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.

 

August 4, 2011

Nationwide Christian Trust Enters Insolvency

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NATIONWIDE CHRISTIAN TRUST, owners of Living Oasis, the collapsed chain of Christian bookshops that took over nineteen of the former Wesley Owen shops, has now entered insolvency. Formal notice to suppliers, signed by Ray George, was issued on August 1st 2011, inviting them to submit claims and attend a first meeting of creditors to be held on Wednesday August 17th in Hornchurch, Essex:

Insolvency Notice issued by Nationwide Christian Trust 1st August 2011

Insolvency Notice issued by Nationwide Christian Trust 1st August 2011

Company Number: 04479539

NATIONWIDE CHRISTIAN TRUST T/A LIVING OASIS

INSOLVENCY ACT 1986

NOTICE OF THE FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to section 98 of the Insolvency Act 1986 that a meeting of the creditors of the above named Company will be held at 43-45 Butts Green Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 2JX on 17 August 2011 at 11.00am for the purposes mentioned in sections 99, 100 and 101 of the said Act. Resolutions to be taken at the meeting may include a resolution specifying the terms on which the Joint Liquidators are to be remunerated and the meeting may receive information about, or be called upon to approve, the costs of preparing the statement of affairs and convening of the meeting.

The notice goes on to provide instructions to creditors on how to submit claims and advises that a full list of creditors will be available for inspection on the two business days immediately before the meeting.

 

November 19, 2010

Living Oasis: Expansion Plans or Chinese Whispers? More Questions than Answers

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , |
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IT SEEMS AN OBLIQUE WAY to announce your plans for world domination, but according to an advertisement placed in last week’s Church of England Newspaper, that appears to be the way forward for Living Oasis:

Project Manager: Nationwide Christian Trust

We currently have 19 sites in the UK and this will increase by a minimum of 20 sites each year.

The Nationwide Christian Trust’s aim is to provide a Christian presence on our High Streets. Our shops will be selling Christian books, coffee, giftware and provide space for community initiatives.

We are seeking to appoint a project manager preferably with experience in the retail industry. We currently have 19 sites in the UK and this will increase by a minimum of 20 sites each year. We are seeking to move most of these shops to new locations on the High Street and therefore the person selected will be co-ordinating the opening of new shops throughout the UK. This is a full time position with attractive salary and car.

Given that plans for the Croydon store have apparently been placed on hold, aiming to grow the business “by a minimum of 20 sites each year” seems a tad overambitious and begs the question of whether the ad is a casualty of Chinese Whispers: should it not rather state “We currently have 19 sites in the UK and this will increase to a minimum of 20 sites this year”?

If, on the other hand, the plan is indeed to expand operations “by a minimum of 20 sites each year” then important questions need to be asked both by anyone considering applying for the post and by the wider trade — what, for instance, is Living Oasis’ view of the wider trade? Is the plan to reach out into towns where there is not already a Christian presence on the high street — or to establish branches of Living Oasis in direct competition with existing Christian bookshops? To plant or to supplant?

Living Oasis statements both online and in print seem to suggest that many Christian bookshops already trading have simply failed by retaining “a very narrow focus … on Christian books and resources”:

Part of the Problem
Up until now, many of the struggling Christian bookshops have retained a very narrow focus, namely they have simply focussed on Christian books and resources, and hereby the predominance of customers have been Christians. This has greatly reduced their viability on the High Street because no matter how attractive the shop front, and no matter how well laid out the stock is, the fact remains, there is little reason why people would chose to go in.

It’s a view that simply isn’t borne out by the evidence, however, as this review of the former Wesley Owen Manchester testifies:

There I was, wandering round Deansgate, nosing into stores which might sell gifts suitable for my friends and family, when I spotted this lovely little bookshop and café. But as you might notice from the photos (apart from the one I took of the hidden little sign that says ‘Formerly Christian World’), you would not know, as I did not, that this is in fact a religious shop. My first clue was when I flounced in and took in my surroundings. Where were the Clarkson tomes, the Barbara Windsor bios, the crime thrillers, the self-help books? They were absent, well, aside from self-help books – there were plenty of those, albeit with a Christian flavour…

… But Wesley Owen? Well, I really want to know why they don’t seem more proud of the fact that they are a Christian bookshop. Is it to draw people in? And in that case, why would they feel that their religious status would put people off? I think that’s such a shame if it is indeed the case, because what Wesley Owen reminds me of is not the darker side of religion which myself and my father experienced in our young lives, it reminds me of primary school, when faith was used as a means to teach children to treat one another equally, to explain empathy and to instigate a sense of belonging. You walk into Wesley Owen and no matter your beliefs, you don’t feel like anything is being pushed upon you or shoved down your throat…

Without doubt there are some Christian bookshops with an especially narrow focus (see the reviews posted by Mr Charmley to get a feel for the variety of Christian bookshops out there) but as a sweeping generalisation, it simply isn’t true: the vast majority of Christian bookshops aim to serve as wide a marketplace as their remit permits, and the ideas being put forward by Living Oasis such as incorporating a café or offering use of premises to local churches/parachurch organisations outside of normal opening hours are nothing new.

