November 4, 2011

News Roundup: The it’s-all-been-happening-this-week Edition

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Book Trade, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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IT’S ALL BEEN HAPPENING THIS WEEK: from Thomas Nelson publishing being swallowed up by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp to CLC Wholesale announcing plans for a trade website. In the meantime, with the busiest time of year upon us, it’s more important than ever to make the most of every opportunity to connect with customers and to make sure that other sites such as UKCBD and the Good Bookstall that link to yours are up to date: latest news from both below, with much more sandwiched in between:

Bishop's Blog: The Good Bookstall Newsletter

Bishop's Blog: The Good Bookstall Newsletter

The Good Bookstall Newsletter featured on Bishop’s Blog

CONGRATULATIONS to the Good Bookstall on seeing their latest newsletter featured by twittering Bishop of Huntingdon, the Rt Revd David Thomson, on his blog: The Good BookStall Newsletter.

Like UKCBD, TGB’s mission is supporting Christian bookshops, and the site includes news, reviews (books and music), as well as a bookshops directory. Is your shop listed? Is it up to date? With the busiest time of year upon us, it’s more important than ever to make sure your shop’s details are correct.

See below for a note about UKCBD updates.

Storehouse Watford

Storehouse Watford

It’s Official: Storehouse is the new name for Living Oasis Watford

CONGRATULATIONS to the recently rebranded Living Oasis Watford on their official name change to Storehouse (Watford), formally registered with Companies House this week on Tuesday November 1st, 2011.

Watford was a franchise rather than owned by NCT, which allowed the store to survive the collapse of NCT in August. The only other surviving stores appear to be Inverness, reopened by CLC earlier in the year amidst some controversy but very clearly now the right move by CLC, and Weston-super-Mare, under new ownership as Life WsM.

Sadly neither Leeds nor Liverpool have been successful in taking on the leases dropped by NCT, although Liverpool appear to remain optimistic that something can be achieved. Requests for continuing prayers for all involved have been posted by both groups:

New author Jo Patterson joins Jarom Books

CONGRATULATIONS to Jacques More and Jarom Books on the arrival of new author Jo Patterson. In a brief announcement posted on November 2nd, 2011, Jacques writes:

NEW AUTHOR:
Jo Patterson, wife of Al and mother of three has written a novel in the Christian fiction genre that speaks into teenage pregnancy issues. This work – as well as being a good read “I’ve cried every time I’ve read it” – will be a valuable resource to equip the local saints in youthwork activity and in all pro-life efforts.
The new title is planned for a launch later in 2012.

No more music CDs after 2012?

ANYONE OUT THERE still got their heads buried in the sand over the impact of digitisation? Then go read this wake-up call from Paul Wilkinson of Canada’s Christian Book Shop Talk:

Christian Book Shop Talk: Music Industry Moving to End CD Format in 2012

Christian Book Shop Talk: Music Industry Moving to End CD Format in 2012

Shop local — anywhere in Europe!

IN WHAT MUST SURELY QUALIFY as one of the most bizarre rulings emerging out of the UK’s commitment to remain in Europe, Graham Allen of Leamington Christian Resource Centre has been advised by one of his school customers that supporting local businesses is classed as discriminatory under EU regulations, which specify that the whole of Europe is now ‘local’:

Hello Graham,
Schools purchasing comes under the remit of the County council and I cannot comment on their policy as I am not familiar with it.

However, you should be aware that Councils and other public bodies are unable to select to purchase on the basis of location as this discriminatory. As much as we would like to do this we have to find other ways to place our business locally – including information events and tender support (all of which the district council does in conjunction with the chamber of commerce). We have had success with this approach on the basis that the more local suppliers that bid the better the chance of us being able to place the business within the district.

The public sector is also bound by EU regulations that have strict thresholds for purchases of goods, services and works, and these also restrict the ability to purchase ‘locally’ as locally is considered to be Europe wide. The threshold levels are not high and relate to commodities over a contract term. This makes it easy for public bodies to breach the regulations unless strict controls are put in place.

Thank heavens for that little loophole at the end: just don’t tell the powers-that-be in Brussels or they’ll no doubt apply their concept of local to all purchases…

Social Media Update

THERE’S RARELY A WEEK GOES BY when I don’t discover yet another Christian bookshop or publisher facebook page to like or twitter feed to follow. Here’s a random snapshot of just some of the Christian bookshops now using facebook to connect with colleagues and customers:

Christian Bookshops on Facebook

Christian Bookshops on Facebook: a random selection from the UKCBD facebook page sidebar - click through to discover more!

