Century-old denominational publisher finds a way to sustain its ministry despite serious financial crisis

Emily P. Freeman’s Grace for the Good Girl (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) placed at No. 9 on The Wall Street Journal’s Best-Selling Books list for the week ending Nov. 22. The book released in September 2011.

In Grace for the Good Girl, Freeman invites women to release their hold on the try-hard life and to lean heavy into the love of Jesus. She encourages women to move from their own impossible expectations toward God.

Kirk Cameron-fronted Saving Christmas is extending its screening run for a third week in most of its 400+ theaters. After two strong weekends since its debut, the film has received incredible support that warranted the extension, according to promoters.

Amid the holiday gift-buying season, Cokesbury is giving shoppers a chance to make their purchase count extra. #GivingTuesday is "a special call to action that creates a national day of giving around the annual shopping and spending season to inspire giving every day," according to the Cokesbury website.

The day after Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday will see the United Methodist retailer donating 10% of Cokesbury.com's sales Dec. 2. Those donated proceeds will go to the Red Bird Mission (which has served the disadvantaged communities of Appalachian Kentucky for nearly a century) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR, which is dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe).

For more information on #GivingTuesday or the organizations that will benefit from this promotion, click here.

Keenly aware that retailers during the holiday season offer deep discounts on everything from pajamas to home furnishing items, online holiday shoppers this year may wait to see what retailers have planned for Cyber Monday before deciding to shop. According to the National Retail Federation’s Cyber Monday Expectations Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics over the weekend, 126.9 million (52.3%) shoppers plan to shop online on Cyber Monday, down slightly from the 131.6 million who planned to participate last year.

“For today’s shopper, every day is ‘Cyber Monday,’ and consumers want and expect great deals, especially online, throughout the entire holiday season – and they know retailers will deliver,” says NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Retailers will still offer unique deals exclusive to Cyber Monday, but consumers also know shopping on Cyber Monday won’t be their last chance to find low prices and exclusive promotions.”

When asked how they plan to shop on Cyber Monday, 24.5 million (19.3%) said they will use their mobile device, and eight in 10 (84.5%) will use their home computers to shop online. Mobile retailing remains important as consumers increasingly rely on their smartphones and tablets to research and purchase products. And, retailers are eager to meet consumer demand from these savvy customers as nearly seven in 10 (69.1%) retailers polled in Shop.org’s July eHoliday survey said they invested in optimizing their mobile websites prior to the holiday season, up from the 57.4 percent who said so last year.

Additionally, the latest Shop.org’s eHoliday survey found that 97.6 percent of online retailers polled say they will offer specific Cyber Monday deals.

“Retailers are taking on the growing demand of online shopping and doing what it takes to compete on every level, including mobile optimization of their websites and unique in-store experiences that marry the two channels more than ever before,” says NRF Senior Vice President and Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell. “Retailers have made the online shopping experience even more compelling this year by offering free shipping deals, low prices and enhanced buy online, pick up in-store programs.”

As for when they’ll shop, 40.8 percent of shoppers will be up bright and early on Cyber Monday to take advantage of the early morning deals. Others will shop over their lunch hour (18.4%) or early afternoon (32.5%).

“Shoppers have been taking advantage of discounts throughout the entire holiday weekend and will still look for ways to capitalize on Cyber Monday as well,” says Prosper’s Principal Analyst Pam Goodfellow. “The convenience of shopping online and finding great prices and shipping promotions every day has changed how shoppers will approach their holiday shopping lists this year, but it’s safe to say millions will still expect some of the season’s best deals on Cyber Monday.”

About the Survey
The survey, conducted November 28 - 29 by Prosper Insights & Analytics for NRF, polled 4,631 consumers and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percent.

Prosper Insights and Analytics delivers executives timely, consumer-centric insights from multiple sources. As a comprehensive resource of information, Prosper represents the voice of the consumer and provides knowledge to marketers regarding consumer views on the economy, personal finance, retail, lifestyle, media and domestic and world issues.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation.

Early holiday promotions, the continued growth of online shopping, and an improving economy changed the way millions of people approached the biggest shopping weekend of the year.  According to NRF’s Thanksgiving Weekend Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, 55.1% of holiday shoppers were or will be in stores and online over Thanksgiving weekend, down from 58.7% last year. Overall shopper traffic from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 30 dropped 5.2% from 2013 (133.7 million unique holiday shoppers versus 141.1 million in 2013). Total shopping, including multiple trips by the same shopper, was also down this weekend (233.3 million versus 248.6 million). This is the 11th survey NRF has released in partnership with Prosper.

“A strengthening economy that changes consumers’ reliance on deep discounts, a highly competitive environment, early promotions and the ability to shop 24/7 online all contributed to the shift witnessed this weekend,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “We are excited to be witnessing an evolutionary change in holiday shopping by both consumers and retailers, and expect this to trend to continue in the years ahead.”

