The bookstore of the Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen's megachurch in
Houston, Tex., has been named Church Bookstore of the Year by the
Gathering of Church Bookstores, if we take the word of the Christian
Post. The bookstore was cited "for outstanding contributions in the
development of Christian retail in the local church." Osteen is the author of the Your Best Life Now books.
The bookstore has nearly 10,000 square feet of space and sells 2,000
titles as well as gifts, jewelry, cards, toys, music and Joel
Osteen Ministries products. "A large-screen television broadcasts
videos of Osteen's sermons and at the edge of the store is a giant
aquarium next to 12 cushioned bamboo chairs," the Post wrote. The
store's sales are projected to be $3.1 million this year. Most sales
occur on weekends when the church holds four services, drawing nearly
40,000 people. "Eight cash registers, plus 13 more at resource centers
scattered around the church, help ring up the thousands of customers."
In other award news, the Post reported that Heidi Bodette, manager of
Daily Bread Books at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minn., was
named Church Bookstore Manager of the Year; DaySpring won Vendor of the
Year; and Jeff Miller, regional sales director for Thomas Nelson, was
named Sales Representative of the Year.
Two years old, the Gathering of Church Bookstores was formed to serve
bookstores located in churches and held its third annual meeting last
month in Plano, Tex. For more information on the group, visit the Church Bookstore magazine, a supplement of Christian Retailing.