Big UKCBD Spring Clean Continues

SIMPLY A REMINDER that there’s never been a better time to review your shop’s UKCBD entry: it’s raining out there here in drought-stricken Bedfordshire and, having just been signed off work for another four weeks courtesy of my broken ankle, I’ve got plenty of time on my hands to keep on keeping on with those updates. Either give me a shout with any changes needed or wait your turn…

The ten most recent updates are featured on the UKCBD homepage and all the latest updates are catalogued here, oddly enough, under Latest Updates…

Durham Cathedral Shop: New look, new location

Diocese of Durham: Work begins on new Cathedral Shop

LAST WEEKEND saw plans unveiled for the long awaited all-new bright-and-shiny shop at Durham Cathedral. As regular readers will know, the shop has had a turbulent history in recent years: once dubbed the best theological bookshop in Britain, it was abandoned by SPCK to the Brewer brothers, then unceremoniously dropped by them when it became too hot to handle.

The Cathedral authorities now seem set on course to leave that history behind, albeit in favour of something that looks more akin to a museum-style gift shop than a theological resource centre.  Exactly when the current shop in the Great Kitchen will close hasn’t been made clear. As the saying goes, watch that space…

Read all about it…

• Diocese of Durham: Work begins on new Cathedral Shop
• Durham Cathedral News: Open Treasure: a major development at Durham Cathedral

Goodbye UK Christian Handbook, hello Christian Resources Directory

Bible Society’s Christian Resources Directory *

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST in the transition from print to e-edition as Bible Society have announced the end of the long-established UK Christian Handbook in favour of an online only service, the Christian Resources Directory*. Given how quickly such publications go out of date, it’s an eminently sensible move, although the concept of an online directory that doesn’t include website links as standard leaves me somewhat baffled: a sort-of retro-Google that delivers dead-end search results (unless, of course, you don’t have a website, in which case you could be onto a winner).

As with its print predecessor, basic “Bronze” entries (single category, company/organisation name, address & phone number only) are free of charge, whilst those who can afford to stump up £50/£95 per year can upgrade to “Silver” or “Gold” respectively (multiple categories, more information and prioritised listings in the search results).

It’s early days yet and the project clearly needs some fine tuning as most categories are not cross-referenced to other related categories. Choose wisely when you register your business: if you opt for a listing under “Christian Bookshop and Resource Centre”, for instance, your shop’s details won’t be shown in a search for “Christian Bookshop”, vice-versa and so forth for other categories. At present, the way to find most Christian bookshops irrespective of category seems to be a search for Christian Books* but even that omits those who have opted for the simpler “Books” category (and vice-versa). The good news is that listings can be edited and recategorised very easily; the bad news is that there appears to be no business verification or vetting process: register, create an entry and bingo, it’s live within seconds.

I’m considering a “Gold” listing for UKCBD, which will effectively put every Christian bookshop onto a level playing field towards the top of every chosen category: if you’d like to contribute towards the cost of that or discuss other possibilities for working together, please either give me a shout or make a donation. Thank you.

* Please note these are one-off courtesy links by way of introducing the new directory: I’ll be happy to consider providing further links when and if Bible Society are willing to reciprocate free of charge…

Lion Hudson authors win Ultimate Christian Library Book Awards

CONGRATULATIONS to Andrea Skevington and Canon Andrew White, winners of this year’s Ultimate Christian Library Book award, as announced at CRE last week; and a well-deserved double win for Lion Hudson publishers:

Ultimate Christian Library Book Awards 2012

More Christian Bookshops on Facebook

ONE OF THE JOYS of the Big UKCBD Spring Clean has been discovering even more Christian bookshops on facebook. It’s making my old Facebook Roundup for the Christian Book Trade look decidedly out of date: updates there in due course, all being well. These are some that I’ve discovered this month:

• The Burning Bush Christian Book Centre, Dungannon
• Cinnamon, Newton Stewart
• Jireh Books & Gifts
• The Olive Branch, Cardiff
• Oswestry Christian Bookshop

Whenever possible I’m adding social media links (facebook, twitter, google+) to UKCBD entries as and when I find out about them: if you’re fussbooking or tweeting and your shop’s entry hasn’t been updated, once again, please give me a shout.

