Mark Hutchinson is sharing some of the secrets of his success in reinventing Blessings with other Christian retailers.

He has launched Thrive RDS (Retail Development Services) in partnership with wholesaler David C Cook Distribution Canada. The new program debuted in January 2012.

For $200 a month per store, participants get access to online training sessions, a library of other resources, email support and 80% off a second year’s membership if they don’t experience growth based on what they have learned at the end of the first year.

Thrive RDS is “a practical business-building tool to help retail stores grow sales, customer traffic and increase average transactions,” said Hutchinson. “I am passionate about our industry and want to do all I can to provide practical hands-on business development training specifically focused to our industry,” he added.

Greg Tombs, Cook’s managing director of global distribution, said that the company was supporting the effort because without a Canadian CBA for Christian retail stores, there was no forum for Christian retailers to discuss retail strategies and initiatives to improve their industry.

“Market conditions have changed dramatically and rapidly in the last few years,” he said. “Without instruction/training on the new opportunities technology offers and without the regular reminders of the fundamentals of excellent customer service, merchandising, marketing initiatives and the like, retailers can get left behind.

“We also feel that the opportunity to come together as a community of like-minded retailers for the purposes of growth and long-term sustainability is very beneficial.”

For more information, go to www.blessings.com/thrive.

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