Last but not least, I personally remain mystified by what appears to be a contrary vision: to provide a Christian presence on the high street whilst simultaneously “de-Christianising” the shop windows. Which is it to be? Undercover evangelism or an identifiable Christian presence?

I have invited Andy Twilley to clarify and am awaiting his response…

 

July 26, 2010

Living Oasis Update: Edinburgh opening imminent, Summer newsletter, Online ambitions and a DVD

Posted by Phil Groom under Guest Posts, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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Update 5pm, 26/7/2010: News has emerged that negotiations for the lease on the former Wesley Owen premises in Croydon have been unsuccessful. Please continue to pray for all concerned as the search for alternative premises goes on.

It’s all happening at Living Oasis, with Living Oasis Edinburgh gearing up for a grand reopening soon — doors open Saturday July 31st, official opening ceremony planned for September — having at long last secured a temporary lease in the former Wesley Owen premises on George Street: keep an eye on their new facebook page for updates and photos (you’ll need to update your facebook ‘likes’ if you’ve been following the old Wesley Owen Edinburgh page).

Living Oasis: The Story So Far: News Summer 2010

Living Oasis: The Story So Far: News Summer 2010 (pdf, 1.5mb)

The Living Oasis Summer 2010 newsletter is available for download (pdf, 1.5mb) and includes introductions to each of the stores by the staff (pp.2-3) along with an outline of plans for a new online store due to be launched “by late summer 2010″ (p.4). Living Oasis online will seek to complement rather than compete with the high street stores, offering price parity with the shops in the hope that applying five key principles — summed up under the headings Excellence, Equity, Encounter, Expertise, Engage — will be sufficient to win customer loyalty over the temptation of lower prices elsewhere. A sixth ‘E’ — Experience — will no doubt prove telling, but one can only wish Living Oasis every success in the venture.

Now some reflections from Richard Howarth of Ignite Creative, producers of the Living Oasis DVD that you may have seen.

Richard writes:

AS someone who believes Christians need to be seen if we are going to be heard in the wider community, I was gutted to hear late last year the Wesley Owen chain was going to be broken up, with the potential loss of a well-known brand across the country.

But it was not just about the name. When so many people only latch onto headlines about declining church attendances and miss the good stuff – something I’m fairly certain of after 25 years in the secular press – the Wesley Owen story seemed to offer further proof of a religion in irreversible decline.

The reality, of course, has been quite different as a number of groups have stepped up to keep shops alive, meaning there have been more good stories than bad stories to come out of this situation.

The Nationwide Christian Trust is one of those that got involved. It saw the opportunity to rescue many of those shops that went into administration and also to develop a radical, long-term vision that would give them a much bigger profile on the high street.

Its Living Oasis brand has already had plenty of exposure as shops have been reopened but the plan is to do much more and fully develop their potential for outreach. They want to relocate them, put a coffee shop rather than books in the shop window, offer children’s play areas and more, while still stocking the full range of Christian resources.

This might all sound a bit bewildering for those with an expectation of what a Christian bookshop looks like.

So to show how exciting it all could be – and to encourage support for the plans – the Trust turned to Ignite Creative, a Christian video production company based in Coventry. The two had worked together before and the Trust was certain a DVD was a great way to get its message across and get people on board.

There was a chance to glimpse the future at the Christian Resources Exhibition in May, where Living Oasis had a working shop set up in the new way. This was also Ignite’s chance to do the filming ready for the promotional DVD.

Living Oasis DVD Still with Andy Twilley

Living Oasis: DVD still featuring Andy Twilley

Rev Andy Twilley from the Nationwide Christian Trust features on it setting out the plans and there are also interviews with many of the people who came for a coffee or for a closer look, including Adrian Plass and GP Taylor.

There was a real buzz around the place and out of all this, Ignite produced two versions of the DVD.

