Best-Selling Christian Books Hurting Christian Bookstores

[Khephra]

Christian Books Hit Secular Stores
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 20, 2004


Filed at 3:36 p.m. ET

The Better Book Room, a Christian retailer based in Wichita, Kan., closed down last fall after more than 50 years in business. The economy was part of the problem. So was the store's location -- a fading downtown neighborhood. And, said owner Tim Johnson, so was the popularity of Christian books.

``We've got competition we didn't have years ago,'' he said, citing Barnes & Noble, Borders, Wal-Mart and Target. ``Over the past few years, we were selling a lot less of the really popular titles.''

Million sellers such as Rick Warren's ``The Purpose Driven Life'' and the ``Left Behind'' novels by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye have transformed a specialized part of the book business into a billion dollar, highly competitive market.

But wider recognition for Christian books has actually hurt Christian booksellers. Books like ``The Purpose Drive Life,'' which once would have been sold exclusively in Christian stores, are now available at superstore chains, department stores and price clubs such as Sam's, often at much lower cost.

more..............

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Books-Christian-Closings.html

[Egalitarian Zetetic]

1. The irony, not a terrible loss though <nt>

[theboss]

2. I question their business model

If Christian-themed novels was the main source of their income, that's far too limited. Most Christian bookstores make their money by supplying Sunday School curriculum, VBS curriculum, Holiday materials, etc.

Though I imagine the Internet is killing that business now too since it is easier to order direclty from the publisher.

[cheezus]

3. I'd suspect it was the other reasons moreso

I don't have research to back this up, but it would seem logical that the kind of people who shop christian bookstores would continue to patronize the store even if it mean paying a little more (maybe not). By the same token, I'd guess that the casual reader who is getting these books at walmart or barnes and noble probably would not have otherwise gone looking for these books.

[theboss]

4. Like I said, there is more to the story

There is no way these stores rely that heavily on "Left Behind" books and their ilk. Something else had to happen to his business - like a large church dropping it as a supplier or something.

[Khephra]

5. I don't know

They could have become too reliant on one product (The "Left Behind" stuff) and ignored other aspects of the market.

A similar situation happened with game/comic stores during the Magic: The Gathering days.

[eridani]

6. Same is true for feminist and gay bookstores

When the lit goes mainstream, you can get it anywhere, and specialty shops are less needed. The only way to survive is to be a part of a local literary scene, with readings, support of local authors, etc.