Forums: Niche Strategies

By MARY M. BYRNE (RNS) At this year's convention of the nation's Christian retailers, more than 11,000 industry representatives gathered here in late June amid what is, for many, a grim economic landscape. Because "big box" stores like Wal-Mart and Costco now dominate the retail world, Christian independents face a tougher road than ever. And with consumer interest in religious products at an all-time high -- witness the staggering success of the film "The Passion of the Christ" and the apocalyptic book series "Left Behind" -- huge global corporations have muscled their way into a historically mom-and-pop Christian retail industry,...