(July 19, 2018) – After strong testing results to drive traffic and sales, the official launch of the web-based Christian store-supporting platform, Get It Local. Today! is slated for September 1, 2018. The platform offers shoppers receiving promotional emails from publishers—or shopping on publisher websites—the option of buying products at local Christian stores as an alternative to Amazon and big-box retailers.
Get It Local. Today! is free to retailers and publishers. The program is a cooperative effort among CBA, The Covenant Group, and The Parable Group, and is endorsed by the Logos Association, Bookstore Manager and Signature Websites.
Retailers can join hundreds of other indie stores to build out a strong nationwide and industry-wide network to provide buy-local opportunities and promote Christian stores.
More than 15 leading publishers have committed to post the Get It Local. Today! badge on their corporate websites and emails to help drive direct-to-consumer sales to local Christian stores. A handful of publishers, including HarperCollins Christian, Baker Publishing, and Barbour Publishing, participated in the successful testing phase by sending test emails to their customer lists.
“It has been tremendously helpful to share with prospective participant retailers that virtually every publisher we have spoken with has been overwhelmingly supportive and excited about this program.” said Chuck Wallington, president of Covenant Group. “On behalf of the several hundred Christian retail stores (and still growing weekly!) that now form the Get It Local. Today! network, we appreciate all publisher support and look forward to creating customer interest and traffic and connecting your offerings with those in our local areas.”
It’s not too late for Christian retailers to enroll—many retailers signed up while attending UNITE following a push from CBA President Curtis Riskey during the “Future of the Industry” breakfast. Simply click here. It only takes about five minutes to include your store and get set up for data reporting to let customers know the product is in stock at your store.
CBA, the Association for Christian Retail, is the global trade association for Christian-product providers and distributors. It supplies vital connections, information, education, and encouragement to help Christian resource providers reach all people.
Covenant Group provides a host of retail marketing services and promotional tools for leading independent Christian retailers. Their offerings currently include both print and digital catalog programs, branded e-commerce websites, in-store merchandising materials and more.
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.
Contact: Sally Ross Tel. (805) 329-4020 Email: sally.ross@parable.com
