May 15, 2010

A Retailer’s Reflections on CRE 2010: Retailers’ Day at the Christian Resources Exhibition

Posted by Phil Groom under Guest Posts, Independent Booksellers | Tags: , , , , |
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Martin Deadman

Martin Deadman

I invited Martin Deadman of Perivale Christian Bookshop to report back on this week’s Christian Resources Exhibition and on Retailers’ Day in particular.  Martin writes:

Being fairly local to the event, I have been a regular CRE attendee for many years. With the demise of CBC I can understand the rationale for the 2 events to be combined. And having a separate Retailers Day in a side area is a clear improvement on last year.

Having attended the Stronger Together Weaker Apart Retreat at High Leigh the week before, I arrived focussed and ready to meet suppliers and generally make the most of the day.

Sandown Park

Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher - Venue for CRE

I arrived at 10am to be greeted by Guy Marshall with all the information I needed for the day ahead, including the treasured CRE Handbook and separate Retailers’ Day programme. I decided that I would spend most time and energies in the Retailer area first, visiting the remainder of the exhibition later in the afternoon.

I had met many of the suppliers present in the Retailers’ Exhibition the week before, however it was good to revisit some where I needed to arrange business.

In the centre of the exhibition area there were coffee tables laid out where authors sat and signed complimentary copies of their books. Having memories of CBC author signing queues I welcomed the more informal approach and the opportunity to have a conversation with the authors.

At 12.30pm the Retailer Lunch reception was available. This was a very informal affair in a side room. I feel that the lunch was perhaps a little bit expensive at £25 (£20 early booking) for soup and sausages in rolls.

At 1.15pm the keynote address by Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, took place in a seated area in the front of the exhibition hall. It was a very interesting talk in which Phil told his story. He was very open and honest about his experiences. Phil also promoted his new DVD series with Kingsway, What’s in the Bible?, which looks like a fantastic resource.

This was followed by a presentation about Biblefresh and the new resource book being launched. This presentation marked the end of the up-front programme. Time was then scheduled for more of Meeting the Suppliers and Author Signings. Having spoken to most suppliers I decided to work through the rest of the exhibition which included Trade Suppliers who were not in the restricted area. I did not remain for the Awards Dinner in the evening on this occasion.

In reviewing the event I feel that the Retailers’ Day was unfortunately too close to the Retreat. I returned home somewhat weary. I understand that next year proposed dates for the Retreat will be further apart from CRE. If I had to choose to go to just one of the events then my preference would be to go to the Retreat. Walking around the Retailers’ Day exhibition it was clear that many retailers had probably made that decision as there never appeared to be lots of people in the hall and during Phil Vischer’s keynote address the seats were certainly not full!

The organizers had definitely listened to the criticisms of last year’s event. One noticeable improvement was the badges. When I went to one stand in the main body of the exhibition I was welcomed with the words ‘Great, a Retailer!’

Clearly, Retailers’ Day at CRE will never be a replacement for CBC but together with the Retreat, if there is a larger time gap between them it should provide a good resource for Retailers in the future. I congratulate Steve and Mandy Briars for the hard work they have put in to establishing the event and the Retreat the week before.

Twitter…

 

January 16, 2010

Our Journey So Far: Handouts from Stronger Together – Weaker Apart #stwa

Posted by Phil Groom under Downloads, Info | Tags: , , |
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Stronger Together - Weaker Apart - Consultation Day Presentation (pdf, 1MB, 15 pages)

Mandy Briars of CRE has kindly given permission for us to make the handouts from the Stronger Together – Weaker Apart consultation and presentation day available for those who were unable to attend.

More information should be on its way to retailers by the end of this month and the website — christianresourcestogether.co.uk — should be updated even sooner.

The first page of the handouts, excerpted here, sets the scene; to read the rest, download the pdf (1MB, 15 pages; thanks to Mark Fleeson of Lindisfarne Scriptorium, who converted the original Word files to pdf).

OUR JOURNEY so far…

Early in 2008 discussions began between the Christian Booksellers Convention (CBC) and Christian Resources Exhibitions (CRE) with the objective of the CRE team organising and managing the CBC event that was planned to be held at the TIC, Telford in March 2009.

