Introduction From the Editor

by Rich Kosiba, Catholic Trade Journal


I've spoken with hundreds of Catholic retailers at trade shows, via email and on the phone. I've heard many of the same complaints over and over and some good ideas about solving them.

Eventually it became obvious that the Catholic goods market needs a vehicle for sharing ideas and a resource for overcoming common problems. How can we improve the situation, increase sales and reach out to more people?

I'm going to propose a solution but first let's make a comparison.

The large retailers in this country have turned their sales into a science.

Large retailers have a system for setting up displays. They understand the psychology behind different colors and what will sell each product. Designers and artists tell them how to make a product look more appealing. They have computer networks, study groups, and years of research.

Large retailers have huge databases of items. They know what sells best, what time of year it sells best, and where it should be placed in the store. They know how this data varies from state to state and store to store.

Catholic retailers are often one or two people trying their best to look professional, sell product, and share their faith. Some have a background in retail but many are just trying to do some good in the world.

What if, without making a large investment of time, you could learn some of the lessons the large retailers know? What if you could tap into some of the successful practices used elsewhere?

Most importantly, what could you do if your sales improved? What have you been dreaming of doing when your sales improve?

This, to me, is where there is a gap in the Catholic goods market. This is the inspiration for the Catholic Trade Journal.

This trade journal is designed to be a platform for communication among retailers, distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers of Catholic goods. We will publish articles to help Catholic retailers tap into the science used by larger reailers. It will be a place where problems and ideas can be shared, issues worked out and the overall state of the industry improved.

Interaction is key here. We need to hear from you. We want to know what you are experiencing in your store, both good and bad.

Four times a year we will send the print version of the trade journal to all businesses and organizations involved in the sale of Catholic goods. The web site will be closely tied to the print version providing valuable resources beyond what we can do in print.

Think of this publication as your forum for continuing and expanding your shop.

In this introductory issue I intend to communicate to you the vision of this publication while at the same time giving as much real content as possible.

We need your participation. Just a few minutes of your time. Here is what we need:

Tell us your problems.


What challenges do you face in keeping your store running? What things could be improved to make your store run more smoothly? Consider us your complaint department. Email your problems to: problems@catholictradejournal.com

Share your ideas.


Did you do something great in your store? Share it with us and we will share it with all of our readers. Email your ideas to: ideas@catholictradejournal.com

Share your stories


We all need some inspiration to keep us going. Share the stories you hear throughout the day. Leave out personal details and let us in on the inspiration. Email your stories to: stories@catholictradejournal.com

Advertise


The expenses involved in creating the trade journal are covered entirely by advertising. If you produce or distribute Catholic products, consider advertising here. We mail to thousands of Catholic stores who will be interested in your products. See our ad rates later in this issue or email: ads@catholictradejournal.com

Don't have email? No problem, you can send traditional mail to:

Catholic Trade Journal
PO Box 310
Broadalbin, NY 12025
 

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