Session 1 – Thursday – March 27, 2008 – 9:45am – 10:45am

1. Planning for Success – Opening a Church Bookstore Successfully – Basics 101

This track is created for the NEW or soon to be open store. It includes session leaders that have all been involved in managing successful stores as well as starting other church bookstores which have been successful. This session will cover these topics:

• Can your church support a store in the first place?
• Will your store complement the church's mission and vision?

If the answer is yes, let's begin . . .business plan (why you will exist)
Hosts: Heidi Bodette & Geni Hulsey

2. Finance 101 *

This session will cover financial basics that are essential to the operation of a bookstore or any business.  Basics include setting up a proper system for paperwork including purchase orders, invoices, statements, daily sales summaries and deposits.  Attendee’s will also receive a ZCD with various business form templates which can be customized to their store.  Also to be discussed will be billing and ministry purchases. (Repeated from 2007 Gathering).
Instructor – George Thomsen, The Harvest Store, Riverside, California

3.      Customer Service 101 * - Helping Them Buy – FRONTLINE STAFF FOCUS
This session will include information and training for frontline staff in how to use creative and effective customer service techniques to increase sales and develop customer loyalty.
Instructor:  Heidi Macias, Book’s of Hope, Rosemount, Minnesota

4.      Marketing 101 * – Catching Your Congregations Attention
As church stores, we have weekly captive audiences.  But we all face the challenge of how to get the word out about what products and services we have to offer.  We will discuss ideas on how to market to your church staff, your congregation, and ideas on how to partner with your pastors to equip the congregation.
Instructor:  Bobby Williams, Gateway Church, Southlake, Texas

5.      Creative Display Ideas – FRONTLINE STAFF FOCUS
The How and Why to have gifts in your Church bookstore no matter what size your store is!   Showing and explaining how gifts can add a wonderful dimension to your store. Good product displays creates more interest and sales. Added to books it attracts wide range of customers. Display ideas for cross merchandising, grouping product, and product selection. Hope you come away with ideas that really fit your store location large to small.
Instructor:  Julie Swecker, Daily Bread Books, Lakeville, Minnesota

6.      Inventory 101 *
Are you just getting started or struggling to make your store’s inventory work for you?  This class may be for you.
Common inventory issues that relate to vendor relations, inter-church relations, weekly buying, and special events are among the topics to be discussed.  (Repeated from 2007 Gathering)
Instructor:  Rick Jones, Bellevue Christian Bookstore, Memphis, Tennessee

7.      Bookstore Manager – User Session
Keeping your System Up and Running:  Verifying back ups, reliable internet, wired vs. wireless, anti-virus issues,
Credit card sales, ATM’s
Instructor:  Randy Voorhees

8.   Good To Great Management - How To Be a Good Manager
Instructor: Andrew McGovern, The Harvest Store, Riverside, California

Session 2 – Thursday – March 27, 2008 – 11:00am – Noon

9.      Planning for Success – Opening a Church Bookstore Successfully – Basics 102
This is a continuation of the Prospective and New Store Track.  This session focuses on finances.  How much budget will you receive?  Then, creating a budget for a church bookstore (how you spend their $$$).
Finance 101 for the NEW or Prospective Church bookstore.
Hosts:  Heidi Bodette & Geni Hulsey

10.      Finance 201 *
Financial statements are important documents of which retail managers must have a basic understanding if they are to be able to effectively manage their stores.  We will look at the basic structure of these statements and what they tell us about business.  We will also look at the effect that manager’s everyday decisions have on the financial statements and the performance of a business.  We will focus on the critical numbers and learn how to use these statements as a diagnostic tool so that we can make necessary adjustments. ( Repeated from 2007 Gathering)
Instructor:  George Thomsen,  The Harvest Store, Riverside, California

11.      Inventory 201 *
Are you ready for the next level of inventory management?  This class is based on the philosophy that a church bookstore’s inventory is a direct extension of the store’s leadership in the church.  10 key observations will be shred and discussed .  ( Repeated from 2007 Gathering )
Instructor:  Rick Jones, Bellevue Christian Bookstore, Memphis, Tennessee

12. Big Ideas for Small Church Stores
If you have a bookstore that is 500 sq. ft. or smaller, this is the workshop for you.  Small church bookstores have their own unique advantages and challenges.  In this session, you will learn tips to help you make the most of your limited space and resources.  ( Repeat from 2007 Gathering ).
Instructor:  Jackie Johnson, Cornerstone Methodist Church, Bear, Delaware

