February 3, 2006

Christian booksellers fear Wal-Mart

NASHVILLE , Tenn. -- At the annual convention of the Christian Booksellers Association, retailers continued to fret over competition from Wal-Mart and big bookstore chains.

Association membership peaked at around 3,000 stores in the early 1990s but now totals less than 2,300. CBA said 337 retailers closed last year.

CBA President Bill Anderson said independent retailers should emphasize their wider selection, knowledgeable employees and partnerships with local churches.

To compete, independents look beyond books to sell music, gifts, jewelry, stationery, hymnals and communion supplies. Books now account for only 40 percent of sales in Christian retail stores.

Religious books, primarily Christian, generated U.S. sales of nearly $338 million in 2003.

AP

©Associated Press 2006

 

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