(Is. 1:18, ESV)

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"Stories are an incredibly powerful way to transmit Truth, and I love that we were crafted with the ability to tell and understand stories from the Ultimate Story Maker, God. When novelists tell a story, they're actively behaving in the image with which they were created-they are creating. To see God at work through the hands of storytellers not only reminds me of His vast ability to share Himself in multiple ways, but also makes me delight in the imaginations He's placed on this earth.

As for deciding what to sell, pursuant to a request made by booksellers at the International Christian Retail Show, stores can now receive a list of fiction genres and suggested titles within those genres by e-mailing me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
As for marketing and promotional ideas that work well, anything that's done at a grass-roots level almost always works to promote fiction. The important thing to remember is that grass-roots can happen in person or online. From friends calling friends to bloggers chatting with users, word-of-mouth is word-of-mouth regardless of the medium. If your store doesn't have a presence on Facebook, you're losing out on garnering more customers.

For in-store promotional ideas, I'd say the most important thing you can do to promote fiction sales is to find the fiction lover on your staff or in your customer base and cultivate the relationship. Reach out to publicists and let them know of that fiction lover's existence-we then send advance copies of novels to that person so that they can read the book and be prepared to hand-sell it when it arrives in-store. Encourage your staff person who is a fiction lover to tell individual customers about the particular books they've enjoyed. Consider having a "Jill Recommends" section (named after your staff member, of course).

If your fiction lover is a customer rather than a staff member, ask if he/she would like to start a book club in your store. When the club meets, give them 10% off the club's title pick, or give them half off a fifth book or whatever works with your business model that also gives them incentive to make your store their fiction stop."

Rebeca Seitz
President
Glass Road Public Relations

View a video by Anne Graham Lotz on her latest book, The Magnificent Obsession, at the Virtual Christian Retailing Show.
Lotz's publisher, Zondervan, is one of 25 suppliers taking part in the Web-based event, which offers product information and specials to virtual show visitors-the same special offered to those who attended the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, last month.

Zondervan is offering an extra 30 days of dating to any store purchasing one of its featured titles, including The Magnificent Obsession, the new interactive Bible Glo and Karen Kingsbury's children's book The Princess and the Three Knights.

The Virtual Christian Retailing Show has had more than 2,800 visits from 52 countries in just over three weeks of operation. Running through Aug. 31, the event also features Webinar training for stores, including Carpentree's "Successful Art and Gift Sales" and Kerusso's "Key to Apparel Sales Success."

Each training session will be recorded for subsequent viewing at the site, which will also host author and artist release parties. There is also a link to a new social networking forum through which retailers and suppliers can connect for fellowship, encouragement and business.

"We have been very pleased by the response so far to the virtual show," said Christian Retailing Publisher Dave Condiff, who created the virtual show to connect suppliers with retailers unable to attend trade show events in person. "We believe that this is an innovative and cost-effective way forward for everyone."

Further Virtual Shows will follow, spotlighting seasonal and other special-focus selling opportunities. Stores will be able to access the information 24/7 at the Christian Retailing Web site, www.christianretailing.com.

A 2008 LifeWay Research study of 1,077 Americans with children under 18 living at home found that 76% agree that they give enough time to their children, but only 56% agree their families enjoy enough relaxing times together.

Eighty-seven percent of parents believe it's important to teach their children how to have a relationship with God. But, in another study conducted in 2007 for the B&H Books-published title The Parent Adventure, only 55% of parents agree they try to take their children to worship services on a regular basis.

"Most parents not only want their children to have a belief in God, but also a relationship with God, yet many parents are failing to make the introduction," said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research and a co-author of the book. "Churches must prove they are ready to help parents make this connection or they will continue to only see those parents who feel most strongly about teaching their children to know God."

Financially speaking, just over half from the 2008 study-52%-agree that their households bring in adequate income to support their lifestyles. While many are dissatisfied, only 50% of those surveyed agree that their families have a financial plan for the future.

Source: Lifeway Research

Read the full report at http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D169435%252526M%25253D200906%2C00.html.

Where can I get everyday merchandising items?

The basics are always the basics, and merchandising items are always a priority. You can approach acquiring the items you need in several ways:

If you are part of a marketing group such as Munce or Parable, stickers, signs and other items are available through them. Many provide seasonal point-of-sale (P.O.S.) posters and shelf-talkers, as well.

Local office supply stores offer plexy sign holders, pricing guns, mailing supplies and other store products. Most of these stores have catalogs to keep for further reference.

To enlarge your resources even more, the Web is full of companies that offer just about anything you could ever want. Make sure that you know exactly what you are ordering, since many items are not returnable.

Last but not least, many of your vendors will have point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) materials that will aid you in selling their product. Gift-wrap companies offer tags that can be personalized for your store, and shopping bags of all types and prices.

Whichever method you choose, shop around. And, when starting out, don't be too frivolous or you will find yourself spending far too much of your proceeds.

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..

Got an idea from your store to share in a Picture of the Week? Send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Every church bookstore needs a business plan. Your business plan should address both philosophical and practical issues, such as vision and mission statements, goals, operations, policies and procedures, inventory and financial needs.

VISION/MISSION STATEMENTS
What is the purpose of your store? Why is it open in the first place?

Vision and mission statements will help clarify what you are trying to achieve with your store. An example might be: "To nurture the spiritual growth of the body by providing Christian books, Bibles, music and inspirational products to the church."

GOALS
What do you want to accomplish in the next few years? Goals are a measurable way to assess the store's progress and direction.
Make them SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-specific.

OPERATIONS
How is your store going to operate?

This might be an example for a start-up store: "We will be open on Sundays and Wednesdays immediately following worship services and large events at the church. The business administrator will oversee the bookstore. We will operate as 'Name of Church doing business as (dba) Name of Store.'

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
What are the guidelines that govern the operation of your store?

These are some example policies and procedures: "No returns without a receipt. The store will always have a manager on duty. Only the manager will deposit the money and only when another person is present. The money will be put into tamper-proof envelopes and given to the accounting department to be deposited into the bank."

INVENTORY
What products will you be selling in your store? How will you keep track of your inventory? What reports will you be giving each month to the church's accounting department? A business plan needs to be able to answer these questions.

FINANCIAL NEEDS
How much money is the church planning to invest in the store? What is the amount of money available to start the store? What is the size of your congregation? What is the size of your bookstore?

Provide a start-up budget and a five-year pro forma in the business plan. Also include a cash flow projection for the store. If you don't know how to do these, seek out a financial adviser that is a church member.

NEXT STEPS
When the business plan is complete, schedule a meeting with the board of your church. You need backing from all the pastors and the board.

Ultimately, the church bookstore belongs to God, so if you pray about your business plan, it will come together with God's hand in the process.

-Heidi Bodette is a regional director for the Church Bookstore Network. She started Daily Bread Books at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minn.

Read the complete article at http://www.thechurchbookstore.com/a.php?ArticleID=14337.

Thursday, Aug. 20, at Gateway Church's Southlake Campus in Southlake, Texas, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group is going to be one of the four vendor participants at the meeting, and author Leigh McLeroy will be discussing her new WaterBrook Press book Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps, which releases Sept. 15. The event will also include training for church coffee bar managers and staff.

To date, approximately 60 are registered for the bookstore meeting, and around 10 to 15 for the coffee bar meeting.

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