Quench closure in St Albans jeopardises Music Centre

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: famous words from our glorious Prime Minster David Cameron, and proving painfully true in St Albans as the Music Centre where Quench St Albans (which closed down at the end of last year) was based is feeling the repercussions of the shop’s closure. From a report in the St Albans Review:

St Albans Review: St Albans Music Centre told to pay £100 a month more

Elizabeth Barber, from St Albans Music Centre, has told the Review how she was dealt a devastating blow last week.

The owner of the 53-year-old business in Holywell Hill said on the same day she received a letter to say she has been nominated in the Specialist Shops category in the Retailer of the Year competition, she also received notice of her business rate increase.

Mrs Barber said after the music centre’s tenant, Quench Christian Bookshop, was forced to close, her main source of income was lost.

Read the full story: St Albans Music Centre told to pay £100 a month more

Shoptalk: the CLC Bookshops blog

CONGRATULATIONS to CLC Bookshops on the launch of their new blog, where you’ll find book reviews, news and commentary from the management and staff of the shops. Early days yet but well worth a look if you’d like to know what’s happening in the world of CLC Bookshops UK.

Michael Fenske

MICHAEL FENSKE of Southend Christian Bookshop reflects on the current state  of play in the UK Christian book trade and asks the questions that no one wants to hear…

I’d like to share a few thoughts before the coming together of the trade at the Christian Resources Together Retailers and Suppliers Retreat in June.

I know that publishers and distributors are as much under threat as us retailers, and I do believe the writing is on the wall for all of us in the not too distant future (if you are a publisher in full bloom and doubt that I am right, just have a look at the European Commission’s plans to offer a Europe-wide ebook lending library, which will lead to the big brother having nice profiles of everyone’s reading habits, apart from destroying bookshops, libraries and all. But that is another issue…).

I find it disturbing to see how things develop in the world of our suppliers. What I see is that there seems to be more and more of the mentality of “Eat or get ate” (I know it’s bad English). If you are not quick enough, you might find yourself devoid of the publishers you distributed yesterday. Distributors who were top dogs yesterday are dogs’ dinners today. It doesn’t look much like WWJD, does it, rather like WWII? For example, what was formerly known as a very healthy Integrity-Provident looks now like Israel after Nebuchadnezzar has been to visit.

The relationship between publishers/distributors and retailers has a slightly different slant. It seems that publishers/distributors are somewhat unsure whether we retailers are useful to them or not. Like the mortally wounded husband who finds out that his wife is already looking for a new husband, just to make sure she won’t be lonely after his death, so we retailers are rather wondering how much love there is between us and them.

ThinkIVP – scroll down the page and you may find some Helpful Links…

ThinkIVP is a case in point. My rejoicing yesterday that IVP are distributing the likes of EP, has turned sour at the thought that our customers are being wooed to the same beehive, discounts and all, with a little hint below the fold (scroll down: bottom left hand corner) that the mortally wounded husband still exists.

Then there is the full page advert of agreatread.co.uk in Christianity magazine which starts with “Has your Christian bookshop closed?” Christian readers can be confident in assuming that the husband is as good as dead. Christianity magazine itself goes down the same line with its subscription ads. The list goes on.

How are people meant to worship together at the upcoming CRT Retreat with this hanging over their heads? Are husband and wife going to smile at each other and do as if all is well, as usual? What will the husband say to his wife? Or the wife to her husband? Will there be a lot of cooing like “I really don’t mean to upset you, but I don’t want to catch your disease, darling”?

I am not sure whether I want to be there to find out. The cringe factor might be too distressing for words.

CRT2012: will you be there? And how will the conversations go?

