WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING about your shop? As I’m working my way through the UKCBD database it’s fascinating finding out what people are saying about their local Christian bookshops. If you haven’t discovered Qype yet, it’s well worth a look. This snapshot shows the reviews page for Wesley Owen Glasgow, for instance:
To find out what they’re saying about your shop, either run a Google search for your shop + qype or search directly on qype itself … you could be in for some interesting surprises. As with Google Place Pages, as a business owner you can claim your qype page, which then puts you in a position to respond to reviews and allows you to update your business info. It’s another free service: the only cost to you is a little (more) time.
As well as facebook Like buttons and a Comments box, most updated UKCBD entries now feature a ‘News & Notes’ section where I’m adding links to qype reviews, local/national media reports and blog posts: if your shop finds its way into the news, please let me know and I’ll gladly add it to your News & Notes section…
Following an appeal to the Norfolk Christian community, the business future of the Norwich Christian Resource Centre and Forget-me-not-Cafe now looks reasonably secure due to a number of factors over the past few weeks…
The report goes on to outline those factors:
Support from landlords Norwich Historic Churches Trust
Generous donations from individuals and church organisations
Slightly reduced opening hours
Donations of second hand books
People willing to taking part in sponsored walk (April 29th)
Substantial hymnbook and Bible orders
Whilst reducing opening hours saves on fuel bills and wages, this of course inevitably has knock-on consequences for the staff affected and whilst the shop’s future is more secure, it is by no means guaranteed without the support of the local community. Steve Foyster, Bookshop Manager, concludes his report as follows:
So thanks a million, but the centre still needs the support of both church organisations and individuals to prevent the situation deteriorating again. So please continue to contact NCRC first for all your needs and spread the word to those who are still unaware of the centre’s existence!
Please continue to pray for Steve and the team working with him; and if you live in the surrounding area, please do spread the word.
Update, 21/4/2012
Aslan Books now has its own social media feeds: blog | facebook | twitter
A MIGHTY ROAR is, perhaps, something of an exaggeration, but nonetheless I was delighted to discover that the new bookselling venture from Richard Greatrex, Windflower Books, and David Wavre, A Great Read — bringing the two worlds of online bookselling and local shopping together by providing bespoke bookstall services to churches — now has a name: Aslan Books.
I asked Richard to provide a brief description to help in compiling a UKCBD entry. Here it is:
Aslan Books at St Michael’s is the beginning of a new chapter for Christian bookselling in the Bath and Bristol region as we seek to find partner churches to host micro-site bookstalls offering a wide-range of Christian material with friendly staff in welcoming and prayerful buildings.
On display is a key selection of books at competitive prices, typically 10% off the retail price, and we are able to order a great variety of Christian books and resources – from prayer cards to church candles.
St Michael’s central position in Bath means that it will be easy to reach for Christians in the city – there is plenty of parking close by – and the shop offers a very pleasant place to for shoppers to peruse at their leisure and, of course, seek advice.
If you’re in the Bath/Bristol area — or have friends who are — please do spread the word, call in, buy something and help cheer Richard on; and if you’ve got time on your hands or simply want to gain some bookselling experience, why not volunteer to give him a hand?
There are several other microshop possibilities in the pipeline: keep an eye on Springboard Bath, the local Christian news network, for details…
IT’S BEEN ANOTHER REMARKABLE MONTH in the world of Christian bookselling, with news emerging of shops and businesses struggling or closing down on the one hand, rescues, signs & wonders on the other, and somewhere in between, Christian author Stephen Sizer has his back to the wall as he faces further accusations of antisemitism. Let’s weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, pray that truth, honesty and justice may prevail (ideally along with a little common sense), and live in hope of April showers driving footfall into those stores that need it…
ACORN DIRECT — the Christian music mail order specialist once based in the Channel Islands but now operating c/o Footprints, Darlington — are feeling the pinch and have announced changes to their payment processing procedures in an effort to cut costs:
The strains of the economic downturn has caught up with AcornDirect and we need to make some changes over the coming weeks.
With immediate effect we are reducing our payment options to Paypal alone. Paypal accept all forms of credit card payment and you do not have to have a Paypal account.