Those I’ve stumbled across this week are:

And last but not least: a social media experiment, The UK Christian Bookshops Daily, autogenerated courtesy of @smallrivers from twitter and facebook keyword searches for Christian Bookshop and the UKCBD blog RSS feed. The keyword search isn’t quite as smart as it might be, so don’t be surprised if some content seems out of place: let’s say we’re in beta phase. Best of all, however: the virtual paper system allows me to update the paper on the fly as I come across stories around the web — if you’d like to see your news or website featured, give me a shout here or mention @UKCBD in a tweet.

UKCBD Winter Updates

IT’S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE trying to keep the Directory up to date, but for those who may be wondering, you can now find the 10 most recent updates conveniently listed on the homepage:

Latest Updates (most recent first)
The House on the Rock, Bury Updated 3/11/2011
Storehouse: The new name for Living Oasis, Watford Updated 3/11/2011
The Hub Christian Resource Centre, Walsall Updated 1/11/2011
The Sycamore Tree Christian Bookshop, Nuneaton Updated 31/10/2011
CLC Bookshop, London Updated 30/10/2011
Turning Point Garments Ltd, Bathgate Updated 30/10/2011
Jubilate Christian Bookshop, Stratford-upon-Avon Updated 25/10/2011
Ashburnham Christian Trust Bookshop, Battle Updated 08/10/2011
Glorious Beginnings, Willesden Updated 29/9/2011
The Good Book Shop, Belfast Updated 7/9/2011

If your entry needs updating, please give me a shout. It can take anything from a few days to a few weeks for me to get there, depending on other commitments: please be patient and remember that UKCBD is a 100% voluntary project. In the meantime feel free to leave a comment — or invite your customers to leave feedback — on your entry’s standalone page: simply click through from the main Directory where it says, “Out of Date?” — bottom right of every entry that’s been updated in the last couple of years.

All updated entries now include a facebook ‘Like’ button: reach more people by asking your facebook friends to hit it!

Thank you.

 

November 3, 2011

CLC Wholesale facebook announcement: “Watch this space” for trade ordering website

Posted by Phil Groom under News, Wholesale Services | Tags: , , , , |
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CLC Wholesale, 02/11/2011: Please know that we have heard your requests for a wholesale website and are researching the different options now. In other words, watch this space!

CLC Wholesale > UKCBD: facebook announcement, 02/11/2011

FOLLOWING ON from comments left in the wake of last week’s announcement of a UK supplier review by TMD, CLC Wholesale have confirmed that plans for a trade ordering website are now underway.

In a brief post left on the UKCBD facebook page yesterday evening, Oct 2nd, 2011, CLC Wholesale wrote:

Please know that we have heard your requests for a wholesale website and are researching the different options now. In other words, watch this space!

Thank you and congratulations to all concerned: here’s to a wholly interactive future!

 

October 17, 2011

News Roundup – the twitter feed edition

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Book Trade, News | Tags: , , , , , |
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MY APOLOGIES to those readers who’ve missed the News Roundups over the last few weeks: life, as they say. The good news is that this trade of ours is at least as busy as I am, with as much going on as ever. Don’t forget, you can pick up on news as it emerges via the UKCBD twitter feed, which I’m using this time around, supplemented by my personal feed, Eddie Olliffe, Melanie Carroll and SPCK Publishing to liven things up a little. If you’d like to see your tweets featured here next time around, give me a nudge by mentioning @notbovvered or @ukcbd in any tweet you’d like me to highlight.

Whilst we’re talking social media, make sure you don’t miss the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers facebook group: it’s a closed group, intentionally so, a space for anyone involved in the Christian book trade to meet online but away from the public eye, to exchange ideas and information and offer one another mutual support. Feel free to drop in and join the conversation — or start one!

Over to twitter: most recent first…
 

August 18, 2011

News Roundup: The Ups and Downs Edition – from UTB Celebrations to Wesley Owen Woes

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Bookshops, Independent Booksellers, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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A VERY MIXED BAG of news this week, from celebrations at Unicorn Tree Books to Wesley Owen’s woes as they face the trauma of staff cuts in the shops.

On the celebrations front, this is this blog’s 500th post, so a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the project’s development and success over the past few years: rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who mourn, and praying constantly along the way.

