Category Archives: Announcements

Advance Notice of Formal Complaint to the Office of Fair Trading about Anti-Competitive and Unfair Trading Practices by Kingsway Communications

Posted on July 28, 2010 by | 10 Comments

IN MY ORIGINAL POST this morning I drew a comparison between the £13.48 preorder offer featured in David Keen’s post The Last Instrumental Worship Album…Ever! and Kingsway’s out now offer on their The Best Instrumental Worship Album…Ever! of £12.99 compared to their RRP of £16.99.

It has since been brought to my attention that the £13.48 pre-order offer originated from eden.co.uk, not Kingsway. I have therefore withdrawn my original post. If anyone knows what Kingsway’s pre-order offer was, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

The basic issue of undermining trade elsewhere and misleading customers by advertising products at RRPs that the publisher/producer never in fact charges remains the same, however, and so my intention to notify the Office of Fair Trading of this ongoing situation remains unchanged.

Formal notice, John: sort this folly out — today, please — or, as advised to you and others by email this morning, I shall be registering a formal complaint with the OFT. Over ten weeks have passed since I first raised concerns here; a full week has passed since July 21st, the date by which you indicated your intention to address the matter: more than sufficient time to straighten things out but with no evidence of any action taken.

Please note that this is neither a bluff nor a threat: more a case of weary resignation. I do not regard initiating formal proceedings against a Christian organisation as something to be undertaken lightly. I remain hopeful that Kingsway will acknowledge the error of their ways and take appropriate remedial action before such intervention becomes necessary.

Anyone who’d care to join me in finalising and submitting a formal complaint to the OFT, please get in touch. Thank you.

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Announcements, Christian Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Day of Prayer, 3rd Sept 2010

Posted on July 15, 2010 by | 7 Comments

Praying HandsANOTHER Day of Prayer has been called for across the Christian retail trade, date agreed Friday 3rd September 2010 as announced at the Retailers and Suppliers Retreat held in May.

As with the last two Days of Prayer, the Day of Prayer page here will be updated nearer the time and available for specific prayer requests and notices to be posted. The focus of the day is intended to be on local issues, providing an ideal opportunity to liaise with local churches for mutual support.

As noted in Christian Marketplace, details of proposed meetings may also be posted via the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers facebook group, but please note that is a private group: information posted there will not be available to non-members.

→ 7 Comments

Posted in Announcements, Info

Tagged ,

Durham Cathedral Bookshop Staff Start Tribunal

Posted on July 8, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Less than two weeks after the post of SPCK/SSG Two Years On: Reflections and Responses and things are moving towards a conclusion of the SPCK/SSG Saga at Durham Cathedral Shop as the Staff there begin their Tribunal.

This action though seems not to just cover the past and prior management (if such word can be used with a straight face)  and owners, but it does include the current owners too as Durham Cathedral Trading LTD, Durham Cathdrals own trading arm, have also been cited in the Tribunal action with one of the members of staff making a claim for damages against them too, or so The Journal Newspaper reported yesterday.

For a fuller report head over to SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info


→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements, News, SPCK, SPCK/SSG, SSG

Tagged , , ,

Kingsway: Trade Distribution Update

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | Leave a comment
Kingsway - Breaking News, 15/06/2010

Kingsway - Breaking News, 15/06/2010 (pdf, 135kb)

In an upbeat message to trade customers, Kingsway have announced a number of significant improvements to their distribution services including increased staffing levels at both ends of the ordering process. Four more staff  have been appointed in customer services and twelve extra staff are now working in warehousing, pick & pack, despatch and admin. Further developments are in the pipeline which should see a 300% increase in the picking area by the end of August 2010, leading to increased stock availability, improved accuracy and faster turnaround of orders.

The announcement makes no mention, however, of trade customers’ ongoing concerns over Kingsway’s price comparisons practice at kingswayshop.com, a source of frustration and disappointment for UK Christian retailers which has recently gained international attention. As yet it remains unclear whether or not the meeting called for by John Paculabo to address this issue (suggested date 21st July 2010) will go ahead.

The full announcement, issued yesterday, 15/06/2010, is as follows:

Kingsway: Breaking News

Dear Friends,
I am writing to you with an update on Kingsway’s Distribution.

As you know there have been many changes over the last 6 months here in Eastbourne since we have taken our distribution back in house.

We have shipped over 7000 orders to date and we acknowledge that there have been some issues with accuracy and speed.

We have been working hard to improve this and have been working with our consultants who have been responsible for the set up of distribution for Gardners Books UK and David C Cook Canada.

