FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March DATE31, 2003
Contact: Jana
Muntsinger, 804.754.2118
jana@mmpublicrelations.com
Parable Hires Industry Veteran for Store
Recruiting
Former GA CBA
Store Owner Is New Member Development Coordinator
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—Mike Anderson,
formerly the owner of two award-winning successful CBA
stores in Georgia, is now traveling the country representing The Parable Group
as its New Member Development Coordinator.
Anderson will be visiting prospective stores and attending various trade
shows in order to recruit new Parable® members. Parable created this new position specifically
for Anderson.
“We
see Mike playing a unique role in the Parable® family,” says Kay
Cementina, Vice President, Retail Sales and Marketing for The Parable Group. “He knows exactly what it is like to be a
retailer—the wonders and the worries, the pitfalls and the pleasures. God has gifted him in encouraging and
coaching stores to reach their highest potential.”
Anderson’s
background in retailing is extensive.
He opened his first bookstore, New Song in Canton, GA, in 1986. His second store opened in Woodstock, GA, in
1994. In 1998, the Canton store was
awarded the CBA “Store of the Region” for outstanding Christian retailing in
the Southeast U.S. While owning and managing
administrating
the two Christian bookstores in Georgia, Anderson was also the Standard
Publishing sales representative for the Southeast from 1994 to 1995. After selling his
profitableI CBA stores in
1999, Anderson launched a successful nature store, eventually
selling it to a regional chain in 2002 also in the
Atlanta area. Within the
Christian retail industry, Anderson has worked for more than 10 years with CBA
Marketplace, the monthly trade journal of the CBA, writing reviews for
video, music and children’s product. In
addition, he led two retailer seminars for the CBA International Convention in
the early 1990s.
“Being
back in the Christian bookselling industry is a definite answer to prayer,”
says Anderson. His goals with this new
position are specific—he wants to help retailers see their greatest potential
for sales and ministry. Adds
Anderson: “The Parable Group helps keep
the independent retailer on track in the quest to impact the local community
for Christ. Parable sets a lofty
standard of excellence for the retailer and keeps them accountable. My goal is to add new member stores who are
ready for the type of growth Parable® stores experience.”
-more-
Anderson, New Member Development
release, page two
Anderson
and his wife Kathy grew up together in Battle Creek, MI, and have been
married for ## years. Currently residing outside of Atlanta, GA,
they have two grown sons, both in Christian ministry, both in full-time
ministry, and five grandchildren.
One son
is a pastor in Franklin, TN; the other son is a manager for John Piper’s
ministry, Desiring God Ministries, in Minneapolis, MN. In his spare time, Anderson is the
co-founder of the Cherokee Christian Writers Group, a three-year-old fellowship
of aspiring writers based in Cherokee County, outside of Atlanta.
Based in
the hills of San Luis Obispo, CA, The Parable Group provides comprehensive
marketing services to hundreds of Christian retail outlets in the United
States. Each member store is
independently owned and operated, representing more than $325 million in annual
sales of Christian products to consumers.
Some of Parable’s specialized services include full color catalogs, data
base marketing, in-store displays, e-commerce websites and exclusive
products.
# # #
March 3124,
2003
Mike Anderson, New Member Development Coordinator,
The Parable Group
Contact: mike.anderson@parable.com or
770-735-3020