How Christian retailers can minimize risk as customers’ mobile payment options grow

There is a lot of talk these days about EMV cards (an acronym for Europay, MasterCard and Visa), liability shifts and Apple Pay. Despite the ubiquitous nature of information, retailers—including Christian retailers—are uncertain of how their businesses should respond to this changing financial landscape. In fact, many wonder why they should even bother with the expense and fuss of becoming EMV compliant.

The rush to EMV (also referred to as chip cards, smart cards or chip and PIN) is predicated upon the belief that the embedded computer chip will be far superior to magnetic strips in protecting cardholder information and accounts from would-be thieves and hackers. Traditional magnetic strip cards contain a significant amount of information about the cardholder and their account. Once a card is swiped at your store, that information is transferred to the stand-alone terminal or software used to process the transaction and from there across the network to the card issuer for approval. Unscrupulous types are tempted to test the security of terminals, networks and computers to gain access to this information. These days even the most secure systems are subject to a security breach.

Christian owners of companies ‘in the world’ share their best business practices

How publishers can increase the sales and ministry of their books by going global

Distributors serve key role in the evolving Christian products industry

Your store’s above-and-beyond service will not go unnoticed

Offering a family-friendly store is the first baby step

Moms spend an estimated $2.4 trillion on products and services each year. How much are they spending in your store?

Showing home educators you’re in their court has the potential to grow store sales

Home education is now legal in every state, and with a second generation of homeschool kids being raised by parents who were themselves homeschooled, Christian retailers need to take note of this growing market. There are an estimated 2.5 million children being homeschooled in the U.S. today, and with home educators spending an average of $1,000 annually per child on curriculum and supplies, the market is one Christian retailers cannot afford to ignore.

Fastest-growing segment of the church helps build consumer market for best-selling authors, Spirit-focused topics

Amid the burgeoning Jesus Movement and charismatic renewal, Lloyd Hildebrand began his publishing career in 1969—packing books in the back room of a jewelry store that doubled as a publishing company.

At the time—shortly before Time magazine’s “The Jesus Revolution” cover story would bring worldwide attention to the phenomenon—Hildebrand’s fledgling company, Logos International Fellowship, published Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz with Jamie Buckingham.

Season’s holidays mark big moments and sales opportunities

The spring holiday selling season is quickly approaching. With customers planning their Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduation celebrations, as a Christian retailer, you need to prepare your store for each of these opportunities.

Catering to a neglected niche customer may just pay off

Most CBA market stores have such a minor “academic” book section it is probably not much more than a 4-foot shelf. The section is sparsely populated with a few Bible commentaries, a Bible handbook and maybe, if you’re daring, a systematic theology. Who reads this stuff, and why should your store carry it? Good questions. Let’s do a little history first.

How to best help your store’s customers as you put the Scriptures into their hands

After rejoining the commercial Christian publishing industry for the second time recently, I was excited when Christian Retailing asked me to write an article about selling Bibles. It has been striking to see how much has changed and yet how much has remained the same.

Sixty years ago, a trade magazine was launched to serve the burgeoning Christian retail industry. Known at its start in 1955 as Christian Bookseller, the publication that later was renamed Christian Retailing now is going through another significant innovation in response to the changing business environment.

Two experts offer tips for your Christian retail store

Looking to learn from the broader retail environment, we asked two retail experts to answer some key questions for Christian retailers. Consider how these responses from Britt Beemer of America’s Research Group and Carol Schroeder of Orange Tree Imports might apply to your store.

What are one or two things Christian retailers can learn from the larger market about key retail practices?

Christian retailers can meet customer needs in light of 21st-century cultural patterns

The Bible calls us to be “as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” In 1 Chronicles 12:32, we are told about the men of Issachar who had “understanding of times and what Israel should do.” As you prepare for the year ahead, here are some important trends that you need to know about that will matter to your Christian retail store.

Looking back on big licenses and significant products in children’s and gifts

As we did last issue, reflecting on the year 2014 in a number of product categories, this issue we look back on the year that was in two key categories for Christian retailers—children’s and gifts.

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