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February 4, 2012

After the Tsunami: Regaining perspective on the UK Christian book trade

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Book Trade, Christian Bookshops, Independent Booksellers, Musings... | Tags: , , , , |
[17] Comments 

SOMETIMES, IN RUNNING UKCBD/THIS BLOG, I want to make like Elijah: to simply run away, hide in a cave and wait for the inevitable. Unlike Elijah, however, I’m not being pursued by an angry Queen who wants to chop me into pieces: on the whole the Christian book/retail trade remains a very positive area to work in; and whilst the unrelenting tide of bookshop closures may feel like a tsunami overwhelming us, I don’t think God has finished with this trade yet. Refining and redefining, certainly; but finished? Far from it — and what I see happening here is far from whistling in the dark.

Allow me to offer some facts and figures:

The UKCBD database currently holds 801 records. Of those, 209 are flagged ‘Omit’, for various reasons: some are incomplete and have never made it to the live site, others are archived as businesses have relocated; only 79 (just under 10%) are specifically flagged ‘Ceased Trading’ — and only 26 have been flagged ‘Ceased Trading’ within the last 12 months. That’s not the full picture: I’m aware of a number of shops that have ceased trading (Chelmsford Christian Bookshop and Quench, St Albans are two examples) but I haven’t updated their entries yet, simply due to the constraints of time and other commitments.

On the opposite side of the coin, however, during that same period 23 new records have been added. Looking back over the last quarter alone, these include:

Some of these are brand new, launched within the last few months; some are relocated or ‘resurrected’ businesses, taking over existing premises from collapsed ventures; others are well established but had somehow slipped under the radar and never made their way into my listings; and some, quite clearly, are not ‘Christian bookshops’ as we’ve come to know them: they are all, however, part of the current Christian retailing reality, the reality that is now being refined and redefined.

Again, this isn’t the full picture: it’s rare for more than a couple of weeks to go by without someone contacting me to provide details of a shop or business that isn’t in the directory. As I prepare this post, I have records pending for several shops that I’ve only recently found out about:

On average, then, for every shop that has disappeared over the last year, another has popped up: some towns, such as Nottingham, are now without a Christian bookshop; others, such as Rotherham, have gained one; and elsewhere, more flexible ventures such as Richard Greatrex’s Windflower Books and Jenny Hickman’s Midlands Christian Books have emerged. The UKCBD database is growing, not shrinking.

Some of the chains — SPCK, Wesley Owen, Living Oasis — are broken beyond repair; others — CLC and FM Bookshops — are still in business, some branches struggling, some thriving, the strong supporting the weak. The collapse of Living Oasis and the failure of Koorong to make a go of Wesley Owen here in the UK perhaps tells us more about the shortcomings of their particular business models than it does about the trade in general.

Steve Mitchell is right in what he affirms when he says:

… it is a brave man to bet against the online business which is so rapidly growing… the charity or independent model is now the best option to maintain physical Christian stores.

But he is wrong in what he denies: because there are plenty of brave men — and women! — out there: not “betting against the online business” but integrating the online with their business models.

The future of Christian bookselling in the UK depends not upon pitting the online against the physical but upon bringing the two together. It’s a secret that lives at the very heart of our faith: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female” — and to that I add, there is no longer physical or virtual — “for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

We who are Christ’s disciples should know these things better than anyone else. Throwing people overboard in the storm is not the way of Christ. Lopping off limbs when the head says to the foot, “I don’t need you anymore,” is not the way of Christ. The only time we see Christ breaking things up is when the temple of mammon attempts to supplant the temple of God — and, coming full circle now, the remnant of Israel that God promises Elijah he will save consists of “all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The way of Christ is the Cross: is to face impossible odds, to take the pain, to bleed and die, and then — only then — rise to new life. There are no short cuts to resurrection.

To those now feeling like limbs lopped off; to those pursuing the vision of that “well-run and nimble independent sector” that Eddie Olliffe speaks of; to those following the way of Christ regardless of personal cost: I salute you.