Guest posts are always welcome, from authors, booksellers, publishers, suppliers and other commentators: please contact me if you’d like to contribute…

5 Years of Unicorn Tree Books

CONGRATULATIONS to Melanie and her minions at Unicorn Tree Books, Lincoln, on their 5th birthday this week: on Tuesday, August 16th, to be precise. Melanie writes:

Today is our 5th Birthday, we’ve seen an awful lot of change in those five years not only in Unicorn Tree Books (& Crafts) but in the economy, in the market and in the booktrade and we are happy to say we are still here and smiling widely!

We’ve drunk a lot of Caramel Latte’s [sic], shifted a lot of units, re-arranged how many times and seen our minions fledge and go off to found their own businesses – this bookshop boss thinks that’s one heck of an achievement and to celebrate is having a venti caramel latte today!

However I know we wouldn’t be here still today if it wasn’t for all you lovely customers and I want to say the biggest and most heartfelt THANK YOU! to all of you.

You make each day different, fun and, hey, maybe even a little more crazy than it would be even with the bookshop boss in attendance anyway – so thank you.

Update, 22/08/2011: For more info on the post-NCT situation, see this statement by the Revd Phil Jump, Chair of the Living Oasis Liverpool Steering Committee, posted on facebook, 12/08/2011: Living Oasis Liverpool UPDATE

After NCT: Living Oasis Liverpool press on with the vision

LIVING OASIS LIVERPOOL have posted this update following the demise of Nationwide Christian Trust:

Nationwide Christian Trust

Many of you may have heard that in August 2011, Nationwide Christian Trust, the originators of the Living Oasis vision, were placed into liquidation. This is sad news and will be a particular disappointment to those who worked so hard to develop a national chain of Living Oasis stores.

The Liverpool store has always enjoyed a strong local support base, and has an effective local management team in place. NCT have done everything they can to enable the local team to take over sole responsibility for the store, and we are currently engaged in a number of conversations and negotiations to allow that to happen.

While there is much to be done, we remain confident that if we can retain the existing premises, the eventual opening of the store remains a very realistic possibility. Sadly there will be inevitable delays, as we cannot proceed further with the physical outfit until various legalities are completed.

We will continue to work hard to develop the Liverpool store as an independant [sic] coffee house, bookstore and centre for Christian life and mission.

At the time of writing no further news about the insolvency or the status of the remaining stores (Harrogate and Watford) appears to have been released. The official Living Oasis Locations map and page are now blank, simply showing ‘No records found’, although the latest video, featuring Andy Twilley at the Watford store, is still available on youtube:


Introducing Life: Weston-super-Mare’s new Christian Bookshop

A WARM AND HEARTFELT UKCBD WELCOME to Life, Weston-super-Mare’s new Christian bookshop, which opened this week on the site of the former Living Oasis and Wesley Owen bookshops:

Welcome to Life!

Welcome to Life!

From the shop’s About page:

“Life” is the name of Weston’s new independent Christian bookshop, it is based at 13 The Centre where Living Oasis and Wesley Owen were located previously.

Here at “Life” we will aim to be more than a book shop. Yes we will be selling books, cards and gifts, as well as daily Bible reading notes etc. But this is not our sole purpose.

We would like “Life” to be a place in town where Christians can meet each other over a cup of tea or coffee for prayer, study groups or discussion.

“Life” provides a haven where Christians involved in the many and varied activities which make up church life can find encouragement and build one another up.

We want Christians to be able to meet one another and share their ideas, dreams and visions for their area, town and life, on common ground; because we believe that everyone has something to offer in the body of Christ. If we can get together on any and all levels and share what works and what doesn’t, encouraging each other, just imagine what could happen in our churches, our town, our nation…

Update, 07/10/2011: With regret, I am no longer able to commend either of Helen’s groups to readers of this blog. The links have therefore been removed. For more information about this matter, please contact me and I’ll be happy to explain privately.

I am very happy, however, to commend the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers group, set up by Melanie Carroll (Unicorn Tree Books) when the original CABP group was archived.

So head on over there, m’dears, and get posting…

New facebook group: Christian Bookshops UK

HELEN McCABE has launched a new facebook group, Christian Bookshops UK, as a follow on to conversations held at this year’s Christian Resources Together. Helen explains:

I created the group after going to CRT earlier in the year as a few things become obvious to me:

  • Some people have some really good ideas on how to promote their bookshop in their local community which bookshops could take advantage of.
  • Using social media tools like FB can be great for getting involved in the community but some people just need a bit of help with how to use it.
  • I’m very keen on supporting our local Christian bookshops and I would like to give some general marketing help on how businesses can grow their bookshop locally in addition to some guidance on using tools like FB.