The Trust and Living Oasis seem delighted at the outcome, describing it as, ‘a resource which was far more than just a film… something which really made an impact in a way which would connect well with our target audience’ and hundreds of copies have already been sent out.

So if, like me, you have had spirits lifted by the great things that have happened already in 2010, I think you’ll be equally impressed if you see the DVD Ignite has come up with to show what could be happening in the future on a high street near you… and you can find a version right now on the Nationwide Christian Trust website!

Living Oasis DVD Still

Living Oasis mock-up store at CRE as featured on the DVD

 

May 29, 2010

Living Oasis Update: Croydon Branch Opening Soon!

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Bookshops, News | Tags: , , , , , , |
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Living OasisA message via facebook from Paul Barton and Angela Curror:

Hello to all of you, who were on the Wesley Owen facebook friends list.

Thank you so much for your all of your prayers and support — many of the obstacles have now been removed and Living Oasis Croydon really is on its way at last!

Nationwide Christian Trust have managed to secure an offer on 145-147 North End (which used to be Wesley Owen), which has been accepted and is currently in the hands of the solicitors. Please continue to pray that this will go smoothly with no further hitches.

It has been suggested that this unit will be the first Living Oasis store to fill the vision. (Details can be found at livingoasis.co.uk)

It is thought that the alterations, refitting and re-stocking the shop, including the coffee shop area, will take approximately 4-6 weeks…..as a rough estimate, from receiving the keys. Please pray for wisdom and skill for those making decisions, drawing up the plans and carrying out the necessary work.

The manager, Paul Barton, can be contacted by email at croydon AT livingoasis.co.uk — if you have any ideas for what the shop could stock, or how the shop could better serve you or your Church, please let him know.

Nationwide Christian Trust are investing a lot of money into this and would appreciate any help from local Churches who believe in their vision and have a heart for having a community base within the shop. If you wish to contribute financially to this project please do contact Paul. Thank you very much.

May God continue to bless your ministry and we look forward to meeting you in the new Living Oasis shop.

 

March 12, 2010

Living Oasis: Leading with Coffee for this Weekend’s Openings

Posted by Phil Groom under Book Trade Ramblings, Christian Bookshops, News | Tags: , , , , , |
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Updated 14/3/2010 to add Watford
Living Oasis Sutton, 10th March 2010

Living Oasis Sutton, 10th March 2010

It promises to be an exciting weekend for many of those left out in the cold by Biblica at Christmas time as Nationwide Christian Trust‘s rollout of Living Oasis stores continues around the country. Here we see the new sign up at Sutton, juxtaposed with a ‘Shop To Let’ sign, Biblica’s inglorious legacy to the UK had Living Oasis not stepped in to rescue so many of the abandoned Wesley Owen bookshops and their staff.

In places, as Ray George made clear in his recent interview with Clem Jackson, those ‘To Let’ notices are likely to remain or reappear as the new organisation seeks out better premises more suited to the new vision:

We are looking to lead with the coffee shop and not the Christian bookshop and we believe that we will add a further 60% to the turnover; this is the difference between profit and loss.

The bookshops we have acquired are too small, so in most cases we are looking to relocate. We have taken temporary leases on the current bookshop sites for either three or six months, but we’re negotiating hard. We are in a buyer’s market looking to open new shops – and that’s going to happen.

The footprint of our shops will probably be three times the size of the average Wesley Owen shop we have. We want the coffee shop to be prominent but we don’t want it to seem as though the coffee shop is all we’ve got. Off from the coffee shop there will be a separate lounge and we’re going to have child-friendly zones too.

Here, then, are this Saturday’s official Living Oasis openings, A-Z by location:

Unsurprisingly, not everyone is entirely convinced by  the Christian coffee shop idea: Johnny Laird — looking forward to Croydon’s anticipated re-opening — asks, pointedly:

Do we need to create our own Christian coffee shops, or should we be drinking our Java for Jesus in those places – those “third places” that already exist?

In the midst of all the excitement — almost palpable on facebook — it’s an uncomfortable question, but it surely needs to be asked: what do you think?

 

March 2, 2010

Living Oasis: 20 Shops, Meetings and Openings (Updated)

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Bookshops, News | Tags: , , , , , , |
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Updated 11.30am, 5th March, 2010
Christian Marketplace, March 2010

Christian Marketplace, March 2010

Courtesy of Clem Jackson’s interview with Ray George of Nationwide Christian Trust in this month’s Christian Marketplace, we now have the definitive list of shops that Living Oasis have in their sights:

We now have 20 shops in our portfolio: Aberdeen, Bedford, Belfast, Cheltenham, Chester, Croydon, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Harrow, Inverness, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, South Woodford, Southampton, Sutton, Watford, Weston-Super-Mare and Worthing.

