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Choice Books sales fall; displays up
By Choice BooksHARRISONBURG, Va. — Sales of Choice Books, an Anabaptist-related book-selling ministry, declined last year for the first time since 1985.
Choice Books purchased or sold 5.39 million books in 2009, a nearly 3 percent decrease in sales compared to 2008.
According to the Association of American Publishers, sales of religious books fell nearly 10 percent in 2009.
“Considering these statistics and the impact of the recession, Choice Books is grateful for a minimal sales decrease in 2009,” according to a news release.
Organized as Life-Line Books in 1962, Choice Books first purchased or sold 1 million books in 1991, 2 million in 1997, 3 million in 1999, 4 million in 2003 and 5 million in 2006.
At the current rate, Choice Books purchases or sells about 14,780 books a day, 615 books an hour and 10 books a minute.
In 2009 the number of Choice Books displays grew to more than 10,000 nationwide.
The year’s best-seller was Comfort for Troubled Christians by J.C. Brumfield.
Choice Books’ mission is “to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the general marketplace through inspiring and wholesome reading material.” A central office in Harrisonburg coordinates a network of seven regional distributors.
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