Christian Retailing

‘Wow Hits,’ ‘King’ still atop SoundScan charts Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 02:40 PM America/New_York
Wow Hits 2010 by various artists (Word Records/Word Distribution) remained atop the SoundScan's Christian/Gospel music Christian retail chart for sales the week ending Oct. 25, while One Night With the King (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/Word) continued to hold the top spot of the Christian Videos list.

Following Wow Hits 2010 were: 2. Peace on Earth by Casting Crowns (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution); 3. Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship by Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords/EMI CMG Distribution); 4. It Is Well by Kutless (BEC Recordings/EMI CMG); 5. Church Music by David Crowder Band (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 6. Awake by Skillet (Atlantic/Ardent/INO Records/Provident-Integrity); 7. Building 429 by Building 429 (INO Records/Provident-Integrity); 8. Portable Sounds by Toby Mac (ForeFront Records/EMI CMG); 9. This Moment: Cinderella Edition by Steven Curtis Chapman (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); and 10. Revelation by Third Day (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity).

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Concordia recognized with ‘Quality Award’ Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 02:53 PM America/New_York
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has been recognized with the 2009 Missouri Quality Award, which honors excellence in performance, leadership, customer service and satisfaction.

"Quality performance isn't really about the award; it is what we are called to give in service to the gospel of Christ Jesus," CPH President and CEO Bruce Kintz told employees. "This award testifies to that spirit at CPH."

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Downhere sweeps Canada’s Covenant Awards Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 03:09 PM America/New_York
Downhere recently took home nine trophies during the 31st Annual Covenant Awards in Canada after the Centricity Records (Word Distribution) pop/rock band garnered 11 nominations.

Held Oct. 23 at First Alliance Church in Calgary, Alberta, the award show is the pinnacle event of the Gospel Music Association Canada Week, which featured a conference, artist showcases, talent-search competition and awards banquet.

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International response to ‘Share Christmas’ campaign Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 03:17 PM America/New_York
U.S. Christian retailers are not the only ones to have responded enthusiastically to a Crossway campaign to see a million copies of the special-edition Share the Good News of Christmas Outreach New Testament delivered to homes nationwide via the Christian retail channel, according to organizers.

Christian bookstores in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria and several other countries in the Pacific are aggressively promoting the company's "Share the Good News of Christmas" program, Crossway officials said.

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NavPress’ ‘$5 Book Deal’ for Christian retailers Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 03:21 PM America/New_York
NavPress is introducing a $5 book deal as a Christian retail channel exclusive. Beginning in January and continuing through December 2010, independent Christian stores can purchase that month's preselected NavPress title for $2.75 and then sell it for $5, company officials said.

The announcement comes in the wake of Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com embarking in an online price war last week over the pre-sales of new hardcover, best-selling books. All three of the mega-retailers are selling the titles for $8.98-$9, although the retail price for the books is typically $25-35.

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GMA in ‘a focused reorganization’ Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 29 October 2009 03:27 PM America/New_York
Amid speculation this week that the threatened Gospel Music Association (GMA) could be closing its doors for good, it is moving ahead with a reorganization that includes future events such as the Dove Awards and membership drives, officials said.

"The GMA organization is actively engaged in a focused reorganization to best serve our membership as we move into 2010," Ed Leonard, GMA board chairman and Daywind Music Group president, told Christian Retailing. "You will be hearing about progress regarding events, the Dove Awards and membership in coming weeks."

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EMI CMG specials spotlighted in virtual tour Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 26 October 2009 01:21 PM America/New_York
EMI CMG Distribution's specials for Christian bookstores--including Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship by Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords)--are spotlighted in the Virtual Christmas Showcase, an online exhibition and training event hosted by Christian Retailing magazine and focused on the holiday season.

More than 20 suppliers--including Thomas Nelson International, Kregel Publications, Integrity Music and Warner Press--have so far signed on for the Virtual Christmas Showcase. In addition to highlighting products and specials, the online event also includes interviews, new release spotlights and other offers. The virtual show has drawn had more than 1,800 visitors from more than 50 countries since it began Sept. 30, with more than 5,000 page views.

EMI CMG's specials feature special dating on all Christmas catalog orders on CDs, DVDs, specialty gift pack CDs and print music. Besides Glory In The Highest, the distributor's featured products include Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot (Credential Recordings); Christmas With Bill & Gloria Gaither by Bill and Gloria Gaither & Their Homecoming Friends (Gaither Music Group); Sarah's Choice DVD (Pure Flix Entertainment); The Perfect Gift (Kelly's Filmworks); Why Worry DVD and CD ("The North Point Series") by Andy Stanley (North Point Music); and Convergence: Frustration and False Gods: Living in a Fallen World DVD with Donald Miller, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman (Creative Trust).

Additionally, the virtual tour features include a Retailer Roundtable on Christmas in which representatives of four leading stores discuss the big issues of the holiday season--from price point and displays to keeping the real spirit of Christmas alive amid all the busyness.

Besides a list of new Christmas 2010 products, the virtual tour includes a discussion with Crossway Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing Geoff Dennis on the company's "Share the Good News of Christmas" program, a campaign to see a million copies of the special-edition Share the Good News of Christmas Outreach New Testament delivered to homes across the country via Christian retailers.

Click here to find out more about EMI CMG Distribution's specials and the Virtual Christmas Showcase.

 
Bill Gaither discusses Christmas project Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 26 October 2009 02:13 PM America/New_York
Gospel music pioneer Bill Gaither recently spoke with Christian Retailing Assistant Editor DeWayne Hamby about the Gaithers' newest project, Christmas With Bill and Gloria Gaither (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG Distribution), and how he determines which songs make it onto holiday recordings.

Gaither--who with his wife, Gloria, owns Gaither Family Resources in Alexandria, Ind.--also shares his observations on what retailers can do during the holiday season to attract and keep customers. The bookstore was honored by Christian Retailing with the first Independent Store of the Year award during The Gathering 2009 winter trade show in January.

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