Meetings with local church leaders and dates for shop openings that have been brought to my attention are as follows, A-Z by location:

Chester (added 5/3/2010)

  • Saturday 13th March: Official opening with Lady Grace Sheppard

Harrow

  • Saturday 13th March: Doors open as Living Oasis

Inverness

  • Saturday 13th March, 1pm: Official opening with the Revd Professor Andrew McGowan. Refreshments will be provided.

Leeds

  • Friday 5th March, 12.30pm: Meeting for local church leaders at St George’s Church centre.
  • Tuesday 9th March, 10am: Doors open as Living Oasis
  • Saturday 13th March, 1.00pm: Official opening with Paul Blakey MBE, founder of Street Angels Halifax; 3.00pm: live music by “Voices of Praise” Gospel Choir from the New Testament Church of God.

South Woodford

More details will be posted as and when notified. In the meantime, you can keep track on twitter: Living Oasis

 

March 1, 2010

Church Times Blog: New Living Oasis Christian bookshops to be ‘three times the size’ of former Wesley Owen shops

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Christian Marketplace, March 2010

Christian Marketplace, March 2010

My thanks to Dave Walker for permission to cross-post the following from the Church Times Blog, a superb summary of reportage in this month’s Christian Marketplace. Scroll to the end for my own comments and concluding reflections.

Clem Jackson from Christian Marketplace magazine has been busy talking to everyone involved in the events following the demise of the UK’s largest Christian book distributor IBS-STL (UK) and its associated bookshops (Wesley Owen). In particular he has interviewed representatives of the organisations who have taken over the assets.

You can download the latest issue of Christian Marketplace via this page. There are many interesting nuggets of information to be found, including some in an interview with Ray George of Nationwide Christian Trust, who have taken on half of the shops in the Wesley Owen chain (for background see Living Oasis Christian bookshops). This is a brief extract, which gives some idea of the direction that is planned for the new ’Living Oasis‘ shops:

We are looking to lead with the coffee shop and not the Christian bookshop and we believe that we will add a further 60% to the turnover; this is the difference between profit and loss.

The bookshops we have acquired are too small, so in most cases we are looking to relocate. We have taken temporary leases on the current bookshop sites for three or six months, but we’re negotiating hard. We’re in a buyer’s market looking to open new shops – and that’s going to happen.

The footprint of our shops will probably be three times the size of the average Wesley Owen shop we have. We want to coffee shop to be prominent, but we don’t want it to seem as if the coffee shop is all we’ve got.

Clem also talks to the Managing Director of Koorong, who have taken over a smaller number of shops, along with the online shop and Authentic publishing. You’ll need to download the magazine to read that.

Available online is a news story, Major casualties revealed in IBS-STL UK collapse, which gives some idea of the size of the losses taken by Christian organisations in the wake of the IBS-STL (UK) collapse:

Two the world’s leading Christian publishers, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, are in line to suffer losses exceeding £280,000 between them as a result of the collapse of IBS-STL UK at the end of 2009, according to information given to Christian Marketplace, by the administrators handling the winding up of the company. However this figure is significantly exceeded by the amount owed to UK publisher Scripture Union, which has submitted a claim for around £360,000 for ‘SU Product’, although this figure has “not yet been agreed by the administrators” according to latest letter to ‘all known creditors’.

Living Oasis: Which Shops?

Clem’s interview with Ray George also brings to light the definitive list of shops that Living Oasis have in their sights:

We now have 20 shops in our portfolio: Aberdeen, Bedford, Belfast, Cheltenham, Chester, Croydon, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Harrow, Inverness, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, South Woodford, Southampton, Sutton, Watford, Weston-Super-Mare and Worthing.

Concluding Reflections

With respect to the debts — also reported by the Bookseller, Trade creditors owed £2.5m after Wesley Owen failure — I find myself wondering how in good conscience Biblica, IBS-STL UK’s parent company, can simply walk away from this and continue their operations in the USA and elsewhere as if nothing untoward has happened? Was it not Biblica’s globalisation strategy that brought IBS-STL UK to its knees? Yet to this day Biblica’s news section has carried not a single report on the UK situation.