To use payment without a Paypal account select the “I don’t have a Paypal account” option.
In the next 3 – 4 weeks we will be changing our shopping cart and this may present a few problems. Please bear with us as we make these important changes.
Why change? The internet is a very competitive place to operate in – gone are the halcyon days of the late 90′s when we first traded and we were the only UK Christian Music site. Now there are a few of us all struggling for the same business. Our desire has always been to give the best price and to continue to this we must cut costs. Please pray for us as we introduce these changes.
Our season as your local Christian bookshop in Stamford is drawing to a close. It has been a pleasure and a joy to have been able to serve you as a local christian ministry and bookshop in this community.
We, as a team have enjoyed the immense privilege of serving you and we have been blessed how God has enabled us and provided ministry opportunities along the journey.
As with life, there are seasons and what worked 10 years ago does not work today. Reasons for closing include the tough economic climate, battle for internet sales, the generational change in the importance of the local high street and the presence of E-books.
It is with sadness but excitement about the future that Kayleigh and I will be moving to Birmingham in early May to help build the team there. We have met many friends through the bookshop here in Stamford and we hope to keep in contact with as many as possible.
The building that houses the bookshop is owned by a christian trust and it is hoped that the trustees will work with local churches to maintain a christian witness in this spot. CLC will do all it can to support this.
If anyone is interested in running a church bookstall, CLC will also do all it can to support this. Please contact us for more information.
CLC Bookshop, Stamford will close at Easter, the exact date is still to be confirmed.
With Every Blessing.
The date of the closure has since been confirmed as next weekend, Saturday 7th April, doors closing at 5pm: tea and cake will be available all day and all are welcome. In the meantime the closing down sale is underway and the message is, “Come and grab a bargain while you can!”
EMW’s Cardiff Christian Bookshop stock redistributed
STOCK FROM the EMW Cardiff Christian Bookshop, which closed in January, has now been redistributed amongst their other shops, with clearance titles available for only £1. From the latest EMW Bookshops newsletter:
Closing the Cardiff Christian Bookshop
Closing the Cardiff Christian Bookshop
For me it was a great sadness to stand at the door of the Christian Bookshop in Cardiff and attempt to explain to a woman on a mobility scooter where she could buy a Bible in the city centre.
All of the remaining stock from the Cardiff shop has been distributed around our remaining shops. It does mean that if you can make it into one of our shops over the next few weeks you will find a shelf of books for £1, including Pilgrim’s Progress
Norwich Christian Resource Centre facing threat of closure
FORMER SPCK BOOKSHOP Norwich Christian Resource Centre is struggling to balance the books and if footfall and purchasing do not show significant improvements soon, the shop may reach the point of no return. The difficulties were first reported by Network Norwich, Norwich’s online Christian news portal, then subsequently picked up by the Norwich Evening News:
Commenting on the store’s trading deficit, shop manager Steve Foyster is cited:
If this continues, even in the short term, it is almost inevitable that the centre will close. All the paid staff are braced for another cut in hours and we have been destocking books and CDs by up to 40% via our sale and returning for credit to suppliers.
A sponsored walk around the city centre and along the river has been planned for Sunday 29th April to help raise some of the much-needed funds for the Centre’s survival. The walk starts at 3pm from the Centre (St Michael-at-Plea Church, Redwell Street), covers a distance of 3 miles and ends at the Forget-me-Not Café with complimentary refreshments for everyone taking part. More details and sponsorship forms are available from the Centre or online: Norwich Christian centre’s April Amble.
Norwich Christian centre's April Amble
Spirit Chester: Free Miracles also available
IN CHESTER, a different and more positive story is emerging:
CHRISTIAN AUTHOR and speaker Stephen Sizer, who campaigns on behalf of Palestinian Christians struggling under Israel’s security restrictions, has come under scrutiny from the Council of Christians and Jews, who have lodged complaints to his Bishop and alleged charges of antisemitism and incitement to racial hatred against him with Surrey police.
Stephen has faced such accusations before and has found himself at the wrong end of long-running hate and defamation campaigns from the pro-Zionist movement, some details of which may be found on his blog: Seismic Shock: One Year On (18 Sept 2009).