 

October 24, 2011

How to Sell a Book: Radical thinking for authors, publishers and readers

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Book Trade, Musings... | Tags: , , , , |
[4] Comments 

THIS POST EMERGES out of a conversation in the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers facebook group, in which we were discussing (amongst other things) the pros and cons of authors self-publishing v/s going with an established publisher. It’s a tough call for authors in the present economic climate, especially if your book doesn’t quite fit into a clearly-defined niche; and it’s a tough call for publishers: faced by the choice of investing in a debut work from an unknown writer or a new title from an established writer with a good track record, what would you do?

And if you’re a bookseller, how do you decide what to stock? Is the extra admin involved in stocking titles from self-published authors or smaller publishing houses really worth it? Is it better to wave them away, to tell them to go strike a deal with a distributor/wholesaler?

When I was running the bookshop at LST (a distant memory now) my approach was simple: if I thought a title from a small publisher / self-published author was likely to be of interest to my customers, then I’d take it, but initial stock had to be either 100% sale or return or 100% see-safe, carriage paid both ways by the supplier. It generally worked well enough — yes, there was some extra admin involved in dealing with small invoices and parceling up returns, but no big deal really, and I’d encourage any retailer to give it a go. Remember this, people: The Shack started off as self-published — by helping out a small publisher / self-published author in this way, you could be giving the next ‘Shack’ a kick-start!!

So far, not so radical; however…

For Authors and Publishers: Here’s a challenge for authors and publishers: do you believe in your book? Do you want to see it on booksellers’ shelves? Then start the ball rolling by sending them a complimentary copy and tell them it’s theirs to sell or give away; but if they opt to sell it, then when — when, not if! — it sells, they have to use the proceeds of the sale to buy another copy (less whatever your trade discount is, of course). Cost to you: one book + p&p; but potential winnings … who can say? And a straight win for them whether they sell it or give it away: either money for nothing or a happy customer gets a freebie and — another win for you — tells their friends about the lovely book…

It’s a risky strategy, of course: I can hear all the objections and questions already after so many publishers and suppliers have had their fingers burnt and worse in the last few years in the SPCK-SSG/STL-Wesley Owen/Living Oasis fiascos; but as someone far wiser than me once observed, faith is spelt r-i-s-k. If we, as Christ’s disciples, aren’t willing to trust one another, aren’t willing to live out our faith by taking such risks, then what hope is there for the rest of society? And what, exactly, is the point of running a Christian business? What message do our business relationships convey to the rest of society?

For Booksellers: Now the challenge for booksellers: would you be willing to take part in such a scheme? Would you be willing to accept complimentary initial stock from authors/publishers on this basis? Not sale or return; not see-safe; but sale and restock when sold or give away — to commit yourself to not simply relegating the book to a back room or obscure shelf somewhere but actively supporting this vision?

For Readers: And last but not least, a challenge for readers, for those like me on the outside looking in, watching the demise of bookshops around the country and wondering what we can do: adopt an author, a bookshop and/or a publisher! If there’s a book you’d like to see on sale in a particular bookshop, go to the author/publisher and pay for them to supply it to your nominated shop with your compliments.

Imagine, if you dare, the difference this could make if enough of us did it: not just me, not just you, but your friends too, the members of your church.

The future of Christian bookselling is in our hands, my friends: let’s seize the day!

 

October 7, 2011

Two Worlds: A Shout Out to Christian Publishers and Suppliers

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Book Trade, Christian Music, Christian Publishers, Christian Suppliers, Musings... | Tags: , , , , |
[6] Comments 

Discussions Update
At some point within the next week or so I plan to post a summary of the recent discussions, working title “Kingsway: Discussion Summary and Unanswered Questions”.

A preliminary draft is available in the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers facebook group: all group members are welcome to comment, suggest revisions and/or possible solutions, but I respectfully request that you refrain from taking the discussion into any public forums until it is finalised and published here. Thank you.

IN THIS EXCERPT from the recent discussions about Kingsway, the Spirit Break Out album in HMV and Kingsway’s RRPs, Luke Bunger (The Hub, Walsall) replies to John Robinson (aka ‘John the Areopagite’), presenting us with two possible ways in which things could turn out for the Christian book trade over the next few years.

