rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

CBA, The Friedman Group sign deal to bring professional training to industry retailers

 

CBA entered an agreement with The Friedman Group to provide in-person and online/on-demand retail training. The scope of training will range from customer service and sales to store management and operations.

The program will launch at UNITE 2017, CBA’s annual convention this year in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27-30.

The Friedman Group has more than 35 years of retail training that has helped small and large retail companies implement processes for goal setting, metrics analysis, coaching, hiring, training, progressive discipline, and other disciplines that help retailers succeed.

“Our mission is to help retailers create world-class customer experiences that will set their companies apart from the competition and foster growth,” said Marlene Cordry, The Friedman Group president.

Training is designed for frontline sales people, sales managers, field supervisors, and owners.

CBA selected The Friedman Group after discussions with a group of leading storeowners and managers who voiced needs and expressed recommendations.

The online training program contains the latest innovative coaching, leadership, and accountability courses for managers at every level, plus basic customer-service and sales courses for every team member’s skill level. This will provide not only easy access to training and information, but also make it easier for stores to conduct consistent and effective professional training that advances customer service and sales capabilities, Cordry said.

The training platform has more than 50,000 users and is available very affordably via web or mobile devices.

“Every aspect and level of retail management will be easily accessed to help Christian-store leaders and staff create engaging customer experiences that connect with people and ensure their needs are met,” said Tammy Horvath, CBA membership director.

Additionally, CBA and The Friedman Group will plan a two-and-a-half day retail management seminar to help storeowners and managers organize and operate their stores to compete more effectively.

Wendi Swanson, a Friedman Group trainer and presenter, worked with CBA several years ago with high marks from attendees and returns to help lead in-person sessions at UNITE 2017’s Retail Academy plus a customer experience workshop.

“I am excited to be able to reconnect with Christian retailers during a time of retailing transition,” Swanson said. “Despite the rise of e-commerce and online shopping, consumers will continue to shop in stores. Retailers must be able to provide an exceptional customer experience to counter or complement online trends and keep customers coming back to the store.”

The Friedman Group
The Friedman Group is a 35-year-old company that specializes in retail sales, management and operations training. Its business is helping salespeople sell more. With an unparalleled track record, the company has thousands of success stories from many years of focused effort to bring a higher level of performance and professionalism to retail in just about every retail industry. 

CBA, the Association for Christian Retail
CBA is the leading association for providers of Christian products to reach all people. It supplies vital connections, information, education and encouragement to Christian resource providers.

Contact: Sharon Roberts
E-mail: sroberts@cbaonline.org  719-272-3504

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 WHEN GOD SPEAKS
JOSHUA GILES
2 SEEING THE SUPERNATURAL
LEE STROBEL
3 EXPERIENCE JESUS. REALLY.
JOHN ELDREDGE
4 THE TRUST JOURNEY
LYSA TERKEURST
5 AMBUSH
COBLE, COLLEEN
6 A MILLION TINY MOMENTS
EMILY A. JENSEN AND LAURA WIFLER
7 THE MARRIAGE YOU WANT
SHEILA WRAY GREGOIRE AND KEITH GREGOIRE
8 TOUGH TOPICS
KELLY K
9 LIFT YOUR EYES
WHITNEY NEWBY
10 MAKE SENSE OF YOUR STORY
ADAM YOUNG
View All
1 SILENT HORIZONS
CHAD ROBICHAUX
2 EVERY HOUR UNTIL THEN
GABRIELLE MEYER
3 THE HIDDEN PRINCE
TESSA AFSHAR
4 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
5 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
6 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
7 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
9 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
10 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
View All
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
5 WHEREVER YOU GO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW...
MELISSA B. KRUGER
6 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
7 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
8 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
9 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
10 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
3 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
4 THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE SELECTED THOUGHTS AND SCRIPTURES FOR THE GRADUATE
RICK WARREN
5 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
6 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
7 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
8 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All
1 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
2 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
6 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
7 MINI DEVOTIONS GRACE FOR TODAY
SOLLY OZROVECH
8 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
9 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
10 HEAVEN
RANDY ALCORN
View All
1 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
3 ESV STUDY BIBLE
PACKER, J. I.
4 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
MYERS, RAECHEL
5 KJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
6 ESV STUDENT STUDY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
7 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
8 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV ECONOMY LARGE PRINT BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NLT LARGE PRINT ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE, OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
9 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
10 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New Revised Standard Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 EL PODER DE LA MADRE QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
8 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
9 DE MENOS A MAS
RASHEL DIAZ
10 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, ROSA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
5 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, TURQUESA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
6 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 UN HOMBRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
JIM GEORGE
8 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
9 ESTUDIO BIBLICO DE 5 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
10 ESCOGE EL GOZO
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA webinar: Communicating Appreciation in the Workplace
August 8 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

Key Account Sales Coordinator
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Accounting Assistant
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Book Marketing Manager
Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL | Hybrid
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA