Using the company's Learning Management System, CBA will offer training in customer service, product knowledge and retail management skills to retail owners, managers and sales associates.

"We selected Learn.com because they are the leader in the space with the largest user population, greatest functionality and ease of use," said CBA President and CEO Bill Anderson. He added that research on customer satisfaction reveals that every $1 spent on personnel costs could mean as much as $28 in sales if sales associates could talk intelligently about products in the store.

"Learn.com will allow us to provide standardized training to all of our 2,000 retail stores to develop knowledgeable and effective personnel," Anderson said. "Our goal is to put ‘special' back into ‘specialty retail,' and we believe Learn.com can help us archive that goal."

The retailers trade association touted its CBA Connect--called by Anderson as "an industry portal, and the way of doing business in the future"--during the International Christian Retail Show in Denver in July. Suppliers who have signed up to be on CBA Connect-which costs approximately $100 per year per frontliner--include Parable, Family Christian Stores, Standard Publishing, Thomas Nelson and Word Entertainment, CBA officials said.

Click here for more information about CBA Connect.