• Tues 12th – Weds 13th June 2012
• Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick
• Facebook event page (Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers group)

Christian Resources Together Retailers and Suppliers Retreat

Wesley Owen Glasgow: Qype Reviews

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:

• qype.co.uk/place/251307-Wesley-Owen-Glasgow#reviews

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…

Wesley Owen Glasgow

• Homepage
• UKCBD Entry

Jireh Books & Gifts, Poulton-le-Fylde

THE ECONOMIC CRISIS has hit another Christian retailer as Jireh Books and Gifts of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, have been forced to close the shop down due to the rising costs of rents and other circumstances beyond their control.

The shop closed its doors at the end of April, but Dawn Parkes, who owns the business, is not one to give up just like that and is pressing on with running stalls at events and parties all around the area, with an emphasis on fairtrade.

Please pray for Dawn in her rovings and if you’re in the area, or have contact with churches/community groups in the area, please consider inviting or encouraging them to invite her along.

Facebook anouncement, 4/4/2012:

Facebook announcement from Jireh Books and Gifts, 4/4/2012: Down but not out

• Facebook
• Homepage
• UKCBD Entry

Future of Norwich Christian centre more secure

A BIT LATE WITH THIS NEWS but never mind: good news is always worth reporting in my book. From Network Norwich, 22/4/2012:

Future of Norwich Christian centre more secure

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. 

• Read the full report
• Forget-Me-Not Café
• NCRC Homepage and Online Shop
• UKCBD Entry

Previous Reports

• Norwich Christian Resource Centre facing threat of closure: UKCBD News Roundup, 31/3/2012
• Calls to support struggling Norwich Christian Resource Centre: Norwich Evening News, 28/3/2012
• Norwich Christian centre’s April Amble: Network Norwich, March 2012
• Norwich Christian Centre faces closure threat: Network Norwich, 22/3/2012

The Good Book Stall

IT’S ALL CHANGE at TheGoodBookstall for publishers and authors who want to submit review copies; please read, mark and inwardly digest:

Please note that as from 4/5/2012 all Review Copies for www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk now need to be sent to:

Melanie Carroll, (GoodBookstall)
c/o Unicorn Tree Books
35/40 Lincoln Central Market
Sincil Street
Lincoln. LN5 7ET

and NOT to the Editor, Mary Bartholomew, due to a new system in place.

In future Melanie Carroll is first contact about books for review and will be the person contacting you about review copies etc; Mary Bartholomew remains the Editor and contact for books that have been reviewed and other aspects of TGBS.

Please can you pass this information on to your publicity/marketing department and to any connections you have with other publishers etc.

Thank you.

Follow @GBSReviews
Follow @unicorntreebks

GOOGLE PLACE PAGES are, in Google’s own words, pages generated

to organize all the world’s information for every place in the world. And we really mean every place: there are Place Pages for businesses, points of interest, transit stations, landmarks, and cities all over the world.

… and that, gentle reader, includes your bookshop.

Unless you’ve been asleep, you should have noticed them appearing whenever you run a Google search; but more to the point, they’re appearing in your customers’ Google search results — and what comes up in those results can, of course, make the difference between you gaining a sale or losing it to someone else.

Here’s an owner-verified place page, belonging to Melanie Carroll of Unicorn Tree Books, Lincoln:

Google Place Page: Owner-verified listing for Unicorn Tree Books, Lincoln

Here’s an unverified place page, for the Christian Bookshop, Orpington:

Google Place Page: Unverified listing for the Christian Bookshop, Orpington

You don’t need to look too closely to spot the differences: Melanie’s listing links to her website; includes an image supplied by her; and is clearly flagged top-right, “Owner-verified listing”. The Christian Bookshop, Orpington, listing links to wesleyowen.com; includes no image; and is begging to be claimed, “Business owner?” If yours, like this, is going begging, hit that link; it’s a painless process and free of charge: a Google bot will phone you with a verification code to enter on the page.