Soon after the agreement had been reached and work had begun on planning the 2009 event it became apparent that the staging of the CBC exhibition at Telford was no longer financially viable. This was mainly due to the decline in delegate attendance over recent years and a number of significant suppliers indicating that they would not be exhibiting at the planned 2009 event.

Later in the year a decision was reached that CBC would be purchased by CRE (which is part of Bible Society) and would continue to be organised by CRE. It was also agreed that CBC would be integrated into the Sandown Park CRE programme for May 2009.

Every effort was made to maintain the character and identity of CBC within the CRE exhibition including a separate area for CBC exhibitors, training and the Banquet & Awards Evening.

With the limited amount of time to reorganise CBC within CRE, the transition was more successful than many had anticipated. However upon evaluation and the changing needs of both retailers and suppliers it was apparent a fresh approach to a retailers and suppliers gathering needed to be considered.

With this in mind representatives of CRE, the BA-CBG, Christian Suppliers Group, Christian Marketplace and the former STL Distribution met to consider the current requirements of both retailers and suppliers. Out of the discussions has come a new partnership to be known as ChristianResourcesTogether with an objective to provide support, fellowship, training and any appropriate business opportunities for those working within the Christian Retailers and Suppliers trade.

It is our privilege to invite you to join us on this journey as we share with you our plans for 2010 and beyond.

Stephen J Briars On behalf of ChristianResourcesTogether

 

January 14, 2010

Stronger Together – Weaker Apart: The Twitter Stream #stwa

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings | Tags: , , , , |
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ChristianResourcesTogether

ChristianResourcesTogether

Were you there? Was it worthwhile? Can we work together to ensure that this trade of ours has a viable future?

Certainly the feedback I’ve received so far has been positive, and the twitter stream emerging during the day looked hopeful: copied below. Now we watch and wait for the official lowdown; but in the meantime I find myself wondering why — with all the resources of CRE available — there was no official twitter stream, no blog, not even a facebook page to keep the vast majority of us who couldn’t attend informed.

Even now the official christianresourcestogether.co.uk website seems to be nothing more than a barebones holding page and I find myself, like SuperSimbo, wanting to shout “Wake up!” — social media are here to stay and if the UK trade fails to embrace them then we will go the way of the dinosaurs. Steve Mitchell’s final tweets on the day are particularly telling:

So #stwa is over, good sense of wanting to work together from all parts of the trade, nice to see people, who were kind to us ex STL folk. However I did get the sense that some are hanging on to the old world of traditional bookselling. They are in my prayers.

