| If you missed this article last month it speaks volumes about the industry, christian book distribution, and the problems with christian bookstores. |
The Fashion of the Christ
Corporations like Sony and Time Warner are grabbing pieces of the religious music, movie, and book markets. The losers: Small specialty stores
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Still, the Christian Booksellers Assn.'s Anderson argues that the surviving Christian bookstores can still prosper. "General retailers want to cherrypick, while we offer the full orchard," he a[r]gues.
His full comment ended with "...unless there's a black person on the cover." :o
Here in Oregon the major Christian bookstores are nowhere near a "full orchard." In the music section they probably have more than Sam Goody, but for books they're really pathetic (maybe a bookshelf or two of fiction, but that's pushing it). If you want "religious" knicknacks & crap-with-a-scripture-verse it's the place to go, but otherwise they have little to offer.
--Chris (dFm)
I read that only 37% of Christians in America have ever stepped foot in a Christian bookstore...
Isn't that intersting?
Chris, you are so funny. When I saw that quote I laughed. I know quite a few bookstore owners who purchase books for their stores at Sams, because its cheaper than the distributors. So there basically carrying the same item and hiking the price to make a profit. You're also right about not seeing much fiction regardless of race. Two rows is about standard in the few christian bookstores here in North Atlanta. I've been asked to do a reading series at the local books a million we'll see what's popping there.
Nancy, I read that, too. So we need to ask ourselves where are the sixty three percent shopping and focus our attention there. Guerilla MArketing 101:)
I don't believe it's too late for Christian specialty stores to get a piece of the pie, but to someone's point, they're going to have to diversify their product lines. And I truly believe they should start with Christian fiction beyond the usual historical/romance novels.
Of course, as consumers, if we're not requesting/demanding diversity in product offering, we're not likely to see it.
So it's going to take a concerted collaboration of retailers creatively and strategically going after our business, and us as consumers being willing to pay a little more for the sake of supporting Christian-owned businesses.
good point, lamonica. do you think our prices are too high? particularly paperbacks
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