CHURCH CONNECTIONS: Mark Hutchinson, president of Canada’s Blessings chain, encouraged retailers to find ways to serve local churches better. Presenting retail ideas at a retailing panel event, he told how Blessings had sold 1.6 million communion cups in nine months. “Think outside the box,” he said.

E-BOOK OPTIONS: David Amster of Integra Interactive announced that the company’s e-books option will be called MyBooks To Go. Planned for launch 

March 1, the program will enable Christian stores to sell branded “eebo” e-readers, with the commission on all future digital purchases by the device buyer going to the retailer.

GIFT BUYERS: More than 55% of shoppers at Chuck Wallington’s Christian Supply in Spartanburg, S.C., go to the store to buy something for someone else, according to customer surveys at the store, he said in a panel discussion. “The gift potential of this industry is huge.”

CREATIVE THINKING:  The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Christian bookselling, said Munce Group founder Bob Munce. At the marketing group’s 20th-anniversary breakfast, he told of stores dabbling with other businesses to keep their doors open, from wigs and a pharmacy to even pest control. “Whatever it takes, these folks are doing,” Munce said. 

EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITOR: 

T-shirt company Gardenfire’s faux storefront booth—which won it a best-of-show award—was created to give retailers practical ideas on how to display and merchandise apparel. “The reason we went overboard is that we wanted to show how much we believe in T-shirts and Christian retail,” said owner Jayme Brandt.

 CBA GROWTH: The retailers’ trade association has seen an uptick in membership, reported Executive Director Curtis Riskey at the annual members’ breakfast. The association has more than 1,100 retail members and more than 500 Christian products company members, with two goals: “To make Jesus Christ known and to see Him glorified.”

 MOVIE FOCUS: Inspirational films featured prominently again, with almost a dozen special screenings—including two showings of DreamWorks Pictures' August release of The Help, based on the best-selling general market novel by Kathryn Stockett, set in the early days of the Civil Rights movement.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: Among suppliers celebrating anniversaries at the show were Anchor Wallace Publishers (50 years); DaySpring and Gregg Gift Co. (both 40 years); Barbour Publishing, New Day Christian Distributors and WinePress Publishing (each 30 years); CNI Distribution (20 years); and FaithWords (10 years).

 CHRISTIAN STORE WEEK: World Vision will be the beneficiary of funds raised through the Oct. 1-10 promotion of Christian stores. A benefit CD will be released as part of the special offers available during the CBA campaign.

GOOD GRIEF!: Snoopy’s dog house at the DaySpring booth was a big draw for the company, which introduced the first greeting card line in the 60-year history of the iconic comic-strip brand to feature scripture.

 ICRS 2012: The Christian products industry will convene for next year’s show, July 15-19, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

 GLOBAL THANKS: Jim Powell, retiring president of Christian Trade Association International, was acknowledged for his work in founding the global organization at its International Vision Celebration & Luncheon. A tribute to his work was led by Kim Pettit, former CTAI chief operating officer, who has taken over at the helm of the group. 

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