Helen also runs another group, Facebook Church UK, and says she’s happy for bookshops to share local news there as well, “as long as it doesn’t become a sales group.”

Sales down at Beacon Books, Llandudno

Wales Online 15/08/2011 - 'exceptionally difficult times'

Wales Online 15/08/2011 - 'exceptionally difficult times'

WALES ONLINE reports ‘exceptionally difficult times’ being faced by retailers across the country, with Kingdom Krafts and Beacon Books reporting diminishing sales in Llandudno:

LLANDUDNO

At Kingdom Crafts [sic], manager Marian Whitaker says the store has been down £200 per week since the start of 2011.

Over the summer the position has worsened with the fair trade goods store and Christian bookshop seeing its takings plummet by £400 per week on last year.

Mrs Whitaker, whose store is on Madoc Street, which runs parallel to Llandudno’s high street, said trading conditions at the shop have been almost as challenging as at any point since it opened 10 years ago.

Mrs Whitaker said: “I think people cannot afford to come on holiday in the way that they did. And I think local people are shopping more online because they can get things cheaper.”

Things looking up in Eastbourne

Eastbourne Herald, 15/08/2011: 'Things are looking up'

Eastbourne Herald, 15/08/2011: 'Things are looking up'

IN SHARP CONTRAST to the situation faced by retailers in Wales, the Eastbourne Herald features Bob Clark, who took over at Eastbourne’s Christian Resource Centre earlier this year, describing better sales than ever:

Pause for Thought with Ray Dadswell: Things are looking up

Published on Monday 15 August 2011 11:03

When so many businesses, large and small, are closing their doors, it is good to know of a local bookshop celebrating success.

Bob Clark took over management of the Eastbourne Christian Resource Centre at the beginning of 2011 and records many encouragements over the past few months.

“A particular highlight is that Bible sales are increasing dramatically, now that we have a wider choice. The same is happening with commentaries, dictionaries and concordances, all of which have been brought to the ground floor. Bible notes, too, are growing in sales, as we have a wider range and easier-view display.”

There are areas of the ministry which Bob is keen to improve.

“Communication with our ministers and pastors; our service to churches in other towns, for example, Hastings and St Leonards, Bexhill, Seaford; and the availability of ‘collectable and hard-to-find’ books, located on the first floor, which is a real treasure trove!”

Wesley Owen Staff Cuts

LAST BUT FAR FROM LEAST, please pray for members of staff at a number of Wesley Owen bookshops who are facing redundancy as Koorong (which took over the Wesley Owen brand and eight stores in the wake of Biblica’s bungling in 2009) streamlines its UK business operations and seeks to maintain a viable business model following the implementation of new systems and central purchasing.

Steve Mitchell, Retail Director, and himself a survivor of the Biblica fallout, explains:

There are 6 people being made redundant. All of them are still working, but will leave over the next few weeks and months. Even though this is a horrible process, I am completely committed to doing this with integrity, I have met with all the staff in the shops affected, explaining what we are doing and why.

Our new systems are now fully in place and working well, so the roles and requirements for our staff teams are changing. We have implemented central purchasing so new people have joined in Milton Keynes to support Authentic & Wesley Owen, so we have been moving our staff from admin to customer service, so these changes are about aligning staff rotas with customers.

The High Street is still a very tough place to be, and whilst we are seeing good sales growth in a difficult time, we also have to have a viable business model.

We asked the shops for their input, and asked them to create the new staff rotas rather than impose it. I have met one on one with each member of staff who is going, and in fact I’m travelling this week to a branch with 2 people leaving expressly to thank them for all their hard work, and ensure they leave at least feeling respected.

Inevitably there will be unhappy people who will want to vent their feelings, that’s understandable, and I feel it’s right that I hear their voice.

 

July 24, 2011

Living Oasis: And so the dream ends…

Posted by Phil Groom under News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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NEWS EMERGED this weekend of another closure as Living Oasis Manchester reportedly closed its doors for the last time on Saturday, and Leeds has issued a last-ditch shout out for help on facebook, announcing that they are “exploring other options” as Nationwide Christian Trust prepares to withdraw support:

Living Oasis Leeds: facebook announcement, 19/07/2011: As of last Friday morning, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that NCT are able to support the Leeds vision going forward...

Living Oasis Leeds: facebook announcement, 19/07/2011: As of last Friday morning, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that NCT are able to support the Leeds vision going forward...