Whatever your particular views of the current Middle East situation and Israeli-Palestinian relations in particular, one thing is clear: attempting to silence criticism of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians simply by slapping the label ‘antisemitism’ onto those who speak out do not address the issue. Please pray for wisdom, grace, tolerance and understanding on all sides. More information, links to reports elsewhere and some discussion are available on my personal blog: Jeremiah’s Underpants and a Link Too Far: CCJ, Stephen Sizer and The Ugly Truth (16 Mar 2012).
Wesley Owen Coleraine is dead: long live Faith Mission!
CONGRATULATIONS to all concerned at Wesley Owen Coleraine, which reopened this week under the FM Bookshops banner as Faith Mission Coleraine. From their now renamed facebook page:
The future of Wesley Owen Coleraine
At the time of posting, Wesley Owen have yet to update their branches index. The transfer of the Coleraine branch to FM Bookshops leaves the company with only three branches, in Birmingham, Glasgow and York.
THIS is the sort of post I love to post, oh yes. Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, and HERE is where the bookshops is. I fear the Bath may have overflowed, however, as they’ve built an ARK in Grantham, with plans to go to the rescue in Nottingham…
IF YOU’RE ON Richard Greatrex’s facebook friends list or follow the Windflower Books blog then this is old news, of course, but it takes time for these things to filter out into the wider world. Reported in the Bath Chronicle yesterday, Micro bookshop opens in church:
Bath Chronicle, 22/3/2012: Microbookshop opens in church
The first of a new series of Christian micro bookshops has opened in Bath.
The A Great Read mini-shop at St Michael’s Church in Broad Street will fill a gap left by the sudden closure of the Wesley Owen store in St James’s Parade.
It is being launched by the Rev Richard Greatrex, who managed the Wesley Owen store, and online bookseller David Wavre…
Initial sales have been encouraging, says Richard, matching sales on some days in the recently closed Wesley Owen store, where he served as manager.
Volunteers are urgently needed to help run the shop: if you or anyone you know is interested, please give Richard a shout: full contact details on the Windflower Books facebook page.
Meanwhile —
Meanwhile, plans for a Bristol site are moving slowly forward. It will be amazingly exciting if we get the church venue we are negotiating on. A self-contained shop adjacent to a church café in a prime situation. The focus for this shop would be Faith and the Arts, so that while it would have space to stock all the normal resources of a Christian bookshop, as well as secondhand books, it would be specialising in the interface between faith and the visual arts, music and literature.
… and the good news is that the PCC at the Bristol church, St Stephen’s in the City, have approved the project on the condition that “the stock range is similar to that at SPCK Bristol”. Go ahead is subject to finding enough volunteers for the Bath shop. Did I already mention that? Volunteers needed in Bath, please!
Go, gentlemen, go!
Hope on the horizon for Nottingham as the ARK arrives in Grantham
CONGRATULATIONS to husband and wife team David Moreton and Sharon Moreton-Evans on their acquisition of the stock of the Christian Book Centre in Beeston (forced to close earlier this year to make way for a tramline) and the subsequent opening of a new Christian bookshop in Grantham, ARK Books, as reported by Christ Church Chilwell; select their ‘Local News/Events’ tab:
A.R.K Acts of Random Kindness David Moreton and his wife Sharon Moreton-Evans have taken over the stock of the Christian Book Centre in Beeston. A.R.K are offering an ordering service with FREE delivery in this area using their own couriers. Please contact Sally Hodges (local rep) 0115 9280280 or Sharon Moreton-Evans 01476 563556 A.R.K is about to open their first bookshop in Grantham and are in the process of creating a website. They are also hoping to open a shop in Nottingham.
The website mentioned is now live at homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.sutton. It’s early days yet and very much a work in progress, but here’s a screenshot of the work so far:
QR CODES: we’ve all seen them by now, those mysterious square hieroglyphic panels appearing here, there and everywhere, on adverts, flyers, newspapers, magazine covers and even bus stops — technology at its best or at its worst, depending on your point of view and whether or not you’ve got a smartphone with a QR reader app installed.
