The Christian Booksellers Association released the results of its annual State of the Industry survey earlier this month. The report noted the closing of 77 stores and the opening of 14 new ones in 2010, for a net loss of 63 stores. It also stated, “While overall Christian-store sales were down 3.07% in 2010, more than 30% of stores reported sales increases. Retailers said key strategies to success last year involved community and church outreach events, such as Christian Store Day; discount and bargain strategies; new marketing, such as social media and focusing on specific customer groups; inventory management disciplines; and intentionally developing customer-service tactics and improving in-store experiences.” More retailers had a church relations strategy to work with local congregations to promote sales—nearly 34% of reporting stores said they had such plans. CBA executive director Curtis Riskey called that “returning to their roots as they see churches as partners in ministry.”
Our Sunday Visitor has acquired a majority stake in In The Round Design Group, an Ohio-based Web site development and communications technologies company. OSV stated, “The acquisition is part of Our Sunday Visitor's ongoing strategy to help Catholic churches and dioceses improve communication, enhance offertory and develop new channels for the distribution of content.” The acquisition will allow OSV to offer new products and services, including the Radius Web Tools content management system for building Web sites and online communication; custom design services (branding, copywriting, and design for print, Web, and electronic materials); and In The Round Systems engineering services to design and install multimedia systems for conference, meeting, and worship spaces. In The Round will retain its name and continue to serve its non-profit, small business, and corporate clients. Our Sunday Visitor is the nation's largest supplier of offering envelopes, parish and diocesan mailings, books, periodicals, curriculum, address management, and stewardship services for Catholic churches
Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI), the publishing arm of the Episcopal Church in the U.S., has expanded its existing warehouse/distribution agreement with the United Methodist Publishing House to include retail sales and wholesale operations through UMPH’s Cokesbury and Abingdon Press divisions, effective early next month (May). Cokesbury, UMPH’s retail division, which has 65 stores nationwide as well as www.Cokesbury.com, will take over all retail management functions for CPI, whose imprints include Church Publishing, Morehouse Publishing, and Seabury Books. Cokesbury will handle CPI’s customer service, order processing, shipping, inventory and subscriptions management, invoicing, and other back-office functions; CPI will continue to manage editorial and production. CPI and Cokesbury will partner in CPI’s marketing. Effective this November, UMPH will provide wholesale (trade) representation for CPI through Abingdon Press.
Thomas Nelson has launched the "Buy a Bible, Help a Child" promotion with World Vision this month. Sales of Thomas Nelson Bibles in U.S. Christian retail stores—including children's and Spanish-language Bibles—will result in a minimum donation of $75,000 to the Christian humanitarian organization, which works to end poverty and preventable deaths among children in the U.S. and worldwide. Thomas Nelson will donate 10% of its year-over-year net revenue growth in sales of Nelson Bibles in U.S. Christian retail stores from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. World Vision will combine Nelson’s donation with matching grant funds and corporate donations.
The Retailers Choice Awards for 2011 were presented last night (April 26) in Orlando, Fla., by Christian Retailing magazine, which sponsors the awards. A panel of Christian retailers across the country nominated more than 350 products in 39 categories; of these, 41 products were voted as best of the year. Tyndale House Publishers and Thomas Nelson each had eight winners, tying for the most wins. Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids won in the children’s nonfiction category, and her Jesus Calling: Deluxe Edition won for backlist; both are from Thomas Nelson. WaterBrook Multnomah author David Platt won for his bestselling Radical in both the audio (Christianaudio) and christian living/spiritual growth categories. Beth Moore’s So Long, Insecurity (Tyndale) took the top prize for women’s nonfiction. Christian Retailing is owned by Charisma Media (formerly known as Strang Communications), which has reported a 15% increase in sales for its Casa Creación Spanish Book Group, making it the fastest-growing publishing group in the company. Charisma promoted three employees of the group, including Lydia Morales, who was promoted from director to executive director. Morales manages all Spanish-language books for the U.S. and international Hispanic market for Casa Creación, Publicaciones Casa, and Vida Cristiana magazine.
The Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) has announced the winners of its 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award. The award recognizes books in eight categories—both adult and children’s--produced by small publishers, with voting by consumers and retailers. For a complete list of winners go to http://www.christianbookaward.com. CSPA represents a membership of about 100 small publishers producing books for the Christian market.
Zondervan is offering a Certified Dealer program for retailers who sell The Story Church Campaign kit. (The Story is a chronological retelling of the Bible; there is a line of related products.) Qualifying retailers will receive special discounts and marketing materials to enhance sales of the program to churches and organizations. Designed as a church-wide experience, for both adults and youth, The Story components can be used in a variety of settings, with elements for individuals, small groups, Sunday school classes, and sermons. The Story Church Campaign kit provides a sample of all books and curriculum with additional resources available through the retail partner. Certified Dealers will get special discounts, a listing on TheStory.com, training tools, and marketing collateral. The Story Church-wide Experience is now available to churches nationwide in multiple formats. Interested retailers should contact their Zondervan sales representative.
