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

Christian retailers enjoy a successful season

(January 11, 2018) – The Parable Group, a leading marketing agency for the Christian product industry, announced today that Christmas sales were up for the Christian retailers they serve with print/digital promotions. Collectively, November and December sales were up 0.9%. A key piece of that increase was Thanksgiving week—when sales groupwide increased 3.2%—with 68% of their partner stores seeing greater sales than 2016.

“Over the past few years new and emerging technology has transformed the way customers shop. But many savvy Christian retailers, committed to serving their local communities, are investing in themselves—in products, stores, marketing, data and technology. These Christmas sales numbers are very encouraging—there’s real hope and a future for Christian retail,” said Steve Potratz, President of The Parable Group.

To attract new customers and re-engage existing customers over the Christmas 2017 season, The Parable Group of Christian retailers used coordinated print catalogs and in-store signage as a promotional foundation and layered in various digital marketing tactics, like email and social media advertising.

Over 6 million emails were sent to customers from The Parable Group on behalf of retailers during November/December, representing a mix of mass weekly emails and highly targeted emails based on customer purchase history. Additionally, various Facebook campaigns reached nearly 950,000 people in November/ December on behalf of participating stores. These social media campaigns served over 3.7 million impressions to geo-targeted Christian consumer audiences.

Christian retailers also utilized tools on ParableConnect, the 24/7 information hub, to ensure they stayed in-stock of promoted products.

“We’re happy to see positive numbers and sales increases again. While not every Christian retailer has turned around, this suggests that more gains can be achieved. Retailers who can adjust and incorporate print and digital marketing touchpoints, backed by data, are likely going to be successful in 2018,” said Potratz.

The Parable Group is a privately owned multi-service Christian marketing agency based in San Luis Obispo, CA. Since 1985, we’ve served over 1,000 Christian brands; including retailers, publishers, churches, non-profits, film studios and more. Today, we pair decades of Christian consumer data with proven business practices, cutting-edge digital technologies, and thoughtful design to drive measurable results for those we serve. As CBA’s exclusive data warehouse partner, we also safeguard Cross:Scan data to help unite and improve the Christian products industry. For more information, contact sally.ross@parable.com or visit www.parablegroup.com.

Contact: Sally Ross
Tel. (805) 329-4020  Email: sally.ross@parable.com

 

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 THE AVATAR
JONATHAN CAHN
2 THE BIBLIO DIET
JORDAN RUBIN AND JOSH AXE
3 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 CALLED TO TAKE A BOLD STAND
JACK HIBBS
6 ROSE BOOK OF BIBLE CHARTS, MAPS AND TIME LINES
ROSE PUBLISHING
7 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
8 ONE MINUTE WITH GOD FOR MEN
CHRISTIAN ART GIFTS
9 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
10 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
View All
1 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE PLUS STREAMING VIDEO
LISA HARPER
2 THE BIBLE, SIMPLIFIED
ZACH WINDAHL
3 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
4 THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
BEAR GRYLLS
5 THE GOSPEL WAY CATECHISM
TREVIN WAX AND THOMAS WEST
6 30 DAYS OF PRAYER
PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
7 A LITTLE THEOLOGY OF EXERCISE
DAVID MATHIS
8 RESCUE AT THE REEF
JAMESON REEDER AND MARY CATHERINE REEDER
9 THE SANDS OF SEA BLUE BEACH
RACHEL HAUCK
10 2025-2026 BOYD'S COMMENTARY
R. H. BOYD
View All
1 THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE
BEVERLY LEWIS
2 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
3 A SEA VIEW CHRISTMAS
JULIE KLASSEN
4 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
5 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
6 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
7 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
9 ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS CAROL
MELODY CARLSON
10 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
View All
1 THE AVATAR
JONATHAN CAHN
2 THE BIBLIO DIET
JORDAN RUBIN AND JOSH AXE
3 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 CALLED TO TAKE A BOLD STAND
JACK HIBBS
6 ROSE BOOK OF BIBLE CHARTS, MAPS AND TIME LINES
ROSE PUBLISHING
7 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
8 ONE MINUTE WITH GOD FOR MEN
CHRISTIAN ART GIFTS
9 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
10 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
3 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
4 THE CASE FOR FAITH
LEE STROBEL
5 EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FOR TEEN GIRLS
JANICE THOMPSON
6 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
7 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
8 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
9 THE HARBINGER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
JONATHAN CAHN
10 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
3 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
4 THE CASE FOR FAITH
LEE STROBEL
5 EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FOR TEEN GIRLS
JANICE THOMPSON
6 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
7 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
8 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
9 THE HARBINGER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
JONATHAN CAHN
10 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
View All
1 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
2 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
5 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST. JOHN
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
8 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
9 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
10 WINNING YOUR SPIRITUAL BATTLES
TONY EVANS
View All
1 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
2 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
3 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
4 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 KJV LARGE PRINT PEW BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER AND MARK DEVER AND JOHN PIPER
7 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NLT LARGE PRINT PREMIUM VALUE THINLINE BIBLE, Garden Pink
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
9 ESV JOURNALING BIBLE
ESV BIBLES
10 NIV VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS, ECONOMY
ESV BIBLES
3 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
4 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
ESV BIBLES
5 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, BLACK
THOMAS NELSON
6 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
7 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
8 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
9 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 CSB OUTREACH BIBLE
CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
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 Revised Standard Version
9 New American Standard Bible
10 New International Reader's Version
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
3 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
4 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
5 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 GUIA ESENCIAL DE LA BIBLIA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 HISTORIA DE LA IGLESIA CRISTIANA
JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT
10 HERMENEUTICA
E. LUND WITH ALICE E. LUCE
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL CON INDICE
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TIERRA SANTA
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
6 ¿Y AHORA QUE? GUIA PARA EL NUEVO CREYENTE
RALPH HARRIS
7 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
8 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
9 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
WARREN, RICK
10 COMO ORAR EN EL ESPIRITU
JOHN BUNYAN
View All

Upcoming Events

Top Shelf Book Cover Awards winners webcast
October 31, 2025
The Christy Award® Winners Gala webcast
November 7 | 7 pm central
ECPA PubU Online Conference
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025
ECPA Leadership Summit 2026
April 28-29, 2026 | Chicago

Career Center

Acquisitions Director, Children & Youth
Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois (Hybrid)
Graphic Designer II
New Leaf Publishing Group, Remote
Sales Manager
Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Hybrid)
Editor, Academic Books
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois (Hybrid)
Director of Editorial
The Good Book Company, Charlotte, North Carolina (Remote)
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