Related Reports

The #stwa twitter stream, most recent first | Go to the beginning

Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks @SCRMitchell hanging on to trad bookselling how? new old idea’s or just old old idea’s. or just general resistance to change? #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from web
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell However I did get the sense that some are hanging on to the old world of traditional bookselling. They are in my prayers. #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell So #stwa is over, good sense of wanting to work together from all parts of the trade, nice to see people, who were kind to us ex STL folk
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks Pipe dreaming, I’d like some sort b&m/online initiative, either collab. publisher driven ala crown site idea or poss eden @LSTBookshop #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from web
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks @LSTBookshop Yep, now for follow on. One of the things I would quite like to see is less predatory pricing, or for at least matching% #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from web
Lstbookshop_normal LSTBookshop @unicorntreebks #stwa looking good so far, seems to be some joined-up thinking emerging…
12 Jan 2010 from Twitterrific
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks so whats your thinking @LSTBookshop my good man on the idea’s of #stwa I have to say I like the idea of more author interaction
12 Jan 2010 from web
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks #stwa tweet followers – shall we huddle and chat and share as well? not quite the same but nice and interactive. big thanks to Steve btw.
12 Jan 2010 from web
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Now breaking into small groups for futher discussion #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks #stwa it is great to see more motility between suppliers/booksellers/authors! be good to see bookseller/bookseller too! working together :0)
12 Jan 2010 from web
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Attendance split 50/50 retailers and suppliers#stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Utb_gen_normal unicorntreebks #stwa good idea about more interaction between authors & booksellers – I would love to do more events with authors & writing seminars/groups
12 Jan 2010 from web
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Question from floor about creating more dialogue between authors & booksellers, CRE asking are they going the right way? #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell RT @SCRMitchell: Association of Christian writer asking for more involvement in trade events. #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Open forum Q&A starting #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Possibility of other trade events at other regional cre’s #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Free entry to cre and fast track entry. #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Evening includes buffet reception & awards- guest spkr rob parsons #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell There will also be a retailers day at CRE in Sandown park in esher the week after, Inc trade forum & rob parsons speaking #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Retailers dAy at cre includes retailers & suppliers forum. #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Martin_2_normal mdeadman 150 spaces price £94 if booked by 19 march#stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Cost £94 before 19/3 for Ba members #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Guest speakers & artists at high Leigh- cathy burton, eric delve #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Martin_2_normal mdeadman Some awards at high Leigh some at cre #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Agenda inc speakers, workshops, seminars, supplier presentations, prayer room, awards, devotions, communion, space/time to meet & chat #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Martin_2_normal mdeadman #stwa high Leigh retreat to include workshops, seminars, speakers and time for relationships
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Practical plans for 2010 being presented by steve briars, first up a bookseller/supplier retreat at high Leigh 4&5 may #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Great insight on church & trade from James Catford worth coming just for that #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Partnership needs be relationship first, business second, James catford #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell James Catford talking of consolidation, complexity & challenge, and the need for deep relationships to solve large problems
#stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Lstbookshop_normal LSTBookshop What’s happening? #stwa – that’s what’s happening. Thanks to those tweeting, esp @scrmitchell
12 Jan 2010 from web
Pew-bloggers_normal churchtimesblog Christian retailers and suppliers are meeting today at the launch of ‘Christian Resources Together’. Follow tweets via #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Ian Metcalfe from suppliers group saying they want to support booksellers however they say they need it #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell mission statement to provide support, fellowship,training & opportunities for christian retailers & suppliers #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Lscriptorium-lambethguide96_normalLindScriptorium
#stwa Here 12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie
Img_0208_normalSCRMitchell Bible Society launching Christian Resources Together, a partnership working for retailers & suppliers, but not another trade body #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell Full room of Christian publishers and retailers, good attendance at #stwa. Colin Saunders from bible soc giving a welcome & introduction
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Lscriptorium-lambethguide96_normalLindScriptorium #stwa taxis lost!
12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie
Martin_2_normalmdeadman I’ve arrived at the trade meeting. #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from Echofon
Lscriptorium-lambethguide96_normalLindScriptorium #stwa In taxi enroute
12 Jan 2010 from Tweetie
Snowman2009_normal notbovvered @LindScriptorium bleugh, or something like that… hope you get there OK. @scrmitchell & @mdeadman are using the hashtag #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from web
Martin_2_normal mdeadman On my way to Christian trade meeting #stwa
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck
Lstbookshop_normalLSTBookshop @SCRMitchell #stwa sounds good to me. I won’t be there but @LindScriptorium and @mdeadman both plan to attend…
12 Jan 2010 from Twitterrific
Img_0208_normal SCRMitchell On route to Christian Trade meeting, maybe we should use hashtag #stwa ?? Who else is going?
12 Jan 2010 from TweetDeck

 

January 5, 2010

Stronger Together – Weaker Apart

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Bookshop Ramblings, Christian Publishers, Christian Suppliers | Tags: , , , , , , |
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ChristianResourcesTogether

ChristianResourcesTogether

Stronger Together – Weaker Apart is, as most readers are no doubt aware, the theme of next week’s consultation and presentation day being brought to us by CRE in association with the BA Christian Booksellers Group (BACBG), the PA Christian Suppliers Group and Christian Marketplace magazine: more details in the What’s On section and in the January 2010 edition of Christian Marketplace, p.26. If you’ve visited cbcltd.co.uk recently you’ll have noticed that it now redirects to christianresourcestogether.co.uk, offering us a tantalising glimpse of what one of the day’s announcements may unveil…

There’s a certain irony in the title now, sadly, because all the supposed strength of Biblica proved insufficient to hold the STL empire together last year: we enter 2010 weakened as a trade with 26 branches of Wesley Owen left out in the cold and the rest of the company parcelled out between CLC, John Ritchie Ltd, Kingsway and Koorong. Bigger, it seems, is not always better — but connected surely is, and hopefully as a network of independents and smaller chains we can find our way through the present crisis.

If you plan to be there, you have until Thursday 7th Jan to contact Mandy Briars at CRE (scroll down the page when you get there) and confirm your attendance. If, like me, you are unable to attend, then perhaps you can set aside some time during the day to pray for those who are there?