Many publishers and suppliers offer their Christian retail partners wholly commendable and comprehensive support: I hear the praises of CWR, IVP and Lion Hudson sung most often. This shout out is not to them but to those who seem tempted to think, “Christian retailing is dead: let’s go elsewhere…”

No doubt there are many other scenarios between the two extremes in the picture Luke paints: we live not in a world of black and white but in a rainbow world, with myriad possibilities and God’s promise of grace arcing overhead; but rainbows only appear after the storm — and after the storm, by God’s grace, sometimes we get to choose the colours. Let’s choose wisely.

Obvious typos and minor punctuation/grammatical errors have been corrected, but otherwise these excerpts are exactly as written:

John Robinson said:

God forbid that Kingsway were to actually do their mission and spread the Kingdom message. I think it was high time that some Christian retailers were to understand that the messianic vision is for the world and not to be kept in the back streets – I heartily commend Kingsway for trying to spread the Gospel any way they can!

John the Areopagite

Luke Bunger replied:

John.

The simple fact of the matter is that no-one is criticising Kingsway for getting their stuff out there. In HMV, Amazon, iTunes or otherwise. Many of us (and I would suggest almost everyone who is commenting here) think that it’s good.

The thing we don’t like, however, is taking existing customers and encouraging them to shop elsewhere. Everyone receiving the email were existing Kingsway customers, primarily people who are already Christians, and many of whom already buy Christian music, who either signed up online, filled in contact cards at events, or responded to those cards which used to be placed in the front of CDs and DVDs.

This did NOT hit HMV’s sizeable database, nor did it hit every iTunes user. If it did, this would be amazing news, even given the unfortunate wording.

It hit Kingsway’s.

And as a result, in the main, it was read by people who already support Christian music. Many of these already use Christian bookshops (I know for a fact several of MY customers received it).

It encouraged these people to stop supporting their Christian bookshops and instead to use the secular HMV store for their Christian music needs, and that is what we take offence to.

The other issue is that does making the music available at HMV really spread the gospel, if as a result Christian businesses are closed down?

Let me propose two situations for you to consider:

In the first, Christian publishers and suppliers like Kingsway effectively abandon the Christian trade in favour of the secular trade. Their reasoning is simple: the Christian trade is dying, and focusing on retailers like HMV and Amazon reaches a wider audience.

As a result, their self-fulfilling prophecy comes to pass, the trend continues, and within the next few years, the Directory Phil manages reduces from a few hundred entries to a few dozen.

As a result, Christians still have access to music and books, and non-Christians have the possibility of stumbling across them while browsing through the Self Help sections of bookshops, or the Blues and Gospel section of HMV.

The second option is that suppliers and publishers make a continuing push to support the Christian trade, even if it risks alienating HMV, iTunes or Amazon. Their logic is simple: Christian bookshops exist primarily to support the Christians in the community, and spread the gospel to non-Christians and we should invest in that.

As a result, the trend of closures is slowed, and maybe even reverses. Christian bookshops become healthier, more vibrant and more appealing. Because of the commitment by suppliers, the bookshops become steadily more profitable, and are able to open up more branches, and move into more high profile locations. HMV, Amazon and others may kick up a stink, and may even decide not to stock the products (though that seems unlikely, if there is demand for it, and the possibility of making a profit).

Now. Picture a seeker. Someone who is interested in the bigger questions, but unsure whether they are ready to commit to anything by crossing the threshold of a church. The kind of person who I see most days at The Hub.

In world one, there is no Christian bookshop. They visit their local Waterstone’s, ask about Christianity, and are pointed to either the World Religions section, where they can buy three or four copies of the Bible, alongside dozens of other “Holy Books”, or the Self Help section, where they stumble across a Joel Osteen book, but not before picking up a handful of other books all advocating wildly different beliefs and opinions. They ask the staff member for advice, and the best answer he is trained to give is, “This one by Paul McKenna is very popular. You may have seen him advertising it on the TV recently”.

In this world someone interested in Christian music will be pointed to the Blues and Gospel section, and will think “I’m really more into Rock… I’m not really into Blues or Gospel music… I guess there is nothing in the Christian scene for me”.

They will probably save a few pounds on the books they buy, v/s the prices they would have paid in Christian bookshops, but that’s about the sum of it.

In world two, this seeker would hopefully be able to walk into a Christian bookshop in his or her town.

