Kregel Bookstores Changes Name to Parable
Kregel Unveils New Parable Name after joining Parable® Franchise
San Luis Obispo, CA — Parable, a growing franchise of independent Christian retail stores, announces the three Michigan-based Kregel Bookstores are on target to change their store names to Kregel Parable Christian Stores. The name change comes after Kregel joined the Parable® franchise network earlier this year.
Jim Kregel, president of the 95-year-old family business, unveiled plans for the new name earlier this month at his company's three Michigan stores with locations in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Grandville. "Our family-owned company has a strong reputation for superior selection, service and values. We see that adding a strong national brand name to a strong local brand complements those strengths," says Kregel. Chris Tromp, General Manager of Kregel Parable Christian Stores noted Kregel looked at all the options for staying strong in a changing retail industry. "We believe banding together with other like-minded independents to form this franchise will keep us competitive by offering customers a consistent, quality shopping experience. We want Parable stores to be a haven of Christ's love for every person who walks through our doors," says Tromp.
The first newly named Kregel Parable® Christian Stores in Grandville opened August 1 with a big store remodeling and brand change celebration. This was preceded by customers of Kregel stores slowly seeing evidences of the brand transition with the Parable® logo making its way around all three Kregel stores since the beginning of the year. The additional two stores will transition to new interior and exterior signage in early fall.
"We are gratified to have experienced, sophisticated business owners like the Kregel's as part of the Parable® franchise," says Steve Potratz, Parable® founder and CEO. "The power of a national brand along with the market knowledge and understanding of a locally owned and operated independent store owner provides the experience and service customers are looking for," Potratz adds.
The Parable® Franchise program provides retailers marketplace experience, efficient inventory control, and flexibility of operations and products. In addition to the marketing services Parable has offered for over 20 years, Parable retailers also take advantage of unique services including a sophisticated, sales-driven predictive model for mailing to a specific target market, inventory reports with analysis and an online training program. These services are available to locally branded member stores in addition to franchisees building national brand recognition across the nation. "Our stores depend on these time and money saving services to help them compete," says Kay Cementina, Parable's Vice President of Retail and Franchise Development.
The Parable® family of companies includes: The Parable Group, providing catalogs and comprehensive marketing services to independent, locally-branded Parable Members nationwide; Parable Franchising, offering a nationally-branded turnkey business plan for opening and operating new and existing Christian retail stores; and Parable Interactive, serving as a ministry partner hosting hundreds of web sites. Parable, America's Leading Christian Retailers® is based in San Luis Obispo, CA.