 

September 9, 2009

Speaking Volumes seek ‘The Ultimate Christian Library Book’

Posted by Phil Groom under News | Tags: , , , , , |
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UK Christian Book Awards 2010

UK Christian Book Awards 2010

Speaking Volumes are taking a different approach to next year’s UK Christian Book Awards: rather than seek the ‘Best of’ in any of the usual categories, nominations are being sought for ‘The Ultimate Christian Library Book’:

Judging for the shortlist will be based on its suitability or likely popularity in a public library.  This requires the book to be attractive, readable and on a subject that will capture the interest of the wider public and encourage them to look further onto [sic] the Christian faith.

The timeline is tight, however: nominations must be made by the end of this month, 30th September 2009, after which the judges will compile a shortlist of five books ready for public voting in January 2010.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at CRE, the Christian Resources Exhibition, at Sandown Park, Esher, in May 2010.

 

May 14, 2009

Rising to the Challenge in Chelmsford #CBC09 #CRE09

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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I’m still at the draft stage with my own thoughts on this year’s combined CBC/CRE, but in the meantime here’s an accolade for the Chelmsford  Diocesan Resource Centre and some food for thought from Dave Faulkner. Commenting on his visit to CRE, Dave wrote:

There were a few personal interests I wanted to look up. I always like the bookstalls, but resisted this year. Partly that was because I have several books piled up from the sabbatical, partly it was because brutally in an Internet age the deals weren’t that good. I know that will sound awful to some Christian booksellers who will rightly point out that Amazon is not a ministry, but a minister whose wife is not in paid employment only has so many pennies and cost becomes a real factor for us. (And I do support the local Christian bookshops whenever possible: the Diocesan Resources Centre is a mine of information; the other bookshop is the local agent for IVP’s Leadership Book Club, so they get some orders from me, too, when the good books aren’t too Calvinist!)

I replied:

Amazon — us booksellers need to stop moaning and rise to the challenge.

Dave responded:

Thanks, Phil, I’m sure you’re right. The Chelmsford Diocesan Resources Centre rises to the challenge by the quality of advice, knowledge and service by the woman who runs it. They are in one small room, carry very little stock, but Jo the manager is priceless. She has put me onto titles I wouldn’t have found in an ‘ordinary’ Christian bookshop and wouldn’t have known to look for on Amazon. Particularly she has done this w.r.t. school assembly material. When I arrived in Chelmsford, all the local ministers I spoke to, of whatever theological hue, recommended this place.

Today’s questions: how are you rising to the challenge in your bookshop? Are there other ways that we, as bricks and mortar retailers, can do better than Amazon in serving our local communities?  Join in the conversation — here or over at Dave’s place.

As for me, next on the agenda: add Chelmsford Diocesan Resource Centre to UKCBD: constantly amazed as I discover more and more shops that have somehow slipped through the net. Any more lurking out there?

 

May 12, 2009

CBC/CRE: If you can’t be there, follow the event stream #CBC09 #CRE09

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Suppliers, Church Resources | Tags: , , , , |
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CBC09

CBC09

This year’s Christian Booksellers Convention (May 12th – 15th 2009) combines with CRE (Christian Resources Exhibition) to explore the theme “Breaking the Mould – Embracing the Challenges of Change”. Can a trade show and a consumer show truly work side by side? One way to find out: be there!

But if you can’t be there, this year — for the first time in CBC’s history — you’ll still be able to follow some of what’s happening and join in live behind-the-scenes conversations via twitter.

To the best of my knowledge there is no ‘official’ CBC or CRE twitter presence, but as an increasing number of us embrace the challenge of this particular change, anyone can follow: either via twitter search (where you’ll find the odd post from the Craft Brewers Convention mixed in for good measure: they’re using the same hashtag) or via this tinker event stream, fed from twitter but with the Craft Brewers filtered out (just wish it was that easy to filter out another type of Brewer!!).

Tuesday’s Programme at CBC includes, amongst other things, Krish Kandiah from the Evangelical Alliance giving a keynote talk (whatever that is: I don’t think Krish knows either) at 2pm followed by a series of seminars and workshops and, to finish the day off, a Banquet and Awards Evening where the winners of this year’s CBC Awards will be revealed.

