A leading regional Christian retailer has told how looking out for others and involving customers in ministry outreaches has helped his business thrive despite the recent challenges in the industry.

Mark Schoepke, owner/general manager of the Tree of Life Christian Outlets chain and two Parable Christian Store franchises in Oregon, instituted changes after recognizing that "the trends in our industry were not looking good" and working with staff to identify what set their stores apart from others.

That has included giving away more products to customers-such as presenting moms with a long-stemmed rose around Mother's Day-and inviting shoppers to support the stores' sending soccer balls for use in evangelistic outreaches and Bibles to Africa.

"We ask our customers to give $5 towards supplying the items," Schoepke writes in a Christian Retailing article detailing his stores' efforts. "Depending on how much the balls or Bibles cost, we will double that amount."

In addition, Schoepke and his team also decided that "rather than just focus on our own concerns, we wanted to do what we could to help other Christian bookstores in the area stay in business, too. We are, after all, brothers and sisters in Christ and co-laborers in His kingdom."

That has involved "adopting" some stores by sending product to help them financially, sharing ideas that have worked, praying with them and helping with inventory and financial reviews.

Writing about the initiatives-that also include setting specific sales goals--in an Industry Forum guest column in the August issue of Christian Retailing, Schoepke added: "Most importantly, we have prayed for all these stores and let them know that what they are doing is very important. They are in a spiritual battle, and what they are sharing with their customers can change hearts for eternity."

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