ChristianResourcesTogether
Were you there? Was it worthwhile? Can we work together to ensure that this trade of ours has a viable future?
Certainly the feedback I’ve received so far has been positive, and the twitter stream emerging during the day looked hopeful: copied below. Now we watch and wait for the official lowdown; but in the meantime I find myself wondering why — with all the resources of CRE available — there was no official twitter stream, no blog, not even a facebook page to keep the vast majority of us who couldn’t attend informed.
Even now the official christianresourcestogether.co.uk website seems to be nothing more than a barebones holding page and I find myself, like SuperSimbo, wanting to shout “Wake up!” — social media are here to stay and if the UK trade fails to embrace them then we will go the way of the dinosaurs. Steve Mitchell’s final tweets on the day are particularly telling:
So #stwa is over, good sense of wanting to work together from all parts of the trade, nice to see people, who were kind to us ex STL folk. However I did get the sense that some are hanging on to the old world of traditional bookselling. They are in my prayers.
- Mindmap Notes by Mark Fleeson (pdf, 82kb)
Related Reports
- Stronger Together, Weaker Apart – Can We Include Authors and Artists? Amy Boucher Pye, Everything Christian
- Christian Resources Together launched in U.K.: Christian Retailing
The #stwa twitter stream, most recent first | Go to the beginning
 unicorntreebks @SCRMitchell hanging on to trad bookselling how? new old idea’s or just old old idea’s. or just general resistance to change? #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from web |
 SCRMitchell However I did get the sense that some are hanging on to the old world of traditional bookselling. They are in my prayers. #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell So #stwa is over, good sense of wanting to work together from all parts of the trade, nice to see people, who were kind to us ex STL folk 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| unicorntreebks Pipe dreaming, I’d like some sort b&m/online initiative, either collab. publisher driven ala crown site idea or poss eden @LSTBookshop #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| unicorntreebks @LSTBookshop Yep, now for follow on. One of the things I would quite like to see is less predatory pricing, or for at least matching% #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from web |
 LSTBookshop @unicorntreebks #stwa looking good so far, seems to be some joined-up thinking emerging…12 Jan 2010 from Twitterrific |
| unicorntreebks so whats your thinking @LSTBookshop my good man on the idea’s of #stwa I have to say I like the idea of more author interaction 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| unicorntreebks #stwa tweet followers – shall we huddle and chat and share as well? not quite the same but nice and interactive. big thanks to Steve btw. 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| SCRMitchell Now breaking into small groups for futher discussion #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| unicorntreebks #stwa it is great to see more motility between suppliers/booksellers/authors! be good to see bookseller/bookseller too! working together :0) 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| SCRMitchell Attendance split 50/50 retailers and suppliers#stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| unicorntreebks #stwa good idea about more interaction between authors & booksellers – I would love to do more events with authors & writing seminars/groups 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| SCRMitchell Question from floor about creating more dialogue between authors & booksellers, CRE asking are they going the right way? #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell RT @SCRMitchell: Association of Christian writer asking for more involvement in trade events. #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell Open forum Q&A starting #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
 mdeadman Possibility of other trade events at other regional cre’s #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| mdeadman Free entry to cre and fast track entry. #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| mdeadman Evening includes buffet reception & awards- guest spkr rob parsons #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| SCRMitchell There will also be a retailers day at CRE in Sandown park in esher the week after, Inc trade forum & rob parsons speaking #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| mdeadman Retailers dAy at cre includes retailers & suppliers forum. #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| mdeadman 150 spaces price £94 if booked by 19 march#stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| SCRMitchell Cost £94 before 19/3 for Ba members #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| mdeadman Guest speakers & artists at high Leigh- cathy burton, eric delve #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| mdeadman Some awards at high Leigh some at cre #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| SCRMitchell Agenda inc speakers, workshops, seminars, supplier presentations, prayer room, awards, devotions, communion, space/time to meet & chat #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| mdeadman #stwa high Leigh retreat to include workshops, seminars, speakers and time for relationships 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| SCRMitchell Practical plans for 2010 being presented by steve briars, first up a bookseller/supplier retreat at high Leigh 4&5 may #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell Great insight on church & trade from James Catford worth coming just for that #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell Partnership needs be relationship first, business second, James catford #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell James Catford talking of consolidation, complexity & challenge, and the need for deep relationships to solve large problems #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| LSTBookshop What’s happening? #stwa – that’s what’s happening. Thanks to those tweeting, esp @scrmitchell 12 Jan 2010 from web |
 churchtimesblog Christian retailers and suppliers are meeting today at the launch of ‘Christian Resources Together’. Follow tweets via #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie |
| SCRMitchell Ian Metcalfe from suppliers group saying they want to support booksellers however they say they need it #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell mission statement to provide support, fellowship,training & opportunities for christian retailers & suppliers #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
 LindScriptorium#stwa Here 12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie |
| SCRMitchell Bible Society launching Christian Resources Together, a partnership working for retailers & suppliers, but not another trade body #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| SCRMitchell Full room of Christian publishers and retailers, good attendance at #stwa. Colin Saunders from bible soc giving a welcome & introduction 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| LindScriptorium #stwa taxis lost! 12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie |
| mdeadman I’ve arrived at the trade meeting. #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from Echofon |
| LindScriptorium #stwa In taxi enroute 12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie |
 notbovvered @LindScriptorium bleugh, or something like that… hope you get there OK. @scrmitchell & @mdeadman are using the hashtag #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from web |
| mdeadman On my way to Christian trade meeting #stwa 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
| LSTBookshop @SCRMitchell #stwa sounds good to me. I won’t be there but @LindScriptorium and @mdeadman both plan to attend… 12 Jan 2010 from Twitterrific |
| SCRMitchell On route to Christian Trade meeting, maybe we should use hashtag #stwa ?? Who else is going? 12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck |
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January 14, 2010 at 7:35 am
You need to be careful complaining about the blog / twitter presence – they’ll end up asking you to do it!!
