Christian Retailing

'You and Me Forever' hits sales milestone Print Email
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Monday, 15 June 2015 02:18 PM America/New_York

you-and-me-foreverSend The Light Distribution (STL) is marking a significant milestone in its ministry-focused partnership with Francis Chan, author of the best-selling Crazy Love. The Bristol, Tennessee-based distributor has sold more than 140,000 units of You and Me Forever, which Chan penned with his wife, Lisa, with the twin goals of strengthening marriages and helping women and children at risk.

All proceeds from the sale of the book are going to overseas projects, with Chan's Crazy Love ministry seeking to raise $5 million to help build a village for women rescued from prostitution in Ethiopia.

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Film version of mega-best-seller 'The Shack' enters production Print Email
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Monday, 15 June 2015 01:27 PM America/New_York

The-Shack-coverFilm production company Lionsgate announced that principal photography began June 10 on The Shack in Vancouver, Canada. Based on the best-selling book of the same name by William P. Young (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group), The Shack will be released by Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label.

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Carpentree licensed for 'War Room' gifts Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 11 June 2015 05:05 PM America/New_York

Carpentree-WarRoom-webCarpentree is releasing 18 new products with scripture and quotes from the Kendrick Brothers’ new film, War Room, releasing Aug. 28. Sony Pictures Entertainment’s TriStar Pictures, distributor of Soul Surfer, Courageous and Heaven Is for Real, will release the PG-rated film. War Room explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships and every other area of life. 

Carpentree’s new line offers several ways to encourage and remind people that God does amazing things when His people pray. The line is anchored with a recognizable wall hanging featured in the film entitled “Answered Prayers.” This piece allows people to write in and record their answered prayers just as Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie) does in the movie.

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Send The Light moves to new warehouse Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 11 June 2015 04:16 PM America/New_York

STL-BristolWarehouse-webSend The Light Distribution (STL) has moved its warehouse in Elizabethton, Tennessee, to a new location in Bristol, Tennessee. STL transferred all content from the old warehouse to the new one Memorial Day weekend. The move required 205 tractor-trailer loads of 1.25 million units (65,000 SKUs) plus shelving, as well as additional truckloads of office furniture, records and IT equipment.

Company President Glenn Bailey said STL had a good reason to make the move.

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Thomas Nelson partners with Passion Publishing Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 11 June 2015 03:57 PM America/New_York

TheComeback-webThomas Nelson has announced an exclusive partnership with Passion Publishing, part of the Passion movement led by Louie Giglio. The venture will include multiple trade releases through the W Publishing Group imprint from Louie Giglio and others from the Passion family, as well as curriculum, gift and Bible products. 

“We couldn’t be more excited about this new publishing partnership with some of the finest people in the book space,” Giglio said. “W Publishing Group and Thomas Nelson have extraordinary potential to help us in our continuing mission to make Jesus famous in this generation.”

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First annual Catholic Store Month to be held in July Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 09 June 2015 11:48 AM America/New_York

Catholic-Store-Month-SquareCatholic publishers and other suppliers are firming up their special offers for the inaugural Catholic Store Month (catholicstoremonth.com), which begins July 1 and runs for the month of July.

“Ignatius Press recognizes the urgent need to help Catholic stores compete in the wider retail marketplace,” said Anthony Ryan, marketing director at Ignatius. “Physical retail stores are vital to the free exchange of Catholic ideas.”

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Steve and Janelle Pickering to retire, sell Iowa store Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Monday, 08 June 2015 05:10 PM America/New_York

SteveJanellePickering-webOwners Steve and Janelle Pickering are closing the Parable Lemstone Christian Store of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after a quarter-century of service.

The store opened in a mall location in June 1989 as the 31st Lemstone franchise out of 73 locations.

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Father’s Day spending expected to be nearly even with 2014 Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Monday, 08 June 2015 05:09 PM America/New_York

ManUpTee-GardenfireSpending for dad this Father’s Day is expected to reach $12.7 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2015 Father’s Day Spending Survey. The average person will spend $115.57 on gifts, nearly even with last year’s $113.80, according to NRF’s survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The survey found that 75.4 percent of Americans said they plan to celebrate Father’s Day.

“After a less than stellar first half of the year, retailers are ready to welcome the warm weather and the millions of shoppers (who) come along with it and kick off the summer spending season just in time for Father’s Day,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Spending on grilling and patio necessities, pool gear, sporting goods, apparel and other gift and seasonal merchandise could be the positive stepping stone retailers need heading into the second half of the year.”

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