They would have the choice of dozens of translations of Bibles, in hundreds of different shapes and sizes. They would have a wealth of Christian teaching available, whatever background or circumstances they find themselves in, not to mention the wealth of information afforded to them by staff who have the time and knowledge to talk with them about their needs, and pray with them about their circumstances.

They would ask about music, and find that there are hundreds of CDs and DVDs available, in many different genres, that whatever music they like, there will be something in the Christian world for them.

They may have to journey into the backstreet to find it, but find it they hopefully will, and when they do, they will find a place where they can find out much more about the Christian faith than they likely ever would in HMV, Waterstone’s or at Amazon.

So I ask you this: in which circumstance is the Gospel of Jesus Christ really more effectively preached, and the lost more effectually reached?

Of course, we would all prefer not to have to live in an either/or world, but a both/and one. But if we do have to choose, I know which choice I would be making.

 

September 27, 2011

HMV gets @worshipcentral’s Spirit Break Out – at £7.99

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Music, Musings... | Tags: , , , , , , |
[109] Comments 

Update, 29/09/2011
“Somehow we have to deal with this or we will be torn apart by it” - Eddie Olliffe reflects on the current situation: Book Trade – Pricing policy, discounts and the deepening sense of unease

THE SCREENSHOT BELOW shows Kingsway’s announcement telling everyone on their mailing lists to “check out your local HMV” for Worship Central’s Spirit Break Out, where people will be getting “a dose of God-soaked, Spirit-powered, Jesus-centered live worship” — and that’s what it’s all about, right?

“All about Jesus”, in the words of Tim Hughes.

Kingsway Announcement: HMV Gets Spirit Break Out

Kingsway Announcement: HMV Gets Spirit Break Out

I’d love to echo Kingsway’s enthusiasm, I really would. But what I see isn’t so much an opportunity as a missed opportunity — because the truth is that HMV don’t get Spirit Break Out: HMV don’t get it at all. To HMV, it’s just another money-spinner, another chance to rake in the £££s and set their tills ringing, just like iTunes.

And the people who do get it, the people who genuinely understand what it’s all about? The people for whom it really is all about Jesus, namely Christian retailers? They’re left out in the cold with a standard trade discount from Kingsway of 35% 33%* against Kingsway’s £12.99 RRP (apart from a few who may have secured more favourable terms through advance orders). That’s a retailer buy-in price of £8.44 £8.70*, which compares to the real market pricing as follows:

I ask quite simply: how can this in any sense be fair? Yes, it’s great that at least one bricks & mortar retailer can match the iTunes/Amazon price… but imagine how much better it could be: imagine not only the impact upon the UK’s struggling Christian retailers but also the outreach potential if Kingsway dropped the artificial RRP and used their own selling price as the starting point — then went a step further and declared that they’re making the album available to retail at £7.99 across the board!

Imagine a Christian publisher operating their business on a level-playing-field basis!

How about it, Kingsway? Is it all about Jesus? Or is it really all about the price?

And last but not least: I know since last year’s discussions you’re no longer comparing your actual selling prices with your own RRPs publicly on your website, and that’s great: thank you. But you are still doing so behind the scenes in your direct mailings. I’m sure that’s just an oversight, and no doubt now that you’re aware of the matter you’ll straighten things out in your one-to-one dealings too, so thanks again.


* Updated 28/09/2011 following Melanie’s comment - thanks Melanie!

 

January 6, 2011

Christianity on the High Street: is there a better way?

Posted by Phil Groom under Guest Posts, Musings... | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
[21] Comments 

OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO we’ve had numerous conversations and discussions about the future shape of Christian bookselling and retailing. We’ve seen the sad demise of the former SPCK bookshops (a story that’s far from over), the break-up of Wesley Owen following the collapse of STL UK when Biblica overreached itself (for what that cost, see Clem Jackson’s recent report for Christian Marketplace: IBS STL (UK) Administration closes), and a number of independents struggling or closing down; but we’ve also seen the rise of Living Oasis with its mixed message about developing a Christian presence on the high street whilst simultaneously “de-Christianising” its storefronts, various independents springing to life or changing hands, and more and more shops discovering the world of social media (find Christian bookshops on facebook | twitter). One thing is clear: Christian bookselling/retailing in the UK is not yet dead.

