Christmas Jars becomes a national bestseller
The right marketing mix propels book into the national spotlight
Listed at number 14 on the Barnes & Noble bestsellers list and in the top 100 on Amazon.com, Christmas Jars has officially become a national bestseller.
“Every publisher has to read each book with a ‘something special’ meter,” said Chris Schoebinger, product director at Shadow Mountain. “My meter went off the charts with chapter one and I instantly knew this would be a hit and sales are bearing that out.”
Bursting onto the national scene in 2005 by selling nearly 90,000 copies in three short months, the 2006 sales trend for Christmas Jars (Shadow Mountain, $14.95, hardcover, $7.95, paperback) is 80-100 percent ahead of last year. The book not only appeals to readers but is inspiring Americans to give in a whole new way. It starts with saving spare pennies, dimes, and nickels throughout the year, and ends with individual miracles as people share this gift with others.
Hundreds of readers have responded to the giving phenomenon of Christmas Jars. A cancer survivor from California collected spare change in jars during chemotherapy to take her mind off the pain and to think of someone else in need. An optician in Ohio committed to put her '$25 new patient commission' in a jar; her office saw record numbers of new clientele. A father in Utah taught his children how to share by using their spare change to purchase Christmas gifts for a neighbor's family.
“Christmas Jars will have a strong shelf-life year to year because it promotes a unique family tradition,” Schoebinger adds. “Imagine what will happen when thousands and hundreds of thousands of actual Christmas Jars are left on door steps across the country to people in need. We’ll have a national epidemic of giving on our hands and that will create a contagious rippling effect for years to come.”
“Just like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ Christmas Jars is American storytelling at its best. Jason Wright has written the next Christmas classic.” — Glenn Beck, CNN Headline News host and nationally syndicated radio host
“This inspirational Christmas novella will engage readers’ hearts and require at least a half box of tissues. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if this story inspires many readers to start making Christmas Jars of their own.” — Publishers Weekly