The company’s difficulties have been well charted both here and by the Bookseller, with their latest report citing Ray George describing Harrogate as the only viable store:

Living Oasis Cheltenham shut up shop last Friday (8th July), becoming the chain’s fifth closure in four weeks. Ray George, the chain’s owner, said only the Harrogate branch is making money. On average the recently closed stores were losing £2,000–£4,000 a month, which George said was ­unsustainable.

The report also cites Eddie Olliffe, who observes succinctly:

I think the model was flawed—to rely on financial support from the church community I think was naïve, because churches themselves are struggling and perhaps do not have the resources or the vision.

An earlier report states that staff in Cheltenham were given only two days notice, which sadly seems to typify the lack of respect NCT has shown to its staff, a factor that has no doubt contributed to the company’s demise as bookseller morale has crumbled.

As of the date of this report, only Harrogate, South Woodford and Watford appear to remain trading, with Liverpool still in limbo pending completion of its “Phase 2″ redevelopment as it continues to seek investors. The claim to be “one of a growing, national chain of stores” has been removed from the Who We Are page and — with an interesting change in emphasis — the store now describes itself as “working in partnership with Nationwide Christian Trust”.

To end on a positive note, congratulations to Rob Chandler, a former staff member from Nottingham, on a very successful secondhand books-and-more sale held at Sherwood Methodist Church on Saturday:

Todays sale went ever so very well! I’m stunned as well as a bit worn out. Sold lots and lots of books, two guitars and a train set! Big thanks to all who donated books and to helpers and customers. Next one booked for Saturday 24th September, again at Sherwood Methodist. No plans beyond that so far.

If you’re in Nottingham, please book that date in your diary now and let’s see what the future brings…

 

July 9, 2011

Shout out from Christian Retailing mag: Sign the Christian Retailing Pledge!

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Book Trade, Church Resources | Tags: , , , , |
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Sign the Christian Retailing Pledge!

Sign the Christian Retailing Pledge!

CHRISTIAN RETAILING MAG has issued a shout out via facebook to the world’s Christian retailers to “sign the Christian Retailing Pledge and commit to the ministry of Christian resources”:

I believe in the power of Christian products to change lives. I believe I am called to be part of this ministry through Christian retailing. Times may have changed, but my calling has not. I believe that the body of Christ still needs strong Christian retailers. So I will not quit. I will not give up. I have faith. I will believe. I am willing to change to better meet the needs of my community, customers, employees and suppliers. I will help others to succeed. I will seek to honor my Lord in my business with the efforts of my hands, my heart, my staff, my store and my commitment to His Word. I love Christian retailing and I thank God for my calling.

If you’re up for it, head on over to facebook today and add your name to the list; and if, like me, you’re no longer a retailer yourself, head on over there and pledge your support as a customer — because without us as customers, the retailers’ pledges are in vain.

 

June 26, 2011

Living Oasis Update: Farewell to Nottingham and Worthing

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Book Trade, Christian Bookshops, News | Tags: , , , , |
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SAD NEWS via facebook as another two branches of Living Oasis prepare to close their doors on July 2nd. Nottingham’s facebook update says it all:

Living Oasis Nottingham and Worthing slated for closure July 2, 2011

Living Oasis Nottingham and Worthing slated for closure July 2, 2011

Sad news, after 5.30 Saturday 2/7/11 we will be closed down. Living Oasis Worthing also finishing then. Heartfelt thanks to our customers for giving us so much support loyalty and encouragement. Please pray for there to be a Christian bookshop in Nottingham, pray for our colleagues at Worthing, pray for the staff of the remaining Living Oasis shops. Bless you.

A similar facebook update was posted by LivingOasis Worthing on 24th June:

Sad news Living Oasis Worthing is closing on the 2nd of July. Please pray for David, Sabine and Andrea, that the Lord will guide us.

h/t Melanie Carroll, @unicorntreebks:

 

June 18, 2011

News Roundup: The Awards and Congratulations Edition

Posted by Phil Groom under Book News, News, People News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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OVER THE LAST MONTH or so we seem to have had a plethora of awards in the Christian book trade, so without further ado, congratulations all round to those who’ve won, commiserations to the runners-up, and one or two other congratulatory notes as well because there’s more, much more, to life than winning awards. Rumours of the trade’s demise are a tad premature, methinks…

  • Atheist Delusions Wins Michael Ramsey Prize
  • Booksellers Association launches new Facebook page
  • BRF Author Wins Ultimate Christian Library Book Award
  • CRT Awards to CWR, IVP, Salvation Army and Tyndale House (Updated 29/06/2011)
  • Hope Centre Official Opening
  • Wedding Bells at Dernier Publishing
  • SPCK’s Alan Mordue named as ‘Best Overseas Supporting Vendor’
David Bentley Hart receives the Michael Ramsey Prize 2011 from the Archbishop of Canterbury

David Bentley Hart receives the Michael Ramsey Prize 2011 from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Atheist Delusions Wins Michael Ramsey Prize

CONGRATULATIONS to David Bentley Hart, shown here receiving the Michael Ramsey Prize 2011 from the Archbishop of Canterbury for his book, Atheist Delusions, Yale University Press.

