For Immediate Release, March 29, 2001 Contacts: Jana Muntsinger

Parable Creates “Reader To Reader” Program

National Promotion Designed to Promote New Authors

San Luis Obispo, California—Since hundreds of new books release each month in the CBA market, it is hard for readers to discover the new and up-and-coming authors. Now, Parable Christian Stores is introducing its best customers to the best new books through an in-store campaign, called “Reader to Reader.” Designed to highlight new authors and highly recommended, but undiscovered books, “Reader to Reader” will launch on April 25, 2001.

“Reader to Reader” promotes many of the newest writers in the CBA market through two in-store marketing tools:

· 12-page, full-color quarterly catalog will feature 18 new books/authors and will be distributed in-store,

· Custom end cap for in-store use to promote all 18 featured titles.

Books featured in the “Reader to Reader” program are those either highly praised in pre-release reviews and endorsements or by readers during first three to 12 months of sales.

Currently, more than 275 Parable member stores have chosen to participate in the “Reader to Reader” program. “We have regular customers who shop at least once a month in Parable stores,” said Dave McShea, Parable’s product specialist for Books, Bibles and Software. “The ‘Reader to Reader’ program exposes our best customers to some of the best new authors in the market.”

The publishing community has been strongly supportive of the “Reader to Reader” program. In the first catalog, 18 different books will be promoted, including works by Peggy Stokes, Ivan Kauffman, Michael O’ Connor, Angela Benson, David Ryan Long, Reg Grant and Ruth Glover. Baker Book House, Bethany House Publishing, Broadman & Holman, Moody Press, Multnomah Press, Servant Publications, Tyndale House Publishers and WaterBrook Press are participating in the first catalog of this quarterly promotion.

The Parable Group is a California-based marketing and retail services company representing over $400,000,000 in annual sales of Christian products to consumers. Parable Christian Stores consists of more than 300 independently owned Christian retail outlets located in North America. The Parable Group provides diverse marketing tools for its member stores such as e-commerce sites, in-store merchandising kits, exclusive products, weekly bestseller lists and catalogs. In 2000, Parable distributed more than 29.7 million catalogs, newspaper inserts, and other promotional mailings in 25 marketing campaigns.

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March 29, 2001