The good news for the folk in Orpington is that I found their listing during a review of their UKCBD entry and I’ve notified both them and Google of the erroneous link: notice that “Edit this place” option. I’m doing a lot of that at the moment whilst the Big UKCBD Spring Clean continues, as I’m replacing all my old multimap links (which no longer work) with Google place page links; but it would be far better for you and your customers if you claimed your page and made sure it was right yourself: why let Google send your customers elsewhere?

Once you’ve verified your listing, a whole new world of Google stats and other options will open up to you, including the ability to post twitter-style updates to your page and respond to reviews. Here’s a snapshot of the owner’s page for St Andrew’s Church, Langford:

Google Stats page for St Andrew’s Church, Langford, Owner-verified listing

Last but not least: congratulations to Melanie as, once again, Unicorn Tree Books leads the way; and my apologies to Gordon & Barbara at Orpington: unfortunately, someone had to draw the short straw in the unverified listings. They are by no means alone in not claiming their listing and absolutely no criticism of them is implied in my observations here: the error is Google’s.

PS: The Big UKCBD Spring Clean is still underway: if you haven’t checked your shop’s UKCBD listing yet, now’s the time to do so and shout out with any changes needed!

Update, 5/5/2012: Cornerstone Books, Edinburgh

Still not convinced? Here’s Google’s place page for Cornerstone Books, Edinburgh, as shown today, 5/5/2012, flagged by Google as “This place is permanently closed”:

Google Place Page: Cornerstone Books, Edinburgh – “This place is permanently closed”

Is the shop closed? Their own website, their hive listing and their BA listing all declare otherwise; but how many prospective customers finding this Google listing are going to search any further? How many prospective customers are you losing because Google have got it wrong?

Ignore this at your peril.

The Fair remains the premier International Book Fair. It was busy – very busy – with 25,000 delegates, half from overseas, attracted by the 1,500 exhibitors from 57 countries. The Bookseller suggested that the USA DoJ ruling on the Agency Model (eBook pricing) had dampened the mood considerably for rights sales.

I am very much against this ruling as it simply hands yet more power to an already menacing monopoly. I applaud those Publishers who have decided to fight this rather simplistic ruling. Amazon has already done considerable damage to our High Streets, and not just to Bookselling. It’s quite foolish to view Amazon as a consumer champion.

China – this year’s Market Focus - with their visually stunning Fair Pavilion (designed by Yang Liu). The Market Focus logo was in the shape of a hand-fan as used by the Royal Family in China 1500 years ago. LBF reported that China had sent 1,200 people (including 50 authors) representing 180 publishers – quite a commitment! So why China? Well, English and Mandarin are the two dominant world languages and China is a vast country with a 1.3billion population speaking over 50 dialects. It’s projected to overtake the USA as the world’s largest economy within the next 20 years or so, and yet paradoxically it’s still 90^th on the GDP index despite its recent spectacular economic growth.

The sheer size of the country with its many regional imbalances and huge social challenges is overseen by the pro-business centralised Government. For the Western creative industries, protection of Intellectual Property and Copyright remains the pressing issue. Good quality translation skills remain scarce.

There is the inevitable controversy over issues of censorship when judged by the ideals of liberal democracy. Indeed, the Fair’s impressive China and Europe Publishing Forum attracted a goodly number of silent placard waving protesters; ‘Free speech is not a crime’, ‘Stop literary persecution’. The London Evening Standard ran an interview this week with the Chinese author of Wild Swans in which she stated that, in her opinion, ‘Censorship in China is worse than it was 10 years ago’.

The Chinese Government oversees all media output through GAPP and it is this body which issues the requisite ISBN’s. Since 1949, China has published around 34,000 titles of British books within China. Apparently, ¼ of all books imported into China are from the UK! Through its 600+ Publishing Houses and with a workforce of nearly 57 thousand employees’, China has the largest publishing output in the world by volume (300,000 titles in 2009). It’s a mature and self-confident market set to generate revenues of $9.5billion in 2012. China is poised to take over from the USA in levels of scientific journal publishing.