But is it truly alive? Is there a better way? Should we be seeking a new model for a Christian presence in our towns and cities? Has the time come, if not to discard the bookshop/retailer/café concept entirely, to develop something else? But if so, what?

Ian Matthews takes up the conversation:

Bookshops, Cafés and the Witness on the High Street

I am writing as someone who has, over the years, managed retail shops, edited a retail trade publication, worked for publishers and been (vaguely) involved in the rescue of our local Christian bookshop by a newly formed trust. I have also earned money in the last few years advising people on how to adapt to a changing retail culture.

These are, without doubt, dark days for Christian booksellers in the United Kingdom. It is generally difficult for many independent retailers and small chains (and even larger ones), but Christian bookshops seem especially hard hit. There is yet another closure of an independent bookshop every couple of months, accompanied by the regular chorus of concern about the ‘loss of a witness on the high street’. There is no doubt that the High Street is changing. A recent BBC survey shows that whereas vacant shops are on the increase, the only sectors showing a reduction in the number of shops are travel agents and off-licences (although bookshops are rolled in with art suppliers and stationers which may be masking a decline). There is no written or unwritten rule that says that the high street needs to stay the same, and the excellent TV series Turn Back Time: The High Street has shown how even whilst mourning the loss of dedicated retailers, the public will still shop with their wallet or purse at the forefront of their buying decisions.

This leads to the question I have been really pondering:

Is a Bookshop the Best Witness on the High Street?

What I mean by this is: whether it is, in the end, worth all the expense, heartache, effort, cajoling and tears to keep a Christian bookshop open; or is there a more effective way of bringing the light of Christ to our towns and cities?

Shrewsbury Covered Market, photograph by Ian Matthews

Shrewsbury Covered Market

I have recently taken some office space in the town centre of the town in which I live as I have outgrown the office in the back garden, and needed somewhere else to work. As I looked around I did something I hadn’t done for a while, and took a walk through our local covered market. When I first moved here this was a thriving market selling meat, veg, household supplies etc, but went into a shocking decline about ten years ago. I had stopped going by and didn’t go near for a few years. However, I did look in when exploring space and was amazed at the change in the last few years. The main market floor was now populated by bakers, butchers, delicatessens, organic greengrocers, secondhand bookstores etc. The upper gallery of fixed units had a printer, an art collective, a secondhand vinyl shop, more books, hats etc.

What struck me is that here was a place where the community was coming together, but there was no observable Christian presence. But I also asked a second question: would a Christian bookshop be the right thing to put in here? (We already have a Christian bookshop in the town anyway). I wanted to start thinking creatively about how Christian witness might work here. Obviously the mixed mainstream/Christian product can work (as Unicorn Tree Books in Lincoln has shown), but I wanted to think about what else might be effective.

Bookshops, coffee shops, quiet spaces, gift & craft shops, a Christian equivalent to the ‘new age’ centres you find in many tourist towns?

Two baptist churches recently merged. Their town centre building was demolished and in its place a local property developer is building a new commercial/residential building with a ground floor space for use by the church. However, their worship centre is in the other building, located in a residential area. But, like the market, they get thousands of people passing by every day (including, again like the market, 1500 sixth-formers from the nearby college), and want to use it in a way that will draw people in, and provide a service and space for people.

These are still questions without answers, but I found the prospect exciting and would love to hear from others as to what possibilities might exist…

Ian Matthews has worked in Christian publishing and communications for 13 years, before which he worked in retail management for a number of years. He is currently Director of International Partnerships for EthnoGraphic Media, a non-profit documentary production organisation. Their current film is Little Town of Bethlehem (www.littletownofbethlehem.org) which follows the growing nonviolence movement in Israel and Palestine, and is currently being screened in churches and university campuses around the world. It is available on retail release through Kingsway in the UK.

Some Related Posts (most recent first)

 

December 22, 2010

2010 and the Christian Book Trade: A Year according to the Web Stats

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Musings... | Tags: , , , |
[2] Comments 

2010: how was it for you? The question’s a little premature, of course: we’ve still got a few days to go. But from a web stats perspective, here’s how it’s been in this little corner of the blogosphere, with the top ten posts as follows, set out as post date, title, page views.

