Test results are in from Thomas Nelson's new Felt Needs Bible Merchandising System. Sales data from 11 test stores nationwide indicate that they experienced better-than-industry-average increases in Bible product movement, the company announced.

"Overall we were very pleased with what we learned from the test and the positive impact the new Felt Needs Bible Merchandising system had on increasing Bible sales," commented Wayne Hastings Sr., vice president and group publisher for Thomas Nelson's Bible group.

The test stores experienced a 20% increase in their combined weekly average Bible sales compared to their 2006 weekly average prior to the test being implemented, as well as a 12% increase over their 2005 weekly average.

ECPA STATS data indicates that Christian retail stores in general experienced a 14% decline in Bible sales during the 2006 test period compared to their 2005 weekly average, but the stores who helped test the merchandising system saw a 26% increase over the industry during the five-week test period last fall.

"What makes this result even better is that we did nothing to change the participating stores' inventory mix, traffic patterns or marketing. We simply gave them a merchandising solution based on customer need that replaced a feature/translation system," Hastings added.

The publisher-neutral system is designed to help consumers find a Bible in three steps or less, using color-coded merchandising and a shopping guide categorized by customer need.

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