Bookstore Report for 2015
In January of 2015, the Bookstore reopened after being closed for several months for a much
needed renovation. The store’s accumulated savings over the past years were invested into the
renovation that cost about $4,000. This included new carpet, new shelving and display units,
paint, window treatments and décor. Most of the work was done by our wonderful and
talented sexton, Angel Lee. Thank you, Angel!
The Bookstore opened in time for Diocesan Convention which was hosted by the Cathedral in
January of 2015. We had excellent sales from the convention-goers—approximately $2,000!
This helped immediately recoup some of the renovation costs. During 2015, the Bookstore was
open for several Diocesan group events, ordinations, and music programs in addition to our
regular hours, which yielded good sales revenue.
In addition to the ongoing merchandise offered such as prayer books, books, icons, cards,
rosaries and gifts, we sold the two books used by Dean Kidd and Canon Josh Bales for their fall
classes—Mere Christianity and Practicing the Presence of People. We also stock many books
authored by Canon Justin Holcomb, the music CDs of Canon Bales, and books authored by our
own parishioners such as Dancing in the Rain by Clay Rivers. This reflects our mission to
resource and uplift our Cathedral and Diocese.
In 2015 the Bookstore launched its “Smile” campaign encouraging the Cathedral community to
shop on Amazon.com using Amazon’s “Smile” site in which .5% of qualified purchases are
donated to the Bookstore. So far, it’s been very successful. The Cathedral family has purchased
well over $2,000 of goods on Amazon that benefit the Bookstore!
The store ended the year with “cash in the bank” of $3,600 and is well on its way to fully
recouping the renovation cost. Four years ago, reserves were only $1,500.
I want to especially thank our wonderful, faithful volunteers who run the store week after week
and make it possible: Dottye Wilson, Caroline Pease and Sallie Bowan. Without them, our
Bookstore could not function. The year 2016 marks 60 years that the store has been operating
at the Cathedral. May there be 60 more!
In Christ,
Anne Michels
Bookstore Manager