13.      Empowering & Engaging Volunteers . . . and Staff
Want to find – and keep – great volunteers?  Spread out the work load so that no one gets burned out? Encourage and motivate people to find their fit and step up? Don’t miss this workshop, where you’ll learn:    What’s more dangerous than a totally off-track volunteer? How you recruit without begging, bribing or extorting?   The best way to say thank you to your volunteers?  How you “fire” a volunteer?  
Instructor:  Susan Chipman, Granger Community Church, Granger, Indiana

14. Music Sales 101 * – FRONTLINE STAFF FOCUS
Instructor:  Robert Brenner, Integrity Music, Mobile, Alabama

15. Church Staff Relationships
Instructors:  Deb Graham, Prestonwood Bookstore, Plano, TX

16. Bookstore Manager – User Session
Open Session to Anyone: “Things to consider When Computerizing and adding new technology to your store”.
Instructor:  Randy Voorhees

 

100 Level classes have been designed for those who are NEW Church Bookstore Managers and are recommended.
200 Level classes are for more established stores who need guidance in this particular area or topic

Session 3 – Friday – March 28, 2008 – 1:45pm – 2:45pm

17.      Planning for Success – Opening a Church Bookstore Successfully – Basics 106
This is a continuation of the Prospective and New Store Track.  This final session will discuss the following topics:                 Why do relationships matter?   Pastors & Church Staff.  Church bookstores in your area.  Your competition – where is it?  Go for a visit!
Hosts:  Heidi Bodette & Geni Hulsey

18.      Systems 101 * - Systemizing Your Store
While a very high percentage of small businesses fail in the first two years of operation, this is not true for franchises.  What is the difference?  The answer is that franchises have a proven way of doing business with successful systems.  In this seminar you will learn how to systematize your store to improve operational efficiency and the bottom line.  You will also learn principle that make the difference between being merely a good retail operation and a great one.
Instructors:  George Thomsen & Andrew McGovern, Harvest Bookstore & Café, Riverside, California

19.      Customer Service 201 – FRONTLINE STAFF FOCUS
Instructor: Steffanie Methvin, Christ Church Bookstore, Plano, TX

20. Small but Mighty (designed especially for the small store 500 sq ft and smaller)
Making an impact:  Learn tips on how to run a successful small bookstore.
Instructor:  Jackie Johnson, Cornerstone Methodist Church, Bear, Delaware

21.      Making Your Own Products
Does your church bookstore also oversee production of sermons on CD or DVD?  What is your process for planning for upcoming weekend messages?  Do you make these available in individuals and series or just series?  We will address all these questions plus some ideas on systematization of your product production area.
Instructor:  Bobby Williams, Gateway Church, Southlake, Texas

22. The Independent Owner and the Church Bookstore
Learn what role the independent store owner can have in the church bookstore. From consultant to store owner there are many ways an independent store owner can work with the church to create a win/win opportunity for both the store and the church.
Instructor:  Bill Tilley, The Faithful Source, Ashburn, Virginia

23.      Brushing up on Bible Sales – FRONTLINE STAFF FOCUS
The Bible, God’s Word is the single most important item you have in your store. Would you like to know more about the many translations, categories, and bindings available? Every front liner in your store needs be equipped to help your customers navigate the vast selections in bibles we have today. Learn the right questions to ask and have the right answers to give.
Instructor:  Joanna Cooke, The Garden Bookstore, Houston, Texas

24. Children’s Trends – Creating a Children’s Department that Sizzles
Learn about current trends in the Children's Marketplace and how to use those trends to attract more customers, plan special events using those trends, and marketing your Children's department while still maintaining your core products and upholding your churches beliefs.
Instructor:  Kelly Graham, Prestonwood Church, Plano, Texas

25. Bookstore Manager – User Session
Efficiencies:  Inventory Management – getting the right mix, creating PO’s, ordering efficiencies, off-site sales.
Instructor:  Steve Ammons

Session 4 – Friday – March 28, 2008 – 3:00pm – 4:15pm

Closing Session – Includes a Panel of Regional Directors, Instructors & Vendors   Answering your questions
Hosted by Geni Hulsey – President of the Church Bookstore Network

*Sessions are subject to change without notice.

Click Here to download the Workshop flyer.