"As Christian books boom, Christian stores struggle"
Published May 24, 2004
Headline over an Associated Press story I read this morning, about another example of the law of unintended consequences.
As Christian books have become popular, carried now by mainstream stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes & Noble, and Borders, the little Christian bookstores in dumpy malls and poor parts of town are going out of business.
People now get the really popular titles, books by Rick Warren and Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, while they're out shopping for other stuff.
No need any longer for a special trip to the little mom-and-pop place.
Not only are books like The Purpose Driven Life available everywhere now, but they're also much cheaper at the big stores.
The little Christian bookstores, having lost their "traffic builders," have lost everything.
Membership in the Christian Booksellers Association peaked at around 3,000 in the early 90s, but has now dropped to 2,370, with 95 stores gone in the past year alone.
Read the full story here.
- "As Christian books boom, Christian stores struggle"
- Published: May 24, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Writer: bookofjoe
- bookofjoe's BC Writer page
- bookofjoe's personal site
- Spread the Word
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Comments on this articleComments
I'm very religious, so when I want a Bible, I just steal one from a motel room.
There is an organization (Spread The Word Ministries) which offers an online opportunity to start your own Christian bookstore. Pretty cool, I know some of them are doing well! Also it's helping to put money back into the Christian community!
My store is http://TheGospelGiftShop.com , this way you can see how they look!
Good morning
l am rev ayobola from ( new life mission church ) in nigeria and we
hereby to purchasing these .....
bonded leather bible ( 210 copies )
these bible are needed for our ministry purposes
am waiting for the total cost with the shipping charge via post office ( air parcel
7-10 days shipment ) to nigeria. your reply will be highly appreciated.
thanks
ayobola
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Hey, maybe this'll weed out the stores that sell nothing but mainstream jibba-jabba, and produce new stores that carry the stuff I want, like, maybe, real theology.