I need your help.

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I live in an area that has three cities next to one another. With a combined pop. of about 145,000. people. In total there are 4 Catholic Parishes all within 15 minutes of eachother. We had at one church at the Easter Vigil over 40 baptisms and 30 confirmations and 3 converts. There are three Bible book stores. Non of which cater to Catholics. So I am doing my homework on how to go about opening a store. To serve our community better.

Where you come in…

I am drawing a blank for a name. So if you want to share with me your creativity it would greatly be appriciated. I want it to be Catholic enough.

The suggestions I’ve had so far?

1.JMJ’s----Jesus,Mary and Joseph’s

2.The Upper Room

3.The Alpha & Omega

God has been leading,pushing and sometimes pulling me this way. I am now responding.But I need my brothers and sisters to help me.

Thank you in advance.
 
I like “The Upper Room.” My second favorite is “Alpha & Omega.”
 
Thanks Tonks40

I have family all up and down California. I was born in Riverside.My dad is from Tulare. His family is in Visalia.

Are there any Catholic stores where you live? If so what kind of names do they have?

Do you think these names are Catholic enough? I was also thinking maybe a saint name?
Saint Anne’s?
Something like that.

I like the way “Catholic Answers” sounds but I think its taken:p
 
Our Lady’s Bookstore

The Fullness of Truth

I’m a big devotee of St Anne too so I also like that idea.

God bless with your new business.
 
fellowChristian said:
Thanks Tonks40

I have family all up and down California. I was born in Riverside.My dad is from Tulare. His family is in Visalia.

Are there any Catholic stores where you live? If so what kind of names do they have?

Do you think these names are Catholic enough? I was also thinking maybe a saint name?
Saint Anne’s?
Something like that.

I like the way “Catholic Answers” sounds but I think its taken:p
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You’re welcome! 🙂

There are a couple of major Catholic bookstores here in San Diego County. The oldest one we have is called O’ Connell’s which is family-owned; then we have St. Joseph’s Religious Goods, Pauline Books & Media, and in my town, we’ve got Nature’s Storehouse.

A saint’s name would also be great - like St. Augustine’s 👍
 
The Upper Room is the name of a Methodist evangelization ministry…you could confuse people. 😉 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Upper_Room_%28Christianity%29

I would name it after a saint, one whose patronage is writers, or families, or scholars, such as St Jerome, St Catherine, or St Elizabeth Ann Seton. That way it will be more obvious from the name that it is a Catholic bookstore.

The Catholic bookstore in my areas are Veritas and St Mark’s. Both good names 👍
 
I like “The Upper Room.” We have a couple where I live -one is named after the family who runs the store, other is named after the “Holy Family.”
 
What about:

The Roman Reader

or

Rome & Tiber Books

(I have NO idea how or why I thought of these!)
 
How about using one of our most famous expressions as a name: “Welcome Home” or “Offer it Up” for example?

You are doing a wonderful service to your community and I wish you the best of luck with it. As for which name to use, I like the idea of using a saint’s name, there is a lovely bookstore near here called “The Padre Pio Bookstore” and right round the corner is the St Paul’s" store, though I think that one may be a syndicate.
 
Thank you for all the suggestions. They really get me thinking. I don’t know what I’m looking for but I know when I hear it or see it I’ll know its the one. I can’t order or buy anything until I have a name.

It’s really scary for me to do this. I am not the type to open a business. But I see that there is a real need where we live. There is no where we can go to purchase sacramentals or books to educate ourselves. We really have to search for the things that we need. It is really important for our Catholic culture and our Catholic identity.

I sense that this is what I am being called to do. Everywhere I go He talks to me through His people. I see it, I hear it. When I prayed to God I let Him know that I am really hard headed sometimes and I really need for Him to make it very simple for me if I should do this.

I had a whole weekend of work scheduled and two hours later in one phone call
He cleared my schedule to allow me to devote more time to educate myself about this.

Then a couple of days later…

A co-worker came and just said “Have you ever thought about opening a buisness?” just out of the blue. I had a really stupid smile all day.

I started to think that I was making to much out of nothing (hardheaded) when at the Easter Vigil during the homily something the Father said struck me real hard,but I shook it off talking myself out of it.
Then my daughter asked me much later “Mom did you hear the Father talking to you?” I had received God’s message through the Father about not being scared and doing what I need to do for our community. I started to tear up and told her that I thought it wasn’t for me. She let me know I was wrong.
I know it was for me but fear holds me back.

So now I am marching on. Putting it all in His hands. Trusting in Him. Which led me here. So again thank you.
 
Wow, what a journey and undertaking! That’s just super! I too like the idea of using a saint name for your store, that way there’s no mistaking that it’s a Catholic bookstore. My favorite Catholic bookstore is called St. Max’s–in honor of St. Maxamilian Kolbe–where my ILs live. Another is called Aquinas and More (for Thomas Aquinas). Don’t think you could go wrong with a saint name. 🙂

Another thing: does your town/city have an economic development authority or small business development commission? You may want to check with your city offices for those; they can be a HUGE help to starting your Catholic bookstore.

Wow, best of luck and keep posting your updates!
 
fellowChristian said:
I live in an area that has three cities next to one another. With a combined pop. of about 145,000. people. In total there are 4 Catholic Parishes all within 15 minutes of eachother. We had at one church at the Easter Vigil over 40 baptisms and 30 confirmations and 3 converts. There are three Bible book stores. Non of which cater to Catholics. So I am doing my homework on how to go about opening a store. To serve our community better.

Where you come in…

I am drawing a blank for a name. So if you want to share with me your creativity it would greatly be appriciated. I want it to be Catholic enough.

