Retailer Mollie Lassiter Flowers surprised everyone at the Christian Authors Network (CAN) devotional time at last month’s Christian Product Expo (CPE) Murfreesboro when she asked that her big prize be given to three other stores.

After hearing from CAN President Angela Breidenbach and fellow authors Karen Whiting, Ava Pennington and Cecil Murphey, and before meeting other CAN authors in attendance, retailers were presented with prize packages of books each worth more than $1,000.

The winning retailers were Ron and Karen Grosse of Lighthouse Christian Books, Green Bay, Wis.; Tom Goeller of Colonial Books and Gifts, Mason Neck, Va.; and Mollie Lassiter Flowers of Gospel Music & Christian Bookstore, Laurinburg, N.C. But, instead of taking home such a large prize, Flowers asked that three other names be drawn for each of her boxes. Those winners were: Mike and Deb Woodard of Bethany Book and Gift, Baxter, Minn.; Scott Gabrielson of Church Mart, Rocky Mount, Va.; and Nancy Ford of Words of Wisdom, Swansea, Ill.

Flowers said her store wasn’t struggling as much as some others, so she wanted to bless other retailers with the big prize.

She and her husband have owned their store since 1991 and have known hard times in their business. Flowers said she hopes “these bookstore owners just don’t give up.”

Reflecting on better economic times, she told Christian Retailing: “The Lord just helped us and we just kept increasing and increasing in sales, and then, of course, the economy went south somewhat and all the industry from our county left. We are probably now at a 16.9% unemployment rate. Business is not what I want it to be, but still God is providing. I’m paying my bills ahead of time, like three weeks in advance.”

When CPE closed, three other retailers were selected on the show floor as winners of the cash prize drawings: $400: The Bookstore and Coffee Shop at Chapelwood, Houston; $600: Sweet Spirit Parable Christian Store, Marietta, Ga.; and $1,500: Living Water Christian Resource Center, Big Rapids, Mich.

CPE events will be expanded to the Atlanta market next year. The one-day Atlanta event will be held Jan. 9 and July 10 in conjunction with AmericasMart, the country’s largest gift mart. The longer CPE events will be back in Hershey, Pa., Jan. 19-21, at the Hershey Lodge. Jud Wilhite and Davis Bunn will be the keynote speakers for the Monday evening banquet. CPE Murfreesboro 2014 will be held Sept. 21-23.

• Prev
• Next