Interview with Arik Barel

The following is an interview with Arik Barel, the co-owner of an online Christian store (My Jerusalem Store) and marketing expert.

Enjoy the interview!

Frank: Please begin by telling us about your customers. Who are they and what types of products do they buy?

Arik: At My Jerusalem Store, the vast majority of our customers are Christians from around the world. With over 2.2 billion Christians worldwide, we have customers on every continent purchasing our top-of-the-line products.

A large proportion of our Christian customers are evangelical Christians, who make up almost 30% of the worldwide Christian population and one quarter of the overall population of the United States. This high proportion of evangelical customers is due to the special bond evangelical Christians feel for the Holy Land and Israel.

At My Jerusalem Store, we offer a wide range of products from the Holy Land, including Christian jewelry, olive wood nativity sets , anointing oils and much, much more.

Frank: From all your products, which ones are best-sellers?

Arik: With our Christian customers, the products that sell the best are cross necklaces, specifically the Jerusalem cross necklaces.

Frank: What are the biggest challenges you have faced when entering the Christian market and how are you working on solving them?

The biggest challenges we have faced are targeting our audience as well as making them feel comfortable with having their purchase shipped internationally from Israel.

To address this challenge, we are using the quick international shipping services of DHL as well as publishing testimonials from our many satisfied customers from around the world. This way, customers can feel comfortable in purchasing from our site, no matter where they live.

Frank: What are the biggest complaints you have received from your Christian customers?

The complaint that we hear most often is from people who are used to the very fast deliveries provided by international companies, such as Amazon. Although we cannot compete with the larger companies, we explain to these customers that our products are of a much higher quality than those that are sold by Amazon and that they are worth the extra time it takes to be delivered. After receiving their purchases, 95% of our customers agree that it was well worth the wait.

Frank: What is the advantage of products that are made in Israel?

There are numerous advantages to be gained from buying products made in Israel. First, many of our products are top-of-the-line works created by some of the best craftspeople and artists that Israel has to offer. Second, the jewelry industry in Israel holds itself to a very high standard so you know that any piece of jewelry you buy from us will be of the highest caliber. Most importantly, there is nothing more special than buying a faith-based work that is produced in the land where Jesus Christ lived his life.

Frank: Has the coronavirus impacted your sales?

Thank God, our sales were not impacted by the spread of the coronavirus. Although markets around the world have been under immense stress and people tend to buy less during uncertain times, we have the benefit of being an online store and people who are stuck at home tend to buy more online during these times.

Frank: Where, specifically, in Israel are your Christian products made?

We sell items from about 200 suppliers that are spread throughout the length and breadth of the Holy Land. To name just a few places, we sell luxurious jewelry from the Holy City of Jerusalem, beautiful prayer shawls from the Galilee and cosmetics from the southern Negev Desert.

Frank: What trends do you currently see in the Christian market?

One of the strongest trends that we currently see is Christian customers seeking to strengthen their connection to Christianity’s Jewish roots and purchasing such Jewish religious items as shofars , menorahs and even prayers shawls .

Frank: What times of year are the highest selling? What times of year are the lowest selling?

The highest selling time of the year is the Christmas season and the lowest selling time of the year is the summer.