For those who are around during the day, I look forward to meeting and tweeting. Unfortunately I won’t be around for the evening: any fellow twitterers attending, I’m relying on you to tweet the results out, please!

 

January 19, 2009

Were you there? Last Week’s CBC Presentation

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , |
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On Tuesday 13th January, Christian Resources Exhibitions (CRE), the new owners of the Christian Booksellers Convention (CBC), gave a presentation on their plans for the future development of CBC:

In a period of economic uncertainty the need for a vibrant and forward-thinking event has never been more crucial and CBC joining with CRE will ensure this important trade show maintains its position as a flagship to our industry.

— Colin B Saunders, CRE Executive Chairman,
Invitation letter to Christian booksellers.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend due to other commitments whilst for others, such as Mark Fleeson from the Lindisfarne Scriptorium, the distance involved made attending a 2-3 hour meeting seem a wee bit surreal.

Were you there? How well attended was the meeting? Was it worthwhile and if so, why? Do you plan to attend CBC@CRE this year — and if not, why not? What would it take to change your mind?

Related Posts and Reports

 

November 16, 2008

CBC RIP? Christian Booksellers Convention to Merge with Christian Resources Exhibition

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings, News | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Perhaps I am unduly pessimistic in regarding Bible Society’s acquisition of CBC, the Christian Booksellers Convention, as an effective obituary notice for CBC. Perhaps merging CBC with CRE, the Christian Resources Exhibition, is not so much the end of an era as the beginning of a new one.

Perhaps combining a supposedly trade focused event for retailers with a consumer driven event organised by publishers and suppliers does not sound the death knell for the trade event, but those publishers and suppliers will have their work cut out to convince me that they’re not going to simply use this as an opportunity for direct selling that will effectively sideline retailers’ interests.

CBC/Bible Society Press Release, 12th November 2008

CBC/Bible Society Press Release, 12th November 2008

Following Norman Nibloe’s retirement after CBC 2008, discussions about the possibility of Bible Society taking on the running of CBC for 2009 have been no secret. The actual logistics of the deal, however, were not unveiled until last week, when an announcement was made via a press release issued on Wednesday 12th November 2008: you can download or view it as a pdf here (44kb) or you can read a lightly edited version courtesy of Christian Marketplace magazine. To me, two paragraphs in particular stand out:

It is anticipated that publishers intending to exhibit at the 2009 event will transfer their bookings to the Esher event. The opportunity presented to publishers means that within the ‘trade section’ of the combined event, there will be exposure to the 12,000 expected visitors to CRE in May 2009.

The implications of this are straightforward: the so-called ‘trade section’ will not be a separate trade section at all — it will be wide open to all comers. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine those publishers attending wanting to deal with the extra work that would be involved in running two separate stands, one for the general public, another for their trade customers. It is equally difficult to imagine how space at Sandown Park could be allocated for a trade show and a public exhibition to be run simultaneously: anyone who has attended CRE will know full well how crowded the exhibition already tends to become.

This, quite simply, makes it a non-starter for a retailer focused trade event. We are already faced with online competition from our suppliers: are we also expected to smile sweetly and welcome direct, face-to-face competition as those same suppliers offer our customers deals to walk away with that we will never be able to match because those suppliers will not offer us terms that will make such deals possible?

Next we have some comments from James Catford:

Commenting on the acquisition, he said, ‘This move has been waiting to happen and represents the best possible opportunity for CBC to flourish and grow in the future. Due diligence has taken place throughout the process, and our experienced team will do everything we can to support the Christian trade with the support and encouragement of both retailers and suppliers.’

James, of course, knows the Christian book trade very well; but I suspect his knowledge is rather one-sided, that of a supplier, having worked for both HarperCollins and Hodder before taking on his current role as Bible Society Chief Executive; and that leaves me wondering:

“Due diligence has taken place throughout the process,” he says. Really? Extensive consultation with retailers? That, surely, must be an essential part of due diligence in relation to the future of a Christian retail trade event; and that, as far as I can see from my viewpoint as a retailer and as a member of the Booksellers Association’s Christian Booksellers Group (BA CBG), seems conspicuously absent. In particular, careful consideration of the impact on Christian booksellers in the North of moving their 2009 trade show to the South East? In depth discussions with the organisers of LBF, the London Book Fair, the UK’s leading book trade event, and the Christian publishers who exhibit at LBF year in, year out?

