a copy of the book to Joe Black, he is responsible to pay the sales tax due on the book.

You, as the seller, must keep track of the sales tax you collect and pay that amount to the state on a regular basis. States vary on how often you must report these numbers and pay up.

Read more...
 
CHURCH LIFE: Pastor profiles Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:37 PM America/New_York
A new survey by the Leadership Network offers insights for church bookstore managers wanting to strengthen the all-important relationship with their church's senior pastor.

The study of around 250 pastors leading megachurch congregations found that almost a third (31%) pointed to books and magazines as being most helpful in their continuing education, while 51% identified conferences and 43% said personal relationships achieved the same result.

Eighty-one percent of those questioned-leading churches with average attendance of more than 2,000-said they viewed their role as being "preacher/teacher," while 51% saw themselves as a "directional leader." Only 16% identified themselves as "pastor, shepherd or spiritual guide."

Read more...
 
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Got it covered? Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:35 PM America/New_York
With Bibles being strong sellers in most church stores, there's an opportunity for add-on sales when you help a customer find the right cover to protect their new purchase or gift. How do you handle Bible covers in your store? How do you choose which ones to carry, and where in the store should they be displayed, and how? What marketing ideas work best?

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

 
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK Print Email
Written by Staff   
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 01:33 PM America/New_York

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Proverbs 31: 24, NIV