We have already begun to implement some of their recommendations that will improve the 3 key areas for you our customers of Speed, accuracy and availability.

The following steps have already been introduced:

  • 4 more staff dedicated to customer service and sales
  • An evening warehouse shift to allow an extra 6 hours of pick, pack and dispatch
  • 12 new warehouse and admin staff to increase the turnaround of orders.

The next stage for us is to increase the size of our picking areas in our warehouse. This is well under way and by the End of August we will have 300% more picking areas which will increase availability enormously.

I will give you a weekly update on how things are progressing here at Kingsway.

If you have any questions or queries then please contact me.

Best regards,

James Batterbee
Telephone Sales Manager

Unlike kingswayshop.com, David C Cook Canada’s consumer site, yourmusiczone.com, does not undercut retailers’ prices. For a Canadian Christian bookseller’s perspective on yourmusiczone.com see YourMusicZone Website Re-Launch.

As noted last week, carriage free shipping applies to all Kingsway UK trade orders until at least the end of June 2010. I take this opportunity to thank James Batterbee and the rest of the customer service and warehouse team for all their efforts on our behalf.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements, Christian Music, Christian Suppliers, News

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Opening Up the Conversation: Comments are now everywhere

Posted on June 3, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Thanks to the wonderful people at Disqus, you can now leave comments and feedback or start a conversation on any UKCBD page: simply scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see a comments box that looks like this:

Discussion powered by Disqus

Discussion powered by Disqus

So have at it, my lovelies: if you spot an entry that’s out of date or simply want to tell the world how wonderful your local Christian bookshop is, you can now leave your feedback directly on the page concerned.

Enjoy!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , ,

Everything Christian Needs You

Posted on May 26, 2010 by | Leave a comment
Everything Christian

Everything Christian

Everything Christian, the news, reviews and opinion portal launched by Ian Matthews in November last year, needs a new owner: could that be you? Ian explains:

Due to other work commitments I have been forced to put Everything Christian on hold at the moment, which is a shame as the feedback and traffic have been really encouraging. I do hope to get things up and running again soon, but I just do not have the time at the moment.

However …

If there is someone who is interested in working with me on this project – writing, persuading others to write, reviewing etc then I would be willing to offer the following:

  • I will cover the costs of hosting the site for a further six months
  • Will guarantee to contribute on a weekly basis
  • Will share the project on a 50/50 basis with the right person.

Check out the contributor’s page for details of some of the people you could be working with, and if you’re interested — or know someone else who might be — contact ianjmatt via Google’s well known email service…

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements, News, Services

Tagged ,

Christian Resources Together Awards: Retailers Shortlist Announced

Posted on May 3, 2010 by | 4 Comments
Time to gather ... together - Christian Marketplace May 2010, p.26

Time to gather ... together - Christian Marketplace May 2010, p.26

CONGRATULATIONS to the four bookshops shortlisted for this year’s Christian Resources Together Retailer Awards:

The announcement appears in this month’s issue of Christian Marketplace, May 2010, p.26, full digital edition now online, print editions winging their way to subscribers, and the awards are due to be presented tomorrow evening, Tuesday 4th May, at the Retailers and Suppliers Retreat Awards Dinner, when Publisher, Gift Supplier and Sales Rep of the Year, Long Service and Lifetime Achievement Awards will also be announced.

→ 4 Comments

Posted in Announcements, Christian Bookshops, News

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Jean Whitnall leaves Hodder and Tom Wright returns to academia

Posted on April 28, 2010 by | 2 Comments
Hodder Faith Announcement 23/04/2010: After 13 very successful years with the Hodder Faith team Jean Whitnall has decided to leave Hodder in order to pursue a portfolio of new interests...

Hodder Faith Announcement 23.04.2010 (pdf, 70kb)

Jean Whitnall leaves Hodder

In a message to trade partners issued 23 April 2010, Hodder Faith have announced the departure of Sales and Trade Marketing Director Jean Whitnall “to pursue a portfolio of new interests.” Exactly what those interests are has yet to be revealed but booksellers and other colleagues are promised “a fulsome farewell” to Jean at the Retailers and Suppliers Retreat in May.

My thanks to Jean for her support over the years and my best wishes for wherever the future takes her.

Lucy Hale, Sales Director, writes:

After 13 very successful years with the Hodder Faith team Jean Whitnall has decided to leave Hodder in order to pursue a portfolio of new interests. We are extremely sorry to lose her as she has been a key member of the Faith team during a transformative time for the business. Jean has worked successfully over the years to build strong relationships on behalf of Hodder Faith within the Christian trade, proving herself to be both a positive and popular ambassador for the company.