There are 167,000 bookshops across China, with some state-of-the-art seven-story bookshops in the largest cities. The number of bricks and mortar shops is growing by almost 5% per year! The state-run chain, Xinhua (new China) has 6,483 outlets.

Why is this of any interest to us Brits? Because there are more people learning English in China than anywhere else in the world and more English speakers in China than in the rest of the English speaking world. Language learning is paramount. For publishers, this obviously represents a huge market and a pressing opportunity. There is a very attractive market for educational and English language publishers!

I was very struck by Pearson’s almost evangelical mantra, ‘Not just touching people, but transforming lives through learning’.

Islam – I was forcibly struck by the number of large and impressive Islamic publishing stands at LBF. These were in stark contrast to the mainly small booths of the Christian publishers, aside from the usual welcome presence of Lion Hudson PLC. Islam clearly has plenty of financial backing, is investing heavily in literature and is clearly committed to book distribution in a way that some Christians seem to have forgotten.

Print still dominates, at around 80-85% of the UK market and much smaller elsewhere in the world. We should keep the eBook ‘hype’ in perspective. The digital presence at the Fair was actually quite small, tucked away in one smallish zone. Interestingly, KOBO eReaders have said that 10% of their eBook sales are now for self-published authors. In China, authors are uploading self-published works in instalments, books which are then picked up by publishers and eventually making their way into bookshops; the reverse of our model in the West!

UK Publishers do increasingly view their role as ‘Content Providers’ delivered via various platforms but print currently continues to dominate their activity.

LBF 2012. Quite an event, and yet again, another reminder of just how quickly our world is changing. The tide of globalisation and digitalisation continues to alter the way we all do business yet the basic desire to read remains.

In his summing up, Lord Powell of Bayswater said, ‘The English language is the highway to bring the world to China’. I suspect that China is actually finding her way to the rest of the world!

View more LBF photos here.

Cross posted by Eddie Olliffe.

Gareth writes:

EDEN.CO.UK was launched in July 2004 when a number of our team began figuring out out how to use our design & software know-how to provide access to Christian books and other resources online.

Last week, we celebrated a milestone in our short history as five new friends joined the team taking the total number of people working in the business to over 30. They’ve filled key positions in our digital marketing team and bring experience from businesses including Bing and Waitrose which is already starting to positively impact how we compete with our biggest competitor, Amazon.

Anna in the Eden Office

I’m delighted that one of these roles has been taken on by Anna Bunn, former Branch Manager at Wesley Owen in Liverpool. As she makes the leap from ‘bricks to clicks’ we thought it might be good to share her story and some observations after her first week at Eden. So, over to Anna…

Introductions

Well before anyone asks yes, I am Steve Bunn’s daughter and no, you aren’t the first person to make that connection. Having grown up in the Christian trade from a young age – beginning my working career in the STL warehouse picking and packing books after school – I am aware that my surname normally precedes me!

But I also have my own experience of the trade. My story begins with a move to Liverpool to start my degree in 2004 in English Language and Literature. Ever since then I have grown more and more attached to Liverpool, its people and subsequently the Church. So when I returned from my world trip I moved back to Liverpool in 2008 to start working at my local Christian bookshop Wesley Owen. I got to experience the highs of connecting Christians with quality resources. Not only was the purpose of the store to sell product but also to be there to speak to people and engage with them. This came with its own challenges but more often than not real encouragement to see God working in the Church of Liverpool. Throughout this time I was gaining a broad knowledge of product and trying to find ways in which to promote it in store. In the summer of 2009 I was appointed Branch Manager and from there took the helm and tried to find ways to really connect with the customers and give them a personal experience they couldn’t get anywhere else.

But as many of you will know later in the year Wesley Owen went into administration. Our store closed at the end of 2009 and reopened as Living Oasis in March 2010. The plans were big and the vision was huge. But after many months of planning, the store never reopened.

After a few months of other jobs – from selling £500 watches to opening a new charity shop, I am excited to join the team at Eden.co.uk to begin this new chapter.

What is your role at Eden.co.uk?