See the Press Release (27 May 2011) for full details: Winner of £10,000 Theology Prize Announced

Booksellers Association launches new Facebook page

CONGRATULATIONS to the Booksellers Association on the recent launch of their facebook page: you don’t have to be a BA member to like it, and it’s an easy way to keep up to speed with their latest news delivered direct to your facebook feed. You are on facebook, aren’t you??

Brad Lincoln receives the Speaking Volumes 'Ultimate Christian Library Book' Award 2011

Brad Lincoln receives the Speaking Volumes 'Ultimate Christian Library Book' Award 2011

BRF Author Wins Ultimate Christian Library Book Award

CONGRATULATIONS to Brad Lincoln, pictured with (left to right) Paula Renouf and Geoff Booker of Speaking Volumes, presenting him and BRF’s Karen Laister with the Ultimate Christian Library Book Award 2011 at CRE Sandown Park on 11 May 2011 for his book, One Dad Encountering God.

More details from BRF: One Dad Encountering God Wins Award!

• More pictures and previous award winners

Christian Resources Together Awards

Update, 29/06/2011: Christian Marketplace has now published the full list of award winners: Stott wins Book of the Year award; congratulations especially to Mary Bartholomew of the Good Bookstall on her Long Service Award: very well deserved indeed.

CONGRATULATIONS to the many and various winners of the numerous awards presented at this month’s Christian Resources Together event at High Leigh. The CRT publicity engine seems to be grinding a little slowly and I’ve yet to receive details of all the winners, but — with a special mention for IVP on a double win, overall Book of the Year for John Stott’s The Radical Disciple and Over 12s Book of the Year for Rachel Gardner’s Cherished — those that have come to my attention so far are:

Double Christian Resources Together Awards 2011 for IVP

Double Christian Resources Together Awards 2011 for IVP

The Mayor of Macclesfield snips the ribbon for the Hope Centre's official opening

The Mayor of Macclesfield snips the ribbon for the Hope Centre's official opening

Hope Centre Official Opening

CONGRATULATIONS to all involved in the recent official opening of Macclesfield’s new Christian bookshop and resource centre, The Hope Centre, who you’ll also find twittering with the rest of us @HopeCentreMacc. With only 6 followers as I post this update, they’re looking kinda lonely so why not head on over there and show them some twitter love? Opening day photo courtesy of Robert Marshall, @rajm: discover more on flickr.

Wedding Bells at Dernier Publishing

VERY SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to Janet Evans of Dernier Publishing, due to marry Andrew Wilson on 2 July 2011. Janet writes:

… for those of you who don’t know, I will be marrying Andrew Wilson on 2nd July. After eight years on my own since my first husband died, it is wonderful to have someone to share life with. We met at CRE last year. (I’ve since met another couple who met at CRE!) Andrew is on the staff of a charity that supports those around the world who are persecuted for their faith in Christ. He is also a former journalist, and does some editing and proof-reading for us.

More news from Dernier Publishing coming up next week…

SPCK’s Alan Mordue named as ‘Best Overseas Supporting Vendor’

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, CONGRATULATIONS to SPCK Sales Director Alan Mordue, recognised by the USA’s Episcopal Booksellers’ Association award as ‘Best Overseas Supporting Vendor’ for his ongoing work over the last three years, including annual visits to the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit and Society of Biblical Literature meetings.

 

May 20, 2011

News Roundup: 10 Years of The Good Bookstall | Bob Hartman Story in New World Record Storytelling Attempt | Facebook Update | Living Oasis Edinburgh Closing | and more…

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Book Trade, Lion Hudson, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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UPDATE 7.45pm, 20/05/2011: Living Oasis Edinburgh to Cease Trading 4th June 2011

In an announcement posted on facebook this evening, Living Oasis Edinburgh have indicated that they will cease trading on 4th June 2011.