She has been instrumental in securing the position of the NIV Bible as the most popular Bible in the trade, and in fuelling the groundswell of enthusiasm that has led The Shack to sell over 500,000 copies in our markets alone. Jean will leave us after CBC in May where we will have a fulsome farewell.

Hodder plan to recruit for a replacement soon, but in the meantime any queries should be addressed to Lucy: contact details in the full announcement (pdf, 70kb). You can also find Hodder Faith on facebook or follow them on twitter @hodderfaith.

Tom Wright returns to academia

Bishop of Durham to Leave Diocese

Bishop of Durham to Leave Diocese, 27.04.2010

By an ironic twist of timing, just as Jean prepares to move on from her role as Hodder’s champion of the NIV, news has emerged that NIV arch-critic, Bishop Tom Wright — who describes the NIV as “a visibly and demonstrably flawed translation” — is also preparing to move on, retiring as Bishop of Durham to return to academia and pursue his “vocation to be a writer, teacher and broadcaster”. Whether the Bishop’s new role as Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, will really allow him to focus on his writing remains to be seen, but given his antipathy to the NIV I guess it’s unlikely that we’ll see him switch publishers from SPCK to Hodder or Zondervan (who publish the NIV in the USA) anytime soon…

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Announcements, News, People News

Tagged , , , ,

Closing Down Sale Commences at Nutshell Bookshop, Stowmarket

Posted on April 27, 2010 by | 3 Comments

Another chapter closes in the 200 year long story of the UK’s Christian bookshops as Ray & Vera Meacham of the Nutshell Bookshop, Stowmarket, prepare to retire with a two-week long closing down sale commencing today. In a letter sent out to customers last week, they wrote:

Dear Customer,

Welcome to this shop news April 2010 edition.

We would like to thank you for your custom over the past ten years.  It is now time for me to retire and close the shop.

With this in mind we are having a retirement sale – all stock is to be reduced to 1/2 price (unless otherwise marked).  The sale will commence on 27th April for two weeks.

If all goes to plan the shop will close on 8th May 2010.
It goes without saying ‘first come first served’.

Once again thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you next week.

Regards,
Ray & Vera Meacham

After the Nutshell closes, the nearest alternative Christian bookshops for Stowmarket residents will be in Ipswich (CLC) or Bury St Edmunds (St Andrew’s or St Edmundsbury Cathedral Shop).

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Announcements, Christian Bookshops, News

Tagged , ,

Kingsway Confirmed as Hillsong’s UK and Europe Distributor

Posted on April 22, 2010 by | 3 Comments
Kingsway Hillsong Press Release 16 April 2010

Kingsway to Distribute Hillsong in UK and Europe

My thanks to Kingsway, who have now kindly supplied me with a copy of their press release — mentioned a few days ago here by Joy McIlroy — confirming them as Hillsong’s UK and Europe distributor:

(Eastbourne UK) April 16, 2010 – Kingsway Music has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with Hillsong Church and Hillsong Music. Effective immediately Kingsway have been assigned the right to distribute recorded music, video and Leadership/Church Resources from Hillsong into the UK and European Christian Markets. Featured products will include the best- selling Hillsong LIVE, Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Kids recordings. In addition to new product, Kingsway will also be re-introducing all key Hillsong catalogue titles.

The press release also gives details of Gareth Russell‘s new role with Hillsong, which includes supervising the arrangement with Kingsway:

A newly formed European Hillsong Media company, will be managed by Gareth Russell the former MD of Authentic Media under the direction of Graham Williams and George Aghjanian of Hillsong. In addition to supervising the Kingsway Distribution partnership, a key part of Gareth’s role will be to focus on European sales and the development of general market opportunities. This new team will be supported by the in-house marketing expertise of the London Hillsong Church.

Congratulations to Gareth on his appointment and to Kingsway on their acquisition of an important list. Now we watch and wait with bated breath and eager hope that Kingsway’s new — and somewhat rocky thus far — distribution service will prove equal to the task.

A quote from Gareth to round things off:

I am delighted to once again be working alongside the Hillsong team. I have been directly involved in the distribution of Hillsong music for many years and am continually inspired by the passion, professionalism, and dedication of the team. With the upcoming new releases and United touring Europe, I am excited about the potential of the coming 12 months.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Announcements, Christian Suppliers, News, People News

Tagged , , , ,