The suggestions I’ve had so far?

1.JMJ’s----Jesus,Mary and Joseph’s

2.The Upper Room

3.The Alpha & Omega

God has been leading,pushing and sometimes pulling me this way. I am now responding.But I need my brothers and sisters to help me.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Our local Catholic book store is called “Two Hearts Catholic Bookstore”. I like the name… 🙂 I also like Alpha and Omega
 
Marketing suggestion – don’t get so clever that people don’t know what you are selling. A company named, for example, “Omaha Catholic Books and Gift Shop” probably gets more customers than “St. Jerome’s Repository of Saintliness” or such. Frankly, and quite cynically, unless the name of a store makes it clear to me that it is Catholic, I always assume it is some evangelical operation trying to suck me in!
 
IrishAm said:
Frankly, and quite cynically, unless the name of a store makes it clear to me that it is Catholic, I always assume it is some evangelical operation trying to suck me in!
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On the other hand, if it’s name is more evangelical-friendly, you may bring in the curious! Give it a name that’s too obviously Catholic, and you may keep them from checking it out!
 
fellowChristian said:
I live in an area that has three cities next to one another. With a combined pop. of about 145,000. people. In total there are 4 Catholic Parishes all within 15 minutes of eachother. We had at one church at the Easter Vigil over 40 baptisms and 30 confirmations and 3 converts. There are three Bible book stores. Non of which cater to Catholics. So I am doing my homework on how to go about opening a store. To serve our community better.

Where you come in…

I am drawing a blank for a name. So if you want to share with me your creativity it would greatly be appriciated. I want it to be Catholic enough.

The suggestions I’ve had so far?

1.JMJ’s----Jesus,Mary and Joseph’s

2.The Upper Room

3.The Alpha & Omega

God has been leading,pushing and sometimes pulling me this way. I am now responding.But I need my brothers and sisters to help me.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
I’d recommend not making the title too catholic. That way you bring more people in and they can be introduced to some of the marvelous authors the church has to offer.
Make it as inviting as possible to as many as possible. (also good business sense)
I’d go with “The Upper Room” if possible.

Peace
James
 
I really like the saint name idea. Then you could have a special patron of the store.
I also like Heaven & Earth or maybe in Latin: Caeli Et Terra.
Blessings to you in this endeavor!
 
I think it is very important to use the word Catholic in your bookstore title because I totally dislike walking into a Christian bookstore that has books that are not Catholic. I just walk out when I see that it is not a Catholic book store.

What about “THE ROSARY BOOKSTORE”.
 
See I knew it was a good idea to put this out here,instead of trying to do it alone.

You all are right.

Catholic enough.

But not so much that it keeps others out.

Easy to remember and know by the name whats inside.

I see how everything is falling in place. Like dominos.

My husband has a website and domain ready to go.

My son inlaws mom sells real estate and says she has a shop,with some baptism gowns in boxes in the back from a dress shop she owns I can have them if I want and if I want to rent the shop just to let her know.

Im just waiting for the name and researching.

I am so in awe of God right now that when I think of His many blessings it just brings tears to my eyes.

I never thought I could do the things I am doing right now. I am somewhat of a hermit and a big chicken. I like to be alone. Other then my kids and my husband. But as a family we started putting more focus on God and putting Him first about 7 years ago. And He has blessed us so much!

For Him and His children I started giving to His Church my time.Because we had no money at the time. I became a CCD teacher.(Stomaches every week) now I sub for every grade from K-6. Which is really needed on Wednesdays.

Then my husband did the same he helps in 4th grade. Then he joined the Knights.

This year I decided to give more of my time. I am now a youth pastor for 8th graders. The most scariest step of my life!(Did I tell you I’m a big chicken?) On Mondays. (They actually like me!)

I agreed to help a few join RCIA this year (I went with them) and to see their faces at the Easter Vigil was so awesome! They all glowed!

I would love to do more! I love to teach and I love to read.I did that Charism Retreat and found I have the gift of teaching.:rolleyes: So this idea of opening this store came to me. And wow so many could benefit!

Im a mom of 5 and I work full time on a grave yard shift and I keep thinking how? How am I suppose to do this? But He keeps leading me. So I follow, because I love Him and I want to please Him so much.

Thanks everyone for reading my post. Who knows, maybe it was just your support that He knew I needed.

Signed Big Chicken:p
 
how about Holy Family Books and Religious Items?

Advertise! … and keep praying, and keep asking for prayers (you have mine).
 
Ok so Im going through the “Corporations Registration Data Search” for my state and searching every name everyone comes up with and seeing what is available.
  1. Upper Room – used alot for lots of different non-Catholic places.
  2. Holy Family — used but for a Catholic Parish and a couple of other things like a school.
3.Catholic Books and gifts– not taken?!?
  1. Sacramentals—not taken.?!?
5.JMJ–used alot of different ways.

6.THE ROSARY BOOKSTORE—not taken!

7.Rome & Tiber Books—is not taken…and **Rome 'n Tiber Books **is free too!

8.Roman Reader …is free.

9.Heaven & Earth ----taken but not for a bookstore.

10.St. Augustine’s —used but not for a bookstore.

I’ll be going through the Patron Saints list tomorrow.

thanks everyone for your support and ideas and any advise you have and your prayers!

Prayer re Saint Thomas Aquinas
Father of wisdom, You inspired Saint Thomas Aquinas with an ardent desire for holiness and study of sacred doctine. Help us, we pray, to understand what he taught, and to imitate what he lived. Amen.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is not taken either!

You know what I mean:blush:
 
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