“How many of those Christian bookstores do you know of that offer medical benefits to their employees? or vacation pay? Holiday pay? Short-term disability? Stock options?”

I know what you are saying and I agree, but I think you got my point none-the-less.

And would someone puhhleeeze point me in the direction of one of these super stores that have such a grand selection of SGM! There are definitely not found where I live, or in the surrounding areas, or anywhere I have ever visited, …..

How many of us, when the plate is passed, give $1.00 or less?

It’s similar to the decisions we have to make when we shop local businesses, even if the prices are a bit higher and the selection a bit smaller…and then a Wal-Mart opens. Loyalty to the local businessman who may be your neighbor or saving money and time by shopping a national chain (and looking the other way when you pass the local store owner on the sidewalk)?

As far as the Christian bookstore question goes, I decided a number of years ago that loyalty to the concept of Christian brick and mortar retail is no longer valid. Thirty years ago the only place you could buy a Christian album or Bible or religious book was a Christian bookstore. Today most Borders or Barnes & Nobles have much more selection. Christian music is available in many retail locations. I’ve lived in several parts of the country and with two notable exceptions the majority of Christian bookstores I’ve patronized have had 1)an increasingly limited selection of product, 2)higher prices and 3)a lack of customer service.

The music selection is determined by their music buyer - God help you if it’s a 22-year old hip-hop fan or someone who still thinks Tom Netherton is that nice young man from the Lawrence Welk program. Whether they’re part of a national chain or a local mom ‘n pop, they can usually only order what their distributor carries. Special orders? You’d be better off trying to order a quiche at McDonald’s.

Price? Of course they don’t have the volume to bring prices down so what are you going to do? Consider the difference a donation?

Customer service varies widely. That’s true of course in any business. But I guess if I shop at a ‘Christian’ store, I expect a little more than a nervous smile and an, “ah…I don’t know. I can leave a note for our manager.”

Christian bookstores are closing in record numbers. Attendance at their trade shows is down. They lack the resources, locally or nationally, to be more competitive. Add to that limited hours, locations often off the beaten path and a marketing mindset that is for the most part a decade behind the times and is it any wonder people shop for their Christian commodities elsewhere?

To me that’s just it. We’re a consumer culture and Christians are the biggest consumers of all…from our faith itself to the products that represent it. As sad as it may be for some to contemplate, the future of the Christian bookstore is, with some exceptions, in serious doubt.

In our soon to be 10 years of ministry we have only been “stiffed” by a church one time and simply have not returned. We have gone through the times where we averaged $1.75/person on the love offering thing but that has dramatically changed the past three or four years. I know all about business since but we have gotten away from the basics and the reason we got into this: ministry. We focus on the money and have been distracted. “Seek first the kingdom of God…” I’d love to hear form you nay sayers that disagree.

It appears to me there has been a GLUT of new artists in the past few years, and consumers don’t seem to care about them. They seem to be appreciated in live settings, and they may (or may not) get limited radio attention, but do nearly nothing (or less) at retail.

And SO many of them seem to do only cover tunes — no original material. How many new renditions of “Shout To The Lord”, “He Touched Me”, and “The Lighthouse” do we need?

Part of the problem at retail, though, may also be a lack of support for the local Christian bookstore by church-going consumers. It seems we’d rather support WalMart and Best Buys, than a place where we can get some real meat & potatoes kind of Christian product — where they to offer services (and a level of service) you won’t find at any big box store or website.

I doubt this rant will drive the masses to run out to their local Christian bookstores to buy up all the product they have, but maybe it will make someone think about the great selection of Bibles, books, music, and gifts you find anywhere else.

And maybe something others have posted here will make someone think before they STIFF the group who comes to your church for a love offering.

If they don’t know we’re interested, they probably won’t stock it. And if we don’t do business with them, and only buy our Christian products online or at the big box boys, our local Christian bookstore will soon be out of business.

Just another wacky thought!