  1. 26/01/10 Living Oasis: A new and exciting vision for your local Christian Bookshop: 2101
  2. 21/01/10 Nationwide Christian Trust Confirmed as Bidders for Remaining Wesley Owen Stores: 1047
  3. 31/05/10 Kingsway Polls: Because the questions won’t go away…: 948
  4. 08/01/10 Wesley Owen: Beginning of the End as Nottingham Branch Ceases Trading: 860
  5. 28/5/10 Kingsway: John Paculabo Responds: 824
  6. 02/03/10 Living Oasis: 20 Shops, Meetings and Openings: 820
  7. 17/05/10 Kingsway, Cross Rhythms and the cost of Christian music: are retailers being priced out of the market? 789
  8. 03/01/10 Wesley Owen and CLC: Looking to the future…: 758
  9. 10/08/10 For I am ashamed of the Gospel? Concerns raised as Living Oasis declares plans to “de-Christianise” shop windows: 727
  10. 24/02/10: Living Oasis: Nationwide rollout plans gather momentum: 713

Two stories have clearly dominated: the rise of Living Oasis following last year’s collapse of Wesley Owen, and the shenanigans over Kingsway’s pricing practices. Thankfully, of course, Kingsway came to their senses before it became necessary to refer the matter to the OFT, but I must confess that I found the whole episode deeply disheartening and have yet to understand how a Christian organisation could treat both government guidelines and its trading partners with such contempt: a very strange attitude indeed.

As for Living Oasis, the questions I raised a few weeks ago about their future plans remain open. Andy Twilley has stated that he will “happily give [any enquirers] the actual position” but has yet to actually do so openly. The apparent plan to grow the business “by a minimum of 20 sites each year” seems an idealistic fantasy at best but until such time as Living Oasis are willing to speak more freely of their game plan the rest of us can only watch and wonder.

The post stats tell only part of the story, of course. The top five pages over the past year are:

  1. Home page: 62,621
  2. Wesley Owen: 6,838
  3. About: 932
  4. Belfast: 908
  5. Manchester: 820

Once again, then, the topic that has dominated visitors’ interest has been Wesley Owen / Living Oasis.

Finally, for those who may be wondering where the traffic has come from, the top 5 referrers over the past year have been:

  1. christianbookshops.org.uk: 10,608
  2. facebook: 1,462
  3. wordpress.com: 777
  4. twitter: 758
  5. Google Reader: 448

There’s much more data available of course, such as the search terms people have using to find their way here: feel free to ask if you’re curious.

 

August 10, 2010

For I am ashamed of the Gospel? Concerns raised as Living Oasis declares plans to “de-Christianise” shop windows

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Bookshops, Musings..., News | Tags: , , , |
[28] Comments 
Nationwide Christian Trust puts faith in former Wesley Owen stores

The Bookseller, 08/09/2010: Nationwide Christian Trust puts faith in former Wesley Owen stores

CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED by booksellers responding to Andy Twilley’s comments about plans to “de-Christianise” Living Oasis shop windows, reported yesterday by Victoria Gallagher in the Bookseller, Nationwide Christian Trust puts faith in former Wesley Owen stores:

Revd Andy Twilley, director of Christian Life & Ministry at the Nationwide Christian Trust, said: “The shop window will be a coffee shop, it will be a de-Christianised shop window and there won’t be Christian paraphernalia. We want it to be totally accessible to people, irrespective of faith.”

Responses left on the Bookseller report include questions about whether or not this approach is “selling out” on the idea of a Christian presence on the high street:

What is the point of moving the shops to the High Street if nobody can tell it’s a Christian bookshop!!! It does raise the question of whether this is profit coming before ministry! I will probably get lambasted for this – but why be embarrassed about our faith?

On facebook, Melanie Carroll of Unicorn Tree Books, Lincoln, who stocks both Christian and general books, comments:

Can we not be Christian and open and receptive to all anyway without need or want to make them be like us or for us to be any less than we are? Places of warm hospitality and reception for all and any but that wear our colours plainly and in so doing show how different from others perceptions of us we really are?

