Workshops

Wednesday – January 7, 2009

Early Bird Arrivals
7:30am – 10:00am
2009 VBS Presentation Breakfast
Come early to The Gathering 2009 – and have breakfast on us! Come and get a preview of the VBS offerings from David C. Cook, Standard, Gospel Light, and Group Publishing! RSVP to Dave Condiff at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
 
9:15am – 10:15am
Bookstore Manager – Wednesday Morning session
Bookstore Manager
Things to Consider When Computerizing Your Store – A look at Bookstore Manager Software What do I need?  Do I really Need It?
Open Session to Anyone
 
 
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Trends: Five Things That You Should Keep an Eye On
Jim Seybert
As a Strategic Futurist, Jim Seybert looks for subtle changes in the status quo and attempts to imagine how things might be different when the future finally arrives. In this session, Jim will share five trends he is watching and discusses who church bookstores (and others) might take advantage or prepare for what is just beyond the horizon. (This is an update I do every two years - the last one was presented at CBE in 2007).
 
Bringing Book & Gift Sales to Life through Life Center Merchandising
Eric Scott
As Manager of Gaither Family Resources, Eric Scott will show you how they organize their store differently. They organize their store around 16 Life Centers that merchandise book and gift products together by theme. This session will include some hands on training and the philosophy behind their choices.
 
Systemizing Your Store
George Thomsen
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 makes the difference between being merely a good retail operation and a great one.
 
Bookstore Manager – User Meeting 1 – Session 1
Bookstore Manager
Keeping your System Up and Running:  Verifying back ups, reliable Internet, wired vs. wireless, anti-virus issues, credit card sales, ATM’s.    Overview of New Features.
 
Big Ideas for Small Stores
Jackie Johnson
Small bookstores can have a big impact on their church and community. Discover ideas to help make your small store a success while working with limited space and budget. Jackie Johnson has over 20 years of Christian Retail experience including owning an independent Christian Bookstore, managing a large chain store and opening a church bookstore in Bear, Delaware. Cornerstone Christian Bookstore opened in 2006 and was named “2008 Church Bookstore of the Year” (small bookstore category)
 
Wise Buys. Buying What is Best
Troy Baker
Buying what your selling is one of the most critical aspects to running an efficient and effective store.  Often buyers spend a majority of their time and resources on unproven products and on inventory that does not involve their core ministry and sales.   This class will help you to focus on the essentials of buying and managing inventory while applying good retailing principles to your ministry and business.
 
Effective Ways to Expand Your Business & Ministry Online
Jay Langston
“Innovative will provide you with proven methods to effectively use the Internet to promote your bookstore, increase sales and drive customer traffic. Attending stores will learn how to use tools such as Google, YouTube, e-mail marketing & e-commerce to make their store stand out from the competition.”
 
Secrets To Outreach Through Apparel Success!
Retail Panel
Find out how YOU can revolutionize your apparel and accessories sales and outreach NOW!     Join an exclusive panel of store managers just like you as they share their secrets to success with apparel and accessories. You will discover real life strategies and tools you can use today to increase traffic and sales—and reach more people for Christ! You will find out how to make more dollars per square foot for these categories, but most important, you will be helping your customers spread God’s Word through effective outreach tools. Don’t miss it!     
 
Serving Churches – Expanding Your Business
Beth Ryan & Jack Countryman
Increase revenue while serving all ministries within a church (Pastoral, Education Dept., Small Group/Home Fellowship Groups, Youth, Men, Women, Children, Singles, Seniors, Evangelism/Outreach, VBS, Mother’s Day Out, Prison Ministry, etc).  Thomas Nelson Christian Retail Sales/Church Development team will share how to consult with a church to maximize effectiveness, increase revenue while fulfilling your ministry call of being a bookstore owner/manager.  In addition, you will be provided example scripts, visual tools, campaign ideas and more.  Plus learn how you can contribute to influence the publishing process based on actual examples of how other churches have impacted publishing in the past.  
 
The Wise Man Builds His House with Cards!
Suzanne Taylor & Kevin Backes
Building you store traffic with a great Card Department is sure to bring you repeat customers throughout the year. Learn how you can cover your overhead costs and be profitable with card sales. This interactive session is sure to present ideas that will help your sales grow!
 
3:15pm – 4:15pm
And The Survey Says . . .Knowing Your Flock
Jim Seybert
We are called to be shepherds to the flock we're given and in this session, Jim Seybert will give bookstore managers some very practical advice on how to gather knowledge about their customers and potential shoppers. Participants will come away with examples of survey tools they can use at little of no cost, as well as tips on how to take advantage of consumer research already available in the market.
 
Making Christmas a WOW Shopping Experience for your customers
Eric Scott
At Gaither Family Resources – decorating for Christmas includes adding 40 decorated trees to the sales floor. Discover how this effort keeps customers coming back year after year and how you can make the experience extraordinary!
 
Financial Basics for Your Store
George Thomsen
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.
 
Bookstore Manager – User Meeting 2 – Session 2
Bookstore Manager
Keeping your System Up and Running:  Verifying back ups, reliable Internet, wired vs. wireless, anti-virus issues, credit card sales, ATM’s.    Overview of New Features. This session is a continuation of the user meeting hosted by Bookstore Manager.
 
Finding and Keeping Volunteers
Susan Chipman
Want to find – and keep – great volunteers? Spread out the workload 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?  
 
Rediscovering The Lost Arts of Salesmanship
Shane White
This session will cover tips to include: Easy and “no pressure” tips to increase sales at the cash wrap,   finding new customers for special order services, maintaining existing customers through “above and beyond” customer service,  teaching staff to go the extra mile and beyond to keep customers happy and satisfied.
           
Don’t Go It Alone
Jim Clark
In today’s market, it’s difficult to do it alone.  We need to work together as independents.  Learn the various opportunities and tools available to help your retail ministry succeed.
 
Serving Churches – Expanding Your Business(repeat)
Beth Ryan & Jack Countryman
Increase revenue while serving all ministries within a church (Pastoral, Education Dept., Small Group/Home Fellowship Groups, Youth, Men, Women, Children, Singles, Seniors, Evangelism/Outreach, VBS, Mother’s Day Out, Prison Ministry, etc).  Thomas Nelson Christian Retail Sales/Church Development team will share how to consult with a church to maximize effectiveness, increase revenue while fulfilling your ministry call of being a bookstore owner/manager.  In addition, you will be provided example scripts, visual tools, campaign ideas and more.  Plus learn how you can contribute to influence the publishing process based on actual examples of how other churches have impacted publishing in the past.  
 
Discover the Secrets that Help You sell more Fiction in Your Store
Stuart McGuiggan
This session will help you learn the principles that have helped many stores build their Christian fiction sales. Come discover some of the principles and strategies of stores who do it best! The Panel discussion will include fiction authors and stores whom have found success in selling Christian Fiction.
 

Friday, January 9, 2009

Workshop SuperSessions – 1:30pm – 2:30pm
2 Great Options!
 
Children's SuperSession – led by Mary Manz Simon
Christian Gift SuperSession - led by Janet McKinley of Lakewood Church