Christian products industry veteran Michelle Amster has launched Merch-It, a new retail design consulting agency.

Merch-It's first client is Johnsen & Taylor Bookstore, slated to open in Wheaton, Ill., in late October. The bookstore is a joint venture by Carol Stream, Ill.-based Tyndale House Publishers with South Africa-based Christian Publishing Company, comprised of Christian Art Gifts and CUM Books.

Amster was retained to design the 4,800-square-foot store after one of the investors of Johnsen & Taylor saw her work at The Pointe bookstore, located at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.

Launched in June, Merch-It has also completed a bookstore for Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., slated to open in October. Merch-It also offers consulting services for gift companies seeking to enter the Christian products channel, including Show Offs Art.

Most recently, Amster provided consulting services within the digital-media company Integra Interactive. "Last year, the board of Integra decided to focus solely on its core business of digital-media kiosks," Amster said. "Retail design, display fixtures and merchandising didn't fit within its mission statement."

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