A Christian remainder house based in the Midwest—which has a permanent showroom in New York City—plans to construct a multimillion-dollar distribution center to meet growing demand.

Jerry Bloom, president of Treasures Media—comprised of a 500-square-foot store, online business and wholesale arm—said he expects to break ground on the new facility in Racine, Wis., in March 2010. To be located in an industrial park, the 80,000-square-foot distribution center—expected to cost $3 million to $4 million—should be constructed by October 2010, he said.

"We are expanding our operation because our business is currently growing at 40% per year," Bloom told Christian Retailing. "We desperately need more space to continue to accommodate our growth."

Despite a still weak economy that continues to cut into consumer spending, bargain books have become even more attractive to retailers and distributors. "One of the few burgeoning areas of the book business not in the digital domain is the remainder market," according to Bargain Book News.

Bloom's major expansion comes as interest in Christian bargain books grows.

The third annual Inspirational Value Book Show (IVBS)—the largest bargain show for the Christian book industry—is set for Jan. 13-14 at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel in Nashville. IVBS is patterned after the Chicago International Remainder and Overstock Book Expo (CIROBE), which was held Nov 5-8 in Chicago.

Meanwhile, a second Christian remainders show has been added next month to tap into the market. Set for Jan. 10-12 at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta,

Christian Trade Association International's Marketsquare International 2010 will feature America's Christian Remainder Show, which was added in response to feedback from international buyers.

Bloom said Treasures Media is currently in a 50,000-square-foot facility, employing 30 people. "Our inventory continues to grow at a fervent pace," he said. "I estimate that we will have no fewer than 1.5 million items in stock when we move in. We expect to add a second shift in the warehouse. I estimate that we will have approximately 40 to 45 employees when we open the new facility."

Additionally, Wholesale Christian Books, a division of Treasures Media, launched a 600-square-foot showroom in May, featuring approximately 2,000 titles, in New York City. "Sales are fantastic in New York," Bloom said. "We have one staff member on site, and our independent reps and myself make trips to the office when needed."

Bloom, though, has been scrutinized online for his expansion plans in Racine because of his checkered past—which included his arrest at age 19 for shooting a gun from his house that shattered a church window during a service.

"God has spoken to me that I should not acknowledge, explain or defend myself with regards to what the accusations of my misguided life as a 19-year-old," Bloom, 40, said. "I grew up in a pretty tough environment that resulted in me living a very rough life as a young man. My choices resulted in a life of violence and addiction.

"It wasn't until I was 30 when my wife and I were on the verge of divorce that I surrendered what little I had before the throne of grace," added Bloom, who has five children. "I have been amazed at what God can do through a changed man."

After his conversion, Bloom opened a Christian retail store in Kenosha, Wis., about eight years ago. He later moved the store to Racine, and his business has been growing ever since.

"I think that we are doing well because we are feeding that 'value' segment of the market," he said. "We believe that consumers still want to buy in this economy, but they are looking for really good deals. Many of our wholesale customers are catching this vision, which is helping Treasures sell them more books."

Bloom added that he was looking forward to exhibiting for the second year in a row at IVBS. "We expect that it will be as good as last year or better," he said. "We had better than expected results at last year's show."

IVBS drew 20 exhibitors—up from 16 vendors who participated at the inaugural show in 2008, according to organizers. Meanwhile, the event attracted 65 stores and 106 representatives, compared to 41 stores and 65 representatives from last year's show.

"We have most all of our vendors returning with a few that have been picked up by Inspirational Closeout Solutions, which should bring eight to 10 additional vendors for us, so the product offering at IVBS should be better than ever," said Steve Slack Jr., who organizes IVBS. "The expanded product offering is the biggest change for us. We hope to attract buyers and vendors alike who are ready to offer and take advantage of after-Christmas deals."

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