A Christian retailer has started a Facebook network to swap ideas and encouragement with other stores.

The CBA stayConnect at the social media site was launched by Todd Whitaker, a second-generation Christian retailer whose father, Jim, was chairman of CBA until earlier last year.

He has started the group as "a place to come and fellowship with others in this industry and maybe learn some things along the way," he said. "All of us, especially retailers, need to stay connected to discover the best practices of other stores and maybe find the one idea that becomes something new for their store."

Starting in his father's New Life Christian Stores in Lynchburg, Va., at 12 years of age, Whitaker now manages one of the business' new locations in Forest, Va. He came up with the idea of CBA stayConnect--which is not officially connected to the trade association--after establishing another Facebook group, CBA Kids.

That group was started to connect children of CBA members who attended the organization's summer conventions with their parents. "We would always hang out at the conventions and then not see each other for another year," Whitaker said. "Now we've grown up and gone separate ways. Most of us are still in the industry, but not attending (CBA conventions) consistently."

CBA Executive Director Curtis Riskey said that he welcomed Whitaker's initiative. "Currently, it is not an official CBA site, however, we are working with Todd to see how this may develop," he said. "It is certainly possible that CBA would be more involved with this site at some point. We are encouraged any time Christian retailers are communicating with one another and sharing ideas."

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