MY APOLOGIES for the lack of news postings here over the last few weeks: life, as they say. As always, however, there’s been plenty happening in the trade — and plenty more coming up — so I’m pleased to be able to present a mix of stories old, new and forthcoming. Don’t forget to give me a shout anytime you have news to share: here, on facebook or via twitter…

In Brief…

The Christian Book Centre, Redruth, is seeking new owners as the current owners prepare for retirement. The shop won the CBC ‘Small Bookshop of the Year’ Award 2008.

The Good News Centre, Newent, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, has an attractive new website up and running, designed by Nigel Steele at Quoakle: goodnewscentre.com

Macclesfield’s new Christian resource centre, The Hope Centre, is now open: congratulations to all involved.

Pilgrim’s Progress Bookshop, Hereford, are hosting a book signing with local author Donald Southey for his new novel I Messiah on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th May 2011, 12 noon – 1.30pm both days. Free tea and coffee will be served!

St Mark’s Press have moved their distribution back to Fairway Marketing from STL/Trust Media Distribution, with immediate effect.

St Paul’s Bookshops (Birmingham, Leeds, London and York) have entered the blogosphere: follow them at stpaulsbookshop.blogspot.com

STL UK are now trading under their new identity, Trust Media Distribution. Old email and website addresses will continue to work, but now’s the time to get up to speed if you haven’t already done so. On twitter @TrustMediaDist

Former Waterstone’s Boss Dominic Myers has woken up to reality at last and acknowledged the need for joined-up thinking in the book trade: “We’re all in this together,” he says. Welcome to Farewell from the world of independent bookselling, Dominic…

10 Years of  The Good Bookstall: Celebrations at CRE

MY PERSONAL THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS to Mary Bartholomew and the rest of the team at The Good Bookstall for their generous hospitality at CRE last week: it was an honour and a privilege to be able to share in their 10th anniversary celebrations, as well as to meet so many other friends and colleagues from the trade during the course of the day.

Mary Bartholomew with the Good Bookstall's 10th Anniversary Cake

Mary Bartholomew with the Good Bookstall's 10th Anniversary Cake

For a few more photos featuring some of the booksellers and publishers present see my CRE 2011 facebook photo album:

Facebook Photo Album: CRE 2011

Facebook Photo Album: CRE 2011

Bob Hartman Story in New World Record Storytelling Attempt

The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book

The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book

DO YOU ENJOY STORYTELLING? Then make your way to the Peace in the Park Festival at The Ponderosa in Sheffield on 4th June where Self Help Africa are planning to set a new world record for the most adults reading aloud to children at a single location. The chosen story, Tortoise Brings Food, is an African tale retold by Bob Hartman in the The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book.

Bob says:

I’ve been telling stories professionally for over twenty years, and I am always amazed by the power of a story well told to capture and entertain and delight. Sharing stories with children is an opportunity to cement a relationship and shape a life. I’m so pleased to be involved in a project that encourages parents to read to their children, and at the same time, contributes to the needs of parents and children in Africa. Let’s break the record and make a change in the world!

Storytelling starts at 3pm, with Guinness World Records adjudicators present. More details and a pdf practice sheet of the story available from Lion Hudson: Lion Children’s Books in world record storytelling attempt!

Facebook Update (Updated 21/05/2011)

IT’S ALL HAPPENING on facebook with FM Ballymena and  Manna Christian Centre, Streatham, setting up new pages — don’t be shy now, click on through and hit those Like buttons: you know you want to … and you never know, they might even like your pages in return.

Meanwhile, if you happen to be up north or are passing through Edinburgh at lunchtime on 23rd May, St Andrew Press would love to see you at their General Assembly Event celebrating their new life as part of the Hymns Ancient & Modern family:

Saint Andrew Press, the publishing house of the Church of Scotland, will be holding a special General Assembly event to celebrate its new life working as a part of Hymns Ancient & Modern. Come along and enjoy lunch, hear about the many resources available, meet staff and friends of Saint Andrew Press and collect vouchers for limited numbers of free copies of Leith Fisher’s fantastic But I Say To You!

RSVP to Michael Addison: full details on the event page…

Living Oasis Edinburgh Still Trading Closing Down (Updated 7.45pm, 20/05/2011)

Living Oasis Store Finder from CRE 2011

Living Oasis Store Finder CRE 2011

DESPITE AN APPARENT GOOF-UP by the company’s publicity department, which somehow omitted the Edinburgh branch from flyers (pictured) and School Catalogues given out to punters at CRE last week, I’m reliably informed that Living Oasis Edinburgh, the company’s sole-surviving store north of the border, is still in business.