But perhaps this really is “the best possible opportunity for CBC to flourish and grow in the future”; perhaps I have not been paying attention in meetings; perhaps I have missed the relevant reports in the trade press; perhaps I read the wrong blogs: I stand ready to be corrected. Somebody, please: convince me that I’m wrong…

As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own and, in particular, should not be taken as representing the views of the BA CBG. Please see the disclaimer in the sidebar for further clarification.
 

May 15, 2008

Free Food, Free Drinks, Free Books…

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings, News | Tags: , , , , , |
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and I guess I ought to mention free admission, courtesy of Speaking Volumes, sponsors and organisers of the UK Christian Book Awards. I’m referring to my day at CRE, the Christian Resources Exhibition: catching up with people, collecting catalogues, meeting publishers and authors… all in all, a day of serious networking and a lot of fun along the way. If you’re one of the many people whose paths I crossed on Wednesday and you don’t get a mention, please don’t take it as a slight: it was simply one of those days where it’s impossible to talk about everyone and everything. My thanks, however, to everyone who conspired to make it a very worthwhile visit.

I arrived just in time for the Award Presentations, being given by Adrian and Bridget Plass. Adrian and Bridget entertained us with a sketch about Anglicans and Free Churches attempting to work together and eventually discovering that the one thing they had in common was — UKCBA Winnersbut I’m not going to say because that would ruin it if ever you get to see them in action. Typically spot-on Plass humour that takes the lid off the  Church and its pretensions to leave you amused and squirming uncomfortably at the same time as you recognise some of your own follies…

And the winners, pictured here along with Paula Renouf (in the blue dress), who ably co-ordinated the whole event, and various others from the Speaking Volumes Board, are:

  • General: Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference (9780340909089, Hodder & Stoughton)
  • Biography: Richard Taylor, To Catch a Thief (9781903725573, New Wine Press)
  • Children’s/Youth: Jonathan Brant, YP’s Guide To Knowing God (9781853454073, CWR)

Congratulations to the winnersSharp-eyed readers may wonder about Philip Yancey’s gender reassignment; fear not: Philip himself couldn’t be with us, that’s a publisher’s representative accepting his award. Congratulations to all concerned, and commiserations to the runners up (not losers, please note: runners up).

Cliff's 50th Anniversary BadgeEveryone who attended was given a bag full of goodies including a selection of books, a stack of publishers’ catalogues, a couple of bookmarks (“Praise the Lord,” I hear you cry, “he’s got his bookmarks!”) and, since no Christian event can be considered complete without an appearance from the blessed St Cliff, a Cliff Richard Badge! Thank you, Lion-Hudson. I think…

Authentic Author Cafe

Next on the agenda was the Authentic Author Café, with sandwiches, fruit juice and coffee courtesy of Authentic Media and personally served by none other than STL’s Pete Barnsley. Thanks, Pete! Nick Battle told us something of his life story as recounted in Big Boys Don’t Cry (watch this space for a review), then interviewed fellow authors Chris Rogers (9781850787822, A Monkey’s Orientation), Peter Meadows (9781860245688, The Book of Y), David Cowan (9781932805727, Economic Parables: The Monetary Teachings of Jesus Christ) and Anona Coates (9781860247019, I Wish I Was).

Then came the real highlight of the day: a trip down Esher High Street to The Bear Pub to meet up with a group of SPCK’s dispossessed booksellers — Phelim McIntyre amongst others, who organised the get-together — and the ineffable Dave Walker whose blogging has kept us all up to speed on the Brewers’ misdemeanours. It was an honour and a privilege to be able to use some of the money from the UKCBD Save the SPCK Booksellers Fund to help some who came with their travel expenses: thank you to those who have contributed to that.

I had a fairly long chat with Alan Mordue (SPCK’s Sales and Marketing Director) afterwards. He assured me that SPCK have not washed their hands of the situation: it is in the hands of their solicitors. I’ll say more when I know more. In the meantime, let’s hope and pray that the forthcoming Employment Tribunals bring some justice for those whom the Brewers have treated so appallingly…

Finally: on departure from CRE, a bottle of mineral water for the journey home courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse as part of their Turn On The Tap appeal: it’s so easy for us to take water for granted here in the UK. Let’s spare some change to bring about a change in the lives of our brothers and sisters elsewhere, where water is not so simply obtained.