Publishers Weekly - October 30, 2017

News

Nearlyninemonthsafter Family Christian Stores (FCS)—the largest Christian retail chain in the U.S.—started closing its 240

outlets in 36 states as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, other booksellers have begun to fill in the gaps left by the retailer’s absence.

Kari Kryder, formerly an assistant manager at the FCS in Flint, Mich., opened an independent CBA (Association for Christian Retail) bookstore in the same location on August 5. The new Faith Christian Store employs several former FCS staffers and it is able to attract the chain’s former customers with a similar but expanded inventory that includes seasonal home décor, toys, apparel, and more.

“Family Christian’s closure
created the opportunity for us to go ahead and take the step of
business ownership,” Kryder said. “I observed first-hand the
areas in which Family Christian was missing the mark for this
community—what we were asked for, but never had.”
Kirk Ford, who is also a former store manager for FCS in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opened the Christian Store on August 2 to
replace an FCS storefront, offering Christian books as well as
used books, CDs, and DVDs, according to its website.

A third former FCS manager, Bill Harman, received donations from FCS customers as well as support from investors in order to establish the Connections Christian Store, a privately owned gift and bookstore in Lynden, Wash., on August 10. The store is located in the same shopping center where an FCS store recently stood, but, he said, its inventory focuses more on new releases and bestsellers than on backlist books.

“Sales have exceeded expectations,” Harman said, noting that FCS’s closure is an advantage to independent stores.

However, “it’s imperative to know your market, and to manage expenses,” Harman said. “Property and lease expenses coupled with payroll expenses cannot exceed 25%

of gross sales, or you’ll never make it.”
In Mason, Ohio, which had an
FCS, the Belong Christian
Bookstore opened its doors in
September. Owner Cindy Bell
sells used books, Bibles, and
Christian gifts, and she often
hosts events with local artists and
authors. “Everyone is very sad for
the loss of Christian bookstores,”
she said. “Customers are showing
me a grassroots movement to get
the word out and get support
behind me—on social media
and at Bible studies, churches,
and schools.”
FCS has also given rise to a
new, smaller chain of stores.

Troy Wormell, president of Harrison House Publishers, acquired 15 FCS locations, with plans to reopen them as Empowered Life stores that offer bibles, books, and gifts. To date,

12 Empowered Life stores have opened, while two more will open on November 11.

In addition to making room for entrepreneurs to open new stores, FCS’s closure has affected existing bookstores. Lifeway Christian Stores expanded into four locations that were previously occupied by FCS. The chain, which has more than 170

locations, already overlapped with over 140 former FCS outlets in towns such as Fort Wayne, Ind., and it has no plans for expansion in other locations, a Lifeway spokesperson said.

Sue Smith, manager of Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich., and chairman of the board at the CBA, said Baker’s sales after FCS’s closing were 20% higher than during the same period in 2016. Three FCS locations shuttered in Grand Rapids in April, followed by several more along the West Michigan lakeshore. Baker, which is independently owned, was able to tap into FCS’s church customer base, and it now stocks products

Picking Up the Pieces After Family Christian’s Collapse The bankruptcy of the country’s largest religious bookstore chain has been an opportunity for some booksellers