My official job title is Online Store Manager – this effectively means ‘Branch Manager’ of the site. I’ve joined the marketing team run by Jo Pountney, and I can’t wait to get my teeth into this new role. I’ll be spending time managing the stock, meeting with suppliers, focusing on product and making sure Eden has the best deals, promotions and information to give customers a unique online experience.

It’s great to get up to speed on new products, up and coming authors/bands and to learn the ways in which having a much larger customer base allows the opportunity to promote product in ways I was never able to do before.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot to learn but I’m looking forward to taking my stock knowledge and understanding customer needs to apply to a new skill set as part of Eden. It’s great to get up to speed on new products, up and coming authors/bands and to learn the ways in which having a much larger customer base allows the opportunity to promote product in ways I was never able to do before.

Rather than being given the promotions or having little input into stock choice the chance to plan and prepare promotions is going to be a challenge but with the team support and stock knowledge I’m looking forward seeing it through from start to finish.

How will Eden be a better place?

I bring to the table my experience of selling Christian resources, identifying customer needs and working with suppliers. The need and want for Christian product is thriving, to be involved with fulfilling this need to give the customer exactly what they want, in the way that they want to buy it, is one of the main reasons I wanted to be a part of this team.

Having worked with different reps for a diverse range of suppliers, choosing new product and hearing about their offers and promotions was always a highlight. Now I look forward to developing relationships on a wider and larger scale to promote and get people excited by Christian resources from all areas of the Church.

Week One nearly over – how have you found it, what are your highlights?

I have loved being in an office environment – completely different to what I have done before but it is so refreshing to be working in a team with so many skilled and friendly people.

So far I’ve enjoyed getting my head around the product range combined with learning the different ways in which product and information can be used to give the customer what they want. It’s exciting to be part of such an innovative and supportive team of people who really know their stuff!

What impresses me most about Eden is their desire to help the customer to find the exact product that they are looking for…

What impresses me most about Eden is their desire to help the customer to find the exact product that they are looking for – which is something I thought would be a struggle for an online store. But I was wrong; Eden is about giving the customer what they want with a unique and personal service. It’s a real team effort from the technical to the content to the delivery, each works together to make sure the site is one people want to return to. This is not just about a click and go experience – Eden is so much more.

A box of fresh fruit delivered into the office each Monday morning and the lunchtime game of Uno has been a welcoming atmosphere to join – and I’ve even managed to win a game!

So tell us, what’s your favourite Bible translation?

For personal reading I prefer the NLT but if I were doing more in-depth study I would use the ESV.

Do you have a favourite Bible?

My small and trusty NIV pocket Bible has been round the world with me, most used when I had the most amazing experience teaching in a school in Thailand – on my own, facing complete sensory overload, I was down on my knees seeking wisdom and help for what was to become one of most memorable times of my life. From being read on Thai beaches to opening the Word up in an Australian church, this Bible is a lasting memory of God’s journey with me around the world – one I will never forget.

Least favourite worship song?

It has to be ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ – no question; some things should have been left in the 80s!

Musical tastes?

My mood normally dictates my choice so sometimes it’s just about turning it up really loud to lose yourself in the music.

My music taste is pretty eclectic, acoustic to hip hop, Brooke Fraser to Mumford and Sons, Damien Rice to Lauren Hill – my mood normally dictates my choice so sometimes it’s just about turning it up really loud to lose yourself in the music.

Favourite biscuit?

Definitely milk chocolate caramel digestives – have to be straight out the fridge with a cup of tea, solves many a problem – that coupled with love of staged reality TV – yes I am unashamed to admit I ♥ Made in Chelsea!

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.

And here’s Aslan Books’ brand new bright-&-shiny UKCBD entry:

The latest UKCBD entry: Aslan Books, Bath

Like every UKCBD entry, the standalone page shown above is mirrored in the Shop Name and Town & City listings:

• christianbookshops.org.uk/shopname.htm#aslanbooksbath
• christianbookshops.org.uk/town_b.htm#bath

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…

News & Notes (most recent first)