With General Conference just around the corner, religious book sales may get a boost.

"If one of the general authorities mentions in one of their talks about a book or an author or quotes somebody, we get a lot of inquiries and sales on that particular book or author," said Spencer Hawkins, e-commerce manager at the BYU Bookstore.

In a recent General Conference, President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mentioned a book that his grandmother used to read to him, Hawkins said. When that happened, the inquiries on that particular book increased.

"Sales can definitely be driven by a talk," said Maureen Porter, religious book buyer for the bookstore.

In a Christmas talk one year, President Hinckley mentioned a Charles Dickens book, 'Life of Our Lord,' Porter said.

"We could not keep it on the shelf," she said. "We could not get them fast enough."

Porter also said she recalled a few conferences ago when someone mentioned a verse from a Michael McLean song, and sales for the music spiked after conference.

"The brethren tell us there is no set scene for conference, even though it feels like it," Porter said, "If there is a scene that is perceived, like if someone talks about the family, there is going to be a little influx in people wanting books about the family."

At conference time, general authority titles are popular, said Linda Brummett, BYU Bookstore general book manager.

Brummett said there is some increase in sales before conference because of a greater interest in church books, but the increase is not significant.

"Years ago, conference time was a big-huge time for church books, and it had mostly to do with visitors," Brummett said.

Many people who lived out of the area and away from LDS bookstores took advantage of the large quantity of religious bookstores in the area, Brummet said.

Although stores in downtown Salt Lake still experience an increase in book sales during conference, the BYU bookstore no longer receives many conference visitors, Brummett said.

"For us, the increase is just because there is an increased focus on things that are religious during conference," Brummett said. "It's a time when people are thinking of church books."

The publishers implement more advertising during conference time, she said, which is another possible reason for the increase in sales.

Church-book dealers organize conference book sales, which help people become more aware of what is out there. The BYU Bookstore introduced a conference book sale Monday, Brummett said.

She said she anticipates some increase in sales because of an increase in religious interest but not because of the out-of-town visitors.

Hawkins said he can prepare for the increase in inquiries and sales.

"We don't know ahead of time if and what they [conference speakers] are going to mention," Hawkins said. "But we listen to conference, and if they mention it, then we know it's coming."

Porter said if a speaker mentions a particular book or author, the bookstore employees will order more of those books.

"We would then wait to see what the response is, and if it is a huge response, then we would definitely keep bringing more in," she said.
Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Apr 2003