That’s what I try with my shop – being Christian is nothing special, it doesnt make me any different to anyone else, all the same things everyone else likes are liked by Christians, done by Christians and by being normal joe it’s easier to come alongside others where they are and in turn reflect the glory of His presence for them to find and embrace at their choice and in His time I think, however it’s also not something I should feel the need to hide or gloss over either because if I do tht what sort of witness is that in the end, what reflection does that case? a question for each to ponder but I do think at the end of the Day they are probably just trying to do the best they can to keep themselves going and that’s a fair thing for them to do – after all if they can’t run at a pofit then they are unlikely to be there for long and the question then is which action is the worst?

Living Oasis: 'Our Vision'

Living Oasis: 'Our Vision'

The Living Oasis vision is:

To provide a Christian presence on our High Streets, connecting with Christians and non Christians, fulfilling a mission objective, and providing a resource for Churches as they seek to impact their local communities.

  • Can such a vision be realised by “de-Christianising” the storefronts?
  • As Christians,  should we seek to be distinctive or to blend in?
  • If mission is the objective, is it right to effectively lure people in with coffee without letting them know they’re entering a Christian mission zone?
  • If you entered a “de-Islamicised” Muslim bookstore only to discover it was a ‘front’ for the local mosques, how would that make you feel?

Where Next?

 

July 20, 2010

Mixed response to Writers’ Workshops experiment

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings, Musings... | Tags: , , |
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Book Cover: A Life Less Lost

A Life Less Lost

K B Walker, author of A Life Less Lost, has reported a mixed response to a couple of writers’ workshops — ‘Writing from Life’ — which she offered free of charge to local bookshops in the Huddersfield area last month, with seven participants turning out for the event at the Orchard Bookshop, Denby Dale, but only one participant at Huddersfield Christian Bookshop: An experiment

Not one to give up easily, however, Kimm is determined to offer more: if you run a bookshop in the North East, why not contact her to discuss possibilities? This strikes me as a superb way for authors and booksellers to work together and support one another, and an innovative change from the more common author signing session; and if you’re further away, well, why not contact her anyway? You never know what might transpire…

 

June 26, 2010

SPCK/SSG Two Years On: Reflections and Responses

Posted by Phil Groom under Independent Booksellers, Musings..., News | Tags: , |
[3] Comments 

SPCK/SSG Two Years On: Reflections and Responses

Today, Saturday 26th June, 2010, marks the second anniversary of the SPCK/SSG blog. You’ll hear no trumpet fanfare, no roll of drums; and you’ll see no flags flying, no balloons, no fireworks to celebrate. But if you listen, carefully, you may well hear the sound of tears falling… yet listen more carefully still and you might just hear the sound of a baby crying.

Because out of the anguish and distress through which that blog was birthed, new life has emerged, new bookshops — perhaps even new ways of being bookshop — have been born. Those include:

I invited some of those who were involved in the SPCK/SSG crisis from the very beginning to offer us some reflections on where we are now: Melanie Carroll, former manager of SPCK Lincoln and spckonline.com before the Brewers destroyed them, and now owner of Unicorn Tree Books — also recently described by Eddie Olliffe as “one of the most original and inspirational trade bloggers” — and Valiant for Truth, a frequent commenter on the SPCK/SSG Blog who has been keeping a particularly close eye on the still ongoing situation at Durham Cathedral, have both kindly accepted that invitation.

To read their observations, head on over to SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info

 

May 17, 2010

Kingsway, Cross Rhythms and the cost of Christian music: are retailers being priced out of the market?

Posted by Phil Groom under Musings..., Product Queries | Tags: , , , , , , |
[33] Comments 

Revisiting this month’s Christian Marketplace, I was encouraged to see Jonathan Brown, Kingsway’s Business Development Director, responding to Robin Henderson’s questions about Christian CD prices in the Letters section (p.4, April & May issues).

Christian Marketplace, May 2010

Christian Marketplace, May 2010

Whilst I acknowledge what Jonathan says about economy of scale and appreciate the huge investment Kingsway makes in supporting its artists and their products — and applaud Kingsway’s commitment to continued monitoring and reviewing of their prices — Jonathan’s observations seem to raise more questions than they answer:

It really is about economy of scale along with people’s perception to CD retail prices, which is driven by The UK’s Top 40 and more importantly supermarket pricing. Supermarkets continue to use CDs and entertainment product as a loss leader and to drive footfall.

Jonathan is undoubtedly right in his observations about the supermarkets… > Keep reading and join the conversation…

 

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