CHRISTIAN RETAILING Owner/ Publisher Steve Strang shares OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE SERVING THE $4.6 BILLION CHRISTIAN PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AUG UST 20 11 /// $7.00 The industry at your fingertips: www.christianretailing.com The world needs Christian resources more than ever. But growth requires vision and faith. It's time for our industry to re-embrace the Learn how Christian Retailing is helping to lead the signal your ongoing commitment to the ministry of Christian resources by signing the Christian Retailing Pledge. More details on page A CHAR I MA DIA Publication E-books be a threat to Church bookstore leader Rose Seeley is confident of brick-and-mortar future BY ANDY BUTCHER Bookstore manager Rose Seeley is undaunted by the rise of e-book sales and wants to help other retailers embrace the changes coming to the industry with the same kind of optimism. you come into a bookstore you can browse and you will find things you will never find says the manager of the bookstore at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, Calif. will always be a place for Christian retail. Yes, the product mix may change a little, but if people are willing to change, e-publishing be a threat to The store serving the growing Orange County attracts around 8,000 people each seen an increase in revenues despite the sluggish economy. With no independent Christian store within a 20-mile radius, it draws some customers from the surrounding community though its focus is on resourcing church members. Cottonwood is to host Retailing ReBoot West, a repeat of Christian successful Retailing ReBoot event in Orlando, in April, for those who were unable to attend then. believe we serve the Creator of the universe and we should be at the forefront of retail, not always trying to catch Seeley said of her hopes for the Oct. 17-18 event that will combine education sessions, exhibitor hours and fellowship. believe we can get there the key is that we need to do it Seeley credits the help and encouragement she got from other retailers and suppliers when she took on the running of the bookstore in 2007 for much of her success. Coming from the high-tech industry, she knew about the likes of inventory management, cash flow and E-BOOKS, page miss Retailing ReBoot West Popular event to be repeated in California in October For church bookstore manager Rose Seeley, Christian Retailing ReBoot event in April gave her practical information and ideas than I have ever got from any one show I have been The event was so popular that we are going to offer another opportunity for people who missed out, this time on the West Coast. ReBoot West will be held Monday and Tuesday, Oct. T, a Book sales have grown slightly at church-based Cottonwood Bookstore in Los Alamitos, Calif., despite the challenges of the economic downturn, according to Manager Rose Seeley. IN THIS ISSUE Major news from the International Christian Retail Show, pages 8-13 Our verdict: a new show for a new era, page 54 Sen. Joe Lieberman's book on Sabbath lessons, page 23 Making the most of seasonal sales opportunities, page 36 Why frontliner Bible sales training is so important, page 44 Edgy content and trendy design drive teen Bible changes, page 50 What Nordstrom can teach you about doing business, page 52