A leading distributor of Spanish Christian books in Puerto Rico is reporting booming business--despite a recession in the last four years in the U.S. territory located in the northeastern Caribbean.

Ricky Feliciano told of his success with Pura Vida Books--offering encouragement to the U.S. Christian product industry as it faces economic challenges--during a buying trip to see American accounts.

Pura Vida Books--which distributes titles for Grupo Nelson (Thomas Nelson), Editorial Vida (Zondervan), Editorial Unilit, B&H Español (B&H Publishing Group), Tyndale Español (Tyndale House Publishers) and Casa Creación, the Spanish imprint of Christian Retailing's parent company, Strang Communications--"has been growing constantly during those four years of a recession-30% growth annually," he told Christian Retailing. "This year, we've hit it out of the ballpark. We have grown 140% in the first three months because of new open markets."

Pura Vida started distributing books to 16 Wal-Mart stores and four Costco locations in January. Pura Vida also distributes to nine Sam's Club locations, three Borders and 120 pharmacies and hospitals.

"We are the biggest Christian distributor in Puerto Rico," said Feliciano, who started Pura Vida in 2002, although the company nearly went bankrupt in 2004. Though there are two other Christian distributors in Puerto Rico, "I don't consider them as my competition. I consider the secular distributors as my competition," he said. "We found out that non-Christians buy Christian books. The secular market is hungry for Christian books."

Strang Grupo Hispano Director Lydia Morales said Casa Creación's sales have grown 364% since 2005, including 47% during 2007-2008. Casa Creación's top sellers through Pura Vida include Cielo es tan real! (Heaven Is So Real!, Charisma House) by Choo Thomas and 23 minutos en el infierno (23 Minutes in Hell, Charisma House) by Bill Wiese.

"We are amazed of the growth that Pura Vida has shown in the last four years with our products," she said. "Ricky has been able to penetrate the secular market in Puerto Rico and almost quadruple our sales."

Feliciano noted that Christian books appeal to the mass market in Puerto Rico because of three reasons: their message touches the heart and mind; the good quality of book covers; and good price point. "This is how we have competed against secular books," he said. "We have taken the shelf spaces of secular books in secular stores and filled them with Christian books."

Feliciano, who has 15 employees-up from a staff of 12 in 2008-expects Pura Vida's growth to continue. "The reason is there is a hunger in Puerto Rico for spirituality," said Feliciano, who also owns a Christian bookstore in Mayuaex, Puerto Rico. "A buyer from Sam's Club asked me, ‘I don't understand how your Christian books sell.' I tell him that people are in need. They are looking for comfort and encouragement."

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