According to the survey the average person who shopped or will shop the holiday weekend will spend $380.95, down 6.4% from $407.02 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $50.9 billion, down from last year’s estimated $57.4 billion. Additionally, more than three-quarters (77.2%) say they took advantage of retailers’ online and in-store promotions to buy non-gift items for themselves or their family, similar to last year’s 76.4%.

Black Friday still the biggest day for holiday shoppers

Though the overall number of shoppers dropped this year, it remains clear that Black Friday still draws the biggest crowds of the weekend. According to the survey 86.9 million shoppers were in stores and online on Black Friday; nearly one-third (32.2% or 43.1 million) say they shopped on Thanksgiving Day, flat with last year’s 31.8%. Half (51.8%) say they shopped on Saturday and one-quarter will shop on Sunday (25.5%).

Of those who say they did shop on Saturday, three-quarters (75.2%) said they did or planned to shop specifically for Small Business Saturday.

Nearly 42% of holiday shoppers budget spent online

Holiday shoppers weren’t only in stores on Thanksgiving, they were also online, though it seems early online promotions before the big weekend may have taken some of consumer’s spending power with them. According to the survey the average person who shopped over the weekend spent $159.55 online, approximately 41.9% of their total average budget, down 10.2% from $177.67 last year.

Most shoppers say they shopped online on Black Friday (46.7%), though 36.3% say they shopped online on Saturday. Additionally more than one-quarter (26.2%) of holiday shoppers were online on Thanksgiving Day.

Clothing, toys, electronics popular with holiday shoppers

Discounted high-end apparel items, televisions and hot toys helped make up the minds of millions of holiday shoppers. According to the survey more than half of those in stores and online over the weekend bought apparel items (54.5%), one-third (32.6%) purchased toys and one-third (34.2%) bought electronics. Additionally, 34.9% purchased books, videos or video games, one in five (20%) purchased home décor or home furnishing items, 28.1% bought gift cards and 15% bought jewelry items.

Department stores steal the show

Half of holiday shoppers (50.7%), or 67.8 million people, say they did or will shop at department stores over the weekend. Additionally, 34.6% (46.2 million) did or will shop at discount stores and 29.1% (38.9 million) did or will shop at electronics stores. Nearly two in five (39.5%, 52.8 million) say they were online or will shop online by the weekend’s end.

“Though much shopping has been done by this point, it’s important to remember that there are still many weeks left in the holiday season, and savvy shoppers will continue to look for exclusive prices to purchase holiday gifts,” said Prosper’s Principal Analyst Pam Goodfellow. “As competition for customer dollars heats up, consumers will be the ultimate winners in the end. Shoppers this year have made it clear that they no longer only value deep discounts on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, they want the entire package from beginning to end – free shipping, early promotions, convenient ways to use their mobile devices and, of course, hard-to-beat online deals.”  

Advertising circulars, emails from retailers among favorites for bargain hunters

The survey found nearly half (47.1%) say they looked for information on Thanksgiving weekend deals in advertising circulars, and more than one-third (35%) say they utilized retailers’ emails to keep track of deals; over one-quarter (27.4%) searched online, and one in five (20.2%) say they paid attention to television commercials, which is in line with the percentage of people who say word of mouth helped them find deals (21.3%).

Two in five say they did or will use smartphone to make purchase decisions over weekend

Two in five smartphone owners say they used or will use their smartphone to make purchase decisions over the Thanksgiving weekend. According to the survey 45.4% of smartphone owners used their device to research products, look up retailer information, purchase items, redeem coupons and use apps to research or purchase items, similar to last year’s 46.4%; 47.4% of tablet owners have already used or will use their tablet to make purchase decisions, down from 52.1% last year.

18 – 34 year olds still driving Thanksgiving weekend traffic

Millennials, viewing the Thanksgiving weekend as a social experience, were a large part of the weekend crowds, both in stores and online. The survey found three-quarters (74.3%) of 18-34 year olds had shopped or were planning to shop over the weekend, far higher than the 35–54 age group (53.8%) and those 55+ (39.2%). Adults 18-34 were also more likely to shop at electronics stores (42.1%) and purchase clothing and accessories over the weekend (64.4%). This age group also spent or will spend more than the average adult ($409.45), and 46.4% of what they spent or will spend over the weekend will be online ($189.84).

About the Survey
The survey, conducted November 28-29, 2014 by Prosper Insights & Analytics for NRF, polled 4,631 consumers and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

Prosper Insights and Analytics delivers executives timely, consumer-centric insights from multiple sources. As a comprehensive resource of information, Prosper represents the voice of the consumer and provides knowledge to marketers regarding consumer views on the economy, personal finance, retail, lifestyle, media and domestic and world issues. www.ProsperDiscovery.com.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com.

Baker Book House held its annual Bible sale Saturday, Nov. 22. All in-stock Bibles were marked 50% off retail. Used books $15 and under also were half-price, and Bible covers and accessories were 30% off as well.

Shoppers were spending, despite the freezing rain and cold weather in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the store is located. Louis McBride, Bible and academic book buyer, said it was the store’s best sale ever.