NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Early in my 13-year tenure as a Christian bookstore owner, I quickly learned that technology was an absolute necessity in running my store well. My experiences as a retailer (and the lack of existing software at the time) led me to design computer software that helped me run my store. As it turned out, many Christian stores expressed interest in using this software for their store, so I decided to create a company called Bookstore Manager®, that exclusively supports Christian bookstores in the area of retail technology.

Recently, I helped my home church computerize its bookstore, and was reminded of the huge difference technology makes. Yet, for some church bookstores, the idea of getting wired seems intimidating and even overwhelming. I understand why.

Operators often fear that the needed technology will be too expensive, too difficult to understand, or too complicated to maintain.

Fear not! There are very simple solutions available to get your store wired and fortunately, falling hardware prices make computerizing an option even for the smallest of stores.

Should Your Store Get Wired?

The term “church bookstore” can have a wide variety of meanings ranging from a small resource table in the church vestibule to a 20,000-square-foot retail space complete with coffee bar and plasma-screen TV walls. Likewise, technology solutions range in depth and breadth to meet the needs of most every size store.

The easiest way to determine the solution that will best accommodate your church bookstore is by assessing total monthly sales. This is often the best indicator of the size of store that's being operated. For example, a store that's bringing in less than $2,000 in sales each month is probably:

• Operating in a small space, such as a kiosk or book table;
• Open only on Sunday, or in conjunction with church services;
• Staffed mainly by volunteers; and/or
• Maintaining a relatively small inventory.

If this is true of your store, and you have little desire to increase in size and staffing (either now or in the future), then the best technology solution for you to consider may be some type of partnership with a local Christian bookstore, whereby they help you with buying and inventory.

By using their resources and buying power, they could help maintain your church bookstore, thus offering a higher level of service at virtually no cost to the church.

Say Goodbye to the Cash Box

However, if your store is selling more than $2,000 a month and you’re still using a cash box and handwritten ledger or an old-fashioned cash register to keep track of sales, now is the time to step into the 21st century.

Consider computerizing your bookstore as soon as it's financially feasible so that store inventory is maintained properly. Inventory control software generally pays for itself with increased sales and decreased labor costs, enabling the time that's saved to be focused on ministry.

Understanding the Basics

The most essential technological tool for church bookstores is a point-of-sale (POS) system. This software allows church bookstores to improve inventory management, customer service and cash management.

Most POS systems offer access to a database of products currently on the market. Access to this type of database, especially those exclusively based on products offered in the Christian retail market, allows churches to easily find resources tailored to the needs of their members. You can generally search by categories, authors, song titles and many other variables to find information about products that are consistent among all vendors and publishers, thereby making ordering much easier.

A POS system can also give you the capability of placing orders electronically directly from distributors thereby entitling you to discounts and faster service. (Some distributors and wholesalers exclusively require electronic ordering.) Churches that don't have the capacity to order from distributors will often resort to ordering their products from online consumer sources, such as Amazon.com, where no wholesale price options are offered. This way of ordering is time consuming and also results in higher prices and shipping costs.

Other benefits of a point-of-sale system include:

• Tracking inventory electronically so that the right products can be ordered at the right time
• The ability to balance cash against on-hand inventory for loss-prevention purposes
• Access to credit card processing services that speed transaction times and reduce fees
• Capacity to offer gift certificates and gift cards, which make wonderful gifts for church appreciation incentives and awards.

Moving Forward

Several vendors offer point-of-sale software with a variety of functionalities that are generally based on the size and needs of individual stores, although I strongly encourage you to consider software that was built for the particular way your store operates. Unlike a cash register, once you take the plunge and purchase this basic technological necessity, your store is then capable of adding on additional hardware and software options over time as your store needs grow.

Feel free to visit our website or call us at 800.997.6724 for more information on computerizing your store.

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Randy Voorhees founded Bookstore Manager in 1990 after operating a Christian retail store for more than 10 years. Bookstore Manager’s® slogan, “A head for your business … A heart for your ministry,” encapsulates the company’s commitment to Christian retailers. With 25 years of experience, Bookstore Manager currently serves more than 1,500 Christian stores and offers inventory control and point-of-sale solutions exclusively for the Christian retail marketplace.