Anyone here into QR codes: those square hieroglyphics that seem to be becoming increasing common on magazine covers, posters and even, bizarrely, online? Personally, I don’t trust the things and even if I had a QR zap app on my phone, I wouldn’t use it: who knows what’s been encoded in those squiggles? Could be opening the door to virus downloads, security breaches, whatever… give me a human decipherable website address anytime… and online, a link’s just fine…
… and the responses came in thick and fast, beginning with a helpful link from eden.co.uk’s Gareth Mulholland to some stats and analysis of their take-up and use in the USA: QR Code Statistics. The report is somewhat dated by now, September last year, but nonetheless offers some fascinating insights and is well worth a look.
It rapidly became clear that I was largely alone in my scepticism, with a number of booksellers and publishers making use of the codes and seeing — or beginning to see — good response rates. Obvious typos in what follows have been corrected, but quotes are otherwise as given.
We have used a QR code on the posters and flyers sent to local churches: I’m not convinced it is doing us any good but it’s cheap and I’m quite certain it hasn’t done anyone any harm.
I use QR codes here in the shop, have them up for people to zap above each section header – the writing above the code says, “Don’t browse us and then shop Amazon, use our website and get Amazon prices but still support the shop & local community! win/win for all of us here in the shop today!” Also have them up for signing up to the shop’s newsletter.
and oh, to be young again: Bill Williams thought age might be a factor:
I am using them on promotion cards and they are being used more and more by American publishing houses. Folks under 30 don’t have problems scaning a code. A great way to promote!
CLC’s Amanda Lutes was quick to reassure that their QR Codes were secure and tested:
I promise that all the QR codes used in CLC Bookshops ‘Take Note’ promotional leaflet are very secure and have been thoroughly tested. They are space savers for promo – trailers for the films, authors talking about the book, etc – one click and you’re there. Makes a promotional leaflet very interactive for the reader. Have you seen the new ‘Life Essentials Study Bible’? It’s full of QR codes with videos of Bible study talks and discussions.
We now use QR codes on our promotional material at both LST and Maranatha. The brand new Illuminate Magazine at LST has a QR code that links to a special page offer for the first 30 people who come into the shop and quote the offer code.
The clincher for me, however, finally demolishing my scepticism, came from Josie Gunn of Church House Publishing and Canterbury Press:
Hello from an under-30 without a QR problem I’m using them on marketing materials for Church House Publishing and Canterbury Press and so far, so good! They really come into their own though when they take you to exclusive content – scanned a code at a bus stop the other day to get a discount at a restaurant around the corner that’s a bit hidden out of the way – very clever! Something for bookshops to think about???
Bus stops indeed: as Josie says, very clever if your shop is hidden away in a back street rather than on the high street. Which begs two simple questions:
Are you using QR Codes in your marketing? If so, please share your knowledge and experience with the rest of us;
and if not, why not? What are your concerns?
Last but not least, for those wondering where to get their codes: look no further than QRStuff.com, h/t Sam Lenton via the ACW facebook group. There are other QR Code generators out there, of course, but when you’ve found one that works…
CONGRATULATIONS to Petra Nemansky and the team at CLC London on their recent thanksgiving celebration for 66 years of Christian bookselling in the nation’s capital: a remarkable achievement, made all the more remarkable by the fact that they’re still there, doing it, when so many other Christian bookshops are falling by the wayside:
CLC London: Praise the Lord for a great Thanksgiving Celebration!
Not only ‘still there’ in fact, but — as reported last year — relocated to a prime spot just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral, hence the party; and with some 70 people packed into the shop, with singing led by Chris Magee, Director of CLC Wholesale UK, Petra herself speaking about the shop’s history, and Phil Burnham, CLC UK Director, delivering a speech about CLC’s mission — to list just a few highlights — it was definitely a party to write home about.
Outlining the shop’s history and the reason for celebrating, Petra said,
The celebration of our new place coincides with the 66th year of CLC’s ministry in London. The first shop at Ludgate Hill was set up in 1946, just after WWII. After that we had a shop in front of St Paul’s Tube station. Twenty years ago we moved to Holborn Viaduct where we had a shop with two trading floors. It’s great to find a place so close to St Paul’s Cathedral again.
