A message from Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network:

Recently I had an e-mail from a great bookstore manager asking how most church bookstores handle message recordings of their Sunday services and any other recordings by visiting speakers. To me, his inquiry sure sounded like the basis of a good article.

I decided to ask some very knowledgeable folks--the regional directors of the Church Bookstore Network--for their input, and the answers I received were, much as I expected, quite different. That is the very essence of the church bookstore-business and ministry is orchestrated by the leadership of each particular church.

At least half of the vendors scheduled to attend GABBS at the Hynes Convention Center, Aug. 19-20, will be offering popular Christian titles for as little as 10 cents on the dollar, according to GABBS organizer Larry May, who said about 40,000 book titles will be available. "This is a great opportunity for church bookstores to stock up for the coming winter holiday season," May said.

To take advantage of the free registration offer, church bookstore representatives should visit the GABBS Web site, www.GABBS.net, to register. GABBS is one of the three largest bargain book shows in the U.S., organized annually by L.B. May & Associates of Knoxville, Tenn.

One of the hardest questions to answer in planning a church bookstore is: What size store do I need?
A church must consider the size of its present congregation, as well as realistic growth expectations.

If the store is too small, it will be difficult to properly merchandise products, and sales potential will not be realized. If the store is too large, space that could be better utilized for other ministry areas is wasted. Merchandise then is spread too thinly around the store, and the store possibly becomes a financial burden to the church and its congregation.

Is a virtual store worth our time and energy?

A virtual store is a must for today's market. Aside from just the visibility your store will get from having a presence on the Web, some customers find it more convenient to order products online.

First, you need to have a Web site. Keep it simple at the start. It should include directions to your store and basic information like hours and contact information. Pictures are a must.

The organization's latest study found adolescents to be "much less inclined toward spirituality" than were teens a dozen years ago. Six of nine religious activities were discovered to be at their lowest levels since Barna began tracking such teen behaviors.

I use a lot of baker shelf-type units. The Robert H. Ham company has some great shelves, very inexpensive. Also, I go to Hobby Lobby. Using these types of shelves allows me to make small areas and rearrange often.

Sue Nelson
Manager
The Scroll Bookstore
First Evangelical Free Church
Rockford, Ill.

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