UPDATE 7.45pm, 20/05/2011: In an announcement posted on facebook this evening, Living Oasis Edinburgh have indicated that they will cease trading on 4th June 2011.

Elsewhere, unfortunately, things are also looking less than hunky-dory with still no news of opening dates for the all-new bright-and-shiny Leeds and Liverpool stores. Independent sources indicate that a number of suppliers have learnt the hard way and, fingers burnt by non-payment of bills, have had to withdraw credit facilities, leaving staff in some shops struggling to meet customer requests: please continue to pray for everyone caught up in what seems to be a crippling downhill spiral.

To end on a more positive note, however, the company did manage to put on an impressive stand at CRE offering free coffee for anyone spending £5 or over: congratulations to all concerned.

New MD for Alban Books

WENDY RIMMINGTON, who was appointed as MD for Alban Books in November last year, has moved on, making way for new MD Jonny Gallant, formerly of Saint Andrew Press. Commenting on his appointment in a brief press release (pdf, 41kb), Jonny said:

Alban Books is a very exciting company, working with a terrific range of US publishers and I’m really looking forward to putting my sales and marketing background to use in facing the opportunities and challenges ahead.

I’ve invited Jonny to contribute a guest post to tell us more: watch this space…

Norwich Christian Resource Centre Enters Nominations for Telegraph Book Club Tour

CONGRATULATIONS to Norwich Christian Resource Centre, one of several Christian bookshops that have entered nominations for the Daily Telegraph/National Book Tokens Book Club Tour. In the section explaining why the shop should be chosen to host a Book Club Tour event, they say:

We hold book signings and author discussion evenings on a monthly basis usually complimented by a two course meal with wine/coffee in our 44 seater cafe.

The events are not always faith based and we have local historian and author Neil Storey talking about the history of Norwich in September.

Sadly we were just unable to attract PD James last Christmas as she felt she was now too old to travel. A monthly book club has met for the past 11 years reading authors as diverse as Delia Smith to Kate Atkinson. I would ideally like to attract Sally Vickers.

Other Christian bookshops nominated include:

Nominations are still open: head on over there today if you’d like to submit your own nomination…

Wildcard: Sainsbury’s Wins Bookseller of the Year Award

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Congratulations to Sainsbury’s on winning The Bookseller‘s “Martina Cole General or Chain Bookselling Company of the Year Award”:

Sainsbury’s was honoured with the Martina Cole General or Chain Bookselling Company of the Year Award after reinvigorating book zones, increasing book sales by more than 33% and attracting new book buyers to the market. One judge said: “We should celebrate the fact that they are embracing books and offering people an alternative place to buy—somewhere they can spend time browsing as well as buying.”

Full story: Quercus publisher of the year at The Bookseller Industry Awards

Whether or not Sainsbury’s genuinely qualifies as a bookseller is a hotly contested issue in the report’s comments section: well worth reading. From my point of view there’s a certain irony here: having moved to Sainsbury’s following LST’s redundancy proceedings last year, I now find myself working for the nation’s leading bookseller — and I haven’t had to restock a single book in my entire time there…

 

April 16, 2011

Social Media Update: Alban Books, Christian Bits, Christian Bookshop Ossett, CLC Inverness, CLC Wholesale and a note about security

Posted by Phil Groom under News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
[6] Comments 

GOOD TIMES on the social media front with several new entrants from the Christian book trade. Without further ado, then, a warm welcome to:

Alban Books’ first tweet brings us a reminder that a certain wedding is imminent — an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone with a special souvenir edition of the King James Bible:

Christianbits

Christianbits

Lorna tells me that things are going well for them in Ossett, with around 30 children plus accompanying adults attending their first Easter holiday literary activity morning: congratulations to all involved!

CLC Wholesale would like your feedback on promotions — head on over to facebook to have your say: What kind of promotion would you like to see CLC Wholesale do?

Last but not least: have you secured your facebook and twitter connections? It’s a straightforward procedure on both facebook and twitter which will make your accounts much less susceptible to hackers. If you’re not sure whether  or not you’re using a secure connection, simply look at the URL in your browser’s address bar: if it begins https://, you’re secure; if it begins http:// — without the ‘s’ — you’re not.

On facebook, go to Account (top right in your facebook browser window) > Account Settings > Account Security > Change, select the “Secure browsing” checkbox shown in this screenshot, then click the Save button further down the page:

Facebook Security

Facebook Security

It’s a similar procedure on twitter.

 

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