CLC London is but one small part of the much larger global picture: across the world, CLC International operate more than 180 bookshops in 58 countries. Emphasising CLC’s status as a missionary organisation, Phil Burnham explained why the shops matter:
In some of these countries we are the only Christian bookshop. It’s not easy to be a Christian in these nations. CLC is a registered charity. With the profit we make, we can support the ministry in countries where it is not yet self-sustaining. We believe that God works through Christian Literature, here in UK and all over the world.
Addressing the UK situation, Phil went on to acknowledge the challenges of survival in the current marketplace:
Nowadays people buy more from the internet. We do have a CLC internet shop, but there’s a lot of competition and people are not always aware that with CLC they are buying from a charity.
Guests departed with goody bags containing a selection of free books courtesy of Christian Focus, Joining the Dots and Kingsway.
From a report issued earlier today in the Bath Chronicle:
Bath Chronicle, 16/02/2011: New chapter for a Christian bookshop
The first of a new series of Christian microbookshops is to be set up in Bath.
The sales at a city centre church will fill a gap left by the sudden closure of the Wesley Owen store in St James’s Parade.
It is being launched by the Rev Richard Greatrex – who managed the store – and online bookseller David Wavre.
The microshop will carry Mr Wavre’s A Great Read brand and will be followed by more in churches in Bristol, Radstock and Frome.
The pair are in the final stages of negotiations over the location of the mini-bookshop.
Mr Wavre said: “Each shop or stall will have a range of top titles, perennial favourites and newly-published books available as well as the monthly comprehensive A Great Read magazines, detailing hand-picked newly-published and established titles.”
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone at Unity Christian Bookshop, Petersfield, on the success of last year’s appeal for funds to prevent the shop’s closure. The successful outcome, securing the shop’s future for another year, was reported last month via the PACT (Petersfield Area Churches Together) website:
A big thank you from the manager, trustees and volunteers at the bookshop in Folly Lane, Petersfield.
[T]he Lord has blessed us indeed! Our campaign raised sufficient funds to cover the shortfall of £5,000 and enough to kick start the shop going into the New Year. So the Unity Bookshop will remain trading. Our Christian friends from far and wide have stepped forward with their financial support and prayers, without which this would have been a very different story.
The news of this successful outcome was warmly received at the PACT Annual General Meeting at St. Peter’s Church last week.
The report concludes with an invitation for readers to visit the shop — but if you live too far away to visit in person, not to worry: you can discover Unity Christian Bookshop on facebook.
Citing the now ubiquitous complaint of “increased competition from online booksellers” as the reason for the closure, the announcement was made last week in February’s issue of E-Round, the Diocesan newsletter, and goes on to pay tribute to Ron Upton, the bookshop manager:
Diocesan Resources Centre
The Diocese of St Albans’ Resource Centre at Holywell Lodge is to close in the light of increased competition from online booksellers but will continue to offer for loan a variety of teaching materials and equipment used by churches and schools across the Diocese. Remaining stock will be offered at reduced prices.
David Nye, Chair of the St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance, thanked the departing Resource Centre Manager, Ron Upton: “Ron is known to dozens and dozens of people across the Diocese for his knowledge of the book and magazine trade, his devoted ministry as a Reader and his friendliness. He has contributed an enormous amount. He goes with many prayers for the future.”
Susan Pope, Diocesan Secretary, added, “I pay Ron warm tribute for what he has given over the last ten years. He will be much missed by colleagues at Holywell Lodge and beyond.”
“To survive, shops have got to find a way forward…”
Why use up petrol, and time to make a journey to a shop that may not have the item required in stock when you can sit comfortably at home, browse a site that has every book or item in its store and that can send it within 48 hours? Plus the internet site is open 24 hours whereas a shop is only open 9am-5pm a mere eight hours.
To survive, shops have got to find a way forward, to make it a more viable proposition. Now Kindle has arrived, and once more customers are using the internet to acquire the books they want rather than visiting a bookshop. It’s a very difficult problem that shops have got to solve, and at present we at Ichthus are searching for answers. One thing we do know is that locals need to use the shops they have left or the high street will become a thing of the past.
Answers, please, not on a postcard but in a tweet, status update or comment below…
RT @hivestores: Booksellers, check this out to get your shop on the Guardian's map. Perfect opportunity for small but special... http:// ... 3 days ago
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