January 14, 2010 at 8:50 am
I started complaining almost 4 years ago & they havent asked me yet
Dont hold your breath Phil…….
Good post, thanks for the mention
You will get me into trouble yet hehe
January 14, 2010 at 9:05 am
I was at the meeting, and was very encouraged. Why isn’t there a twitter/FB presence? My impression is that this is a group that is just being organized, and has come together more quickly than anyone would have thought. Those of you who are proficient in these areas should volunteer!
I’ll give more comments and impressions of the day over at Everything Christian soon.
January 14, 2010 at 10:20 am
Thanks Amy — though calling for volunteers only serves to highlight SuperSimbo’s point about the need to prioritise:
This event has been on the horizon for weeks and weeks, first mentioned to my knowledge in the Church Times, Nov 20th; and I’ve highlighted it several times here. That’s more than enough time, surely, to set up and prioritise something as elementary as a twitter account and a facebook page, even start a blog? Twitter connects, and it worries me that a lot of people in the trade still don’t seem to get it (that said, it’s the same in theological education: I’ve yet to see any of my LST colleagues twittering, though we’ve got several on facebook now).
Nuff said: watch this space for more info soon. Look forward to seeing your report on Everything Christian…
January 14, 2010 at 10:48 am
Im afraid i have to agree with Phil (sorry Amy)
Iv heard the “volunteer” suggestion before many times but it misses the point……and passes the buck a little
January 14, 2010 at 11:56 am
But this new partnership is being initially funded by Bible Society and hopes to break even. Why do we expect everything to be handed to us on a platter? Isn’t it better to have a meeting sooner rather than later – even without everything being polished and up to speed? I’m not saying that FB and twitter aren’t important; I think they are vital. Just that this new partnership is only just being birthed so we should cut them some slack. And yes, volunteer if you have the skills to do so while they are getting things up and running.
January 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm
I don’t think any of us are expecting things to be handed to us on a platter: most if not all of us work hard to get to where we are. Do I need to point out that I run this blog and UKCBD on a purely voluntary basis, in my own time?
I’m not complaining: I think it’s great that Bible Society have taken this initiative (ironic, though, that whilst one Bible Society – Biblica – leaves us in the lurch, another comes to the rescue). Nor am I suggesting anything extraordinary: how difficult is it to use free communication tools and services???
But hey: if there’s anyone out there who wants a hand setting up a twitter account, blog or facebook page, by all means shout and I’ll gladly offer what help I can.
January 14, 2010 at 10:55 am
[...] left my papers somewhere, so can’t give you the official spiel. That can be found elsewhere (see Phil Groom’s blog for the tweets from the day, for instance). But I was greatly encouraged by the meeting. And the [...]
January 14, 2010 at 7:15 pm
>How difficult is it to use free communication tools and services???
You can wait until elevenses on the day, and still have it all up and running – including video streams – by the end of the coffeebreak (nearly
.
January 14, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Free if you have an iPhone or Blackberry!
January 14, 2010 at 9:04 pm
who can afford one of these?
January 14, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Doesn’t need an expensive gizmo. I use an INQ Mini 3G on 3 for twitter & facebook; can blog with it too.
Cost £29.99 for the phone, £10 per month rolling contract and even if I cancel the contract, still get Skype free.
But a laptop or netbook with wireless or mobile broadband is fine too, just bulkier. Can get netbooks at Poundstretcher for £99.99.
January 14, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Mark Fleeson’s mindmap notes (pdf, 82kb) now added to this post. Thanks Mark!
January 15, 2010 at 8:09 am
We seem to have gone off the point a little (and I fear I am responsible)!! Anyone else who can give feedback on the content of the day?!
January 15, 2010 at 8:39 am
Amy’s post is now up on EC: http://bit.ly/5txUl5
January 15, 2010 at 11:28 am
my reply to Amy’s post is stuck somewhere in the ethers of moderation!
Hopefully it will be released in due course – it was a positive one on the idea of Authors and Bookshops working closer together :0)
January 15, 2010 at 11:46 am
HI Melanie – approved now. Sorry about that – I have a ‘first time’ moderation thing on (so you’re good to go from now on!) but for some reason didn’t get notified!
January 15, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Thanks Ian – I know the not nitified thing well :0)
January 15, 2010 at 8:43 am
Hi
Christian Retailing Magazine have included it in the ezine. Link is: http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/newsletter/latest-etailing/20666-christian-resources-together-launched-in-uk
There will be a fuller article in the digital print version in the next issue.
Regarding my twitter. I found I couldn’t twitter fast enough and found I was concentrating on that instead of the meeting. Hence the mindmap, which is how I normally minute meetings.
Cheers
Mark