Texan named top bookstore manager looks to ‘impact lives’

NASHVILLE, Tenn.?Texas native William McGregor returned home in 2006 to assume leadership of the Hurst LifeWay Christian Store in the mid-cities area of Dallas-Fort Worth. Three years later, the retail chain has honored McGregor by naming him the 2008 Store Manager of the Year.

LifeWay Christian Stores, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, annually selects a recipient for the Store Manager of the Year award based on criteria including financial performance, customer service feedback, leadership and operational efficiency.

McGregor joined the LifeWay Christian Stores management team in 2004 already with a decade of experience in Christian retail. His leadership was immediately put to the test at his first LifeWay store on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In the days following Hurricane Katrina, McGregor remained at the store and was open for business when the seminary reopened following extensive repairs.

The next year, McGregor moved to serve as manager of the newly opened LifeWay Store in Texarkana, Texas, before moving again to Hurst.

“Being from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this was like coming home,” he said.

McGregor said his approach to serving the community is complemented by his background as a pastor.

“The reason we exist is to provide ministry solutions that impact lives,” he said. “But the day-to-day ministry opportunities?touching the lives of the people who come in our store?cannot be overlooked. As a store manager, I’ve done immensely more ministry in the bookstore than I ever did as a pastor.”

David Pigg, western region director for LifeWay Christian Stores, said McGregor has strong leadership skills and an “incredible drive for excellence with the desire that God receive glory in everything he does.”

“This drive filters down to his staff and together they provide strong customer service,” Pigg said. “He is proactive in his management, anticipating needs and addressing problems in order to provide the best experience possible for each customer.”

McGregor said a major part of the Hurst store’s success can be attributed to the high standards of service and ministry by which the staff operates.

“This [Dallas-Fort Worth] market demands excellence in customer service and sales initiative,” he said. “But more than anything, we are successful because we know our products change lives and we stand behind not only the product but also the people who come in the stores. We know that our ministry continues when they leave.”

McGregor said receiving the Store Manager of the Year award is “confirmation of a job well done. It’s gratifying to know my peers and my leadership are pleased with my performance, but more than that, knowing that the Lord is pleased.”