No doubt Biblica have acted within the letter of the law — but is this really the way a supposedly Christian organisation should conduct its affairs? Biblica sums up its core values as follows:

We believe that Biblica should be guided by biblical core values that serve as the measuring standard for the work we do, the people we serve and the mission we strive to accomplish. These values also serve as a reflection of the commitment we have to all of the standards set forth in God’s Word.

In Romans 13:8 the Scriptures that Biblica claim to affirm admonish us:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…

Where, O Biblica, is the love in the way we see you conducting your affairs in relation to the UK??

 

February 24, 2010

Living Oasis News Roundup: Nationwide rollout plans gather momentum (updated)

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Bookshops, News, Wesley Owen | Tags: , , , , |
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Update, 26/02/2010: Wesley Owen Sutton facebook page is now Living Oasis Sutton: Good news for Sutton!
Ripon and Leeds Diocesan News: Author cuts the tape as Harrogate's Christian bookshop rescued

Author cuts the tape as Harrogate's Christian bookshop rescued

Following this month’s opening of the first Living Oasis store in Harrogate (reported here on Monday), momentum is gathering around the country as other former branches of Wesley Owen prepare for their prospective new owners, Nationwide Christian Trust, to step in.

Aberdeen
Via twitter, @Robin_du_Bois, 11:46am, Feb 2nd: 

Seems Wesley Owen in Aberdeen has been saved by Living Oasis. Shelves are empty and shop closed, but sign on window says “Reopening soon”.

Bedford
Photo posted on facebook by Ian Holloway, 9:52pm, Feb 12th: 

Former Wesley Owen, Bedford: Shop Saved by Living Oasis

Former Wesley Owen, Bedford - Shop Saved by Living Oasis

Harrow
Plans announced 26/01/2010 to re-open as Living Oasis.
Meeting with local church leaders scheduled for 12.30pm,  Fri 26th Feb at St John’s Church Stanmore | @StJohnsStanmore: all welcome.
Inverness
Facebook page rebranded as Living Oasis: 6.02pm, 19th Feb: 

we are going to be changing names to “Living Oasis” and WILL BE opening again really soon, watch this space for details! :o )

Leeds
Ripon and Leeds Diocesan News, 14th Feb: 

The Nationwide Christian Trust says it also plans to reopen the former Wesley Owen bookshop in Vicar Lane, Leeds in mid-March and will be working in partnership with Leeds churches to develop the shop with new cafe and meeting facilities. A meeting of local church leaders is planned for Thursday March 4th.

Manchester
Shereen Ormshaw on Friends of Wesley Owen Manchester facebook group, 5.02pm, 16th Jan: 

Hi, firstly i’d just like to thankyou all for your support and prayers we really appreciate it, secondly i’m very happy to tell you all that a buyer has been found for wesley owen manchester!
www.nationwidechristiantrust.com
we will still be closing down but we will reopen in the not to distant future!

South Woodford
Ceased trading but expected to re-open as Living Oasis: see reports in the East London and West Essex Guardian Series
Weston-Super-Mare
Facebook group rebranded as Living Oasis: 

Living Oasis in Weston is one of a new chain of Christian retailers in the UK.

Watch this space for the Opening Event details for your new and improved Christian resouce Facility in Weston!

We are within walking distance of the beach, the train station and the main shopping area. We are opposite the town hall just down the road from TJ Hughes.

A full range of Christian product wil be found including, Books, Bibles, CDs, DVDs, Gifts, Cards, and a selection of Church Resources.If it’s not in stock we will most likely be able to order it for you!

 

February 22, 2010

News Roundup: Carlisle, Harrogate and Walsall (Updated)

Posted by Phil Groom under Announcements, Christian Bookshops, Christian Suppliers, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
[2] Comments 

Redundancies at STL Distribution, Carlisle

News emerged over the weekend of fresh redundancies at STL Distribution, Carlisle, with 10 warehouse staff leaving on Friday, Feb 19th. Sources indicate that the total workforce is expected to be cut by 1/3, with the next round of redundancies cutting staff in the Customer Services section due to be announced this week.

The redundancies are voluntary, following a consultation period that ended on February 17th. Those who remain are believed to be safe “if business picks up”.

Update, 11.30pm, Feb 22nd: An official statement from Ken Munro, CEO of STL Distribution, citing numbers and requesting prayer for those affected, was posted on the STL Blog at 8.48pm this evening. Describing the cuts as a “planned re-sizing”, Ken writes:

A fundamental part of this process was the instigation of a consultation period which ended on the 17th February with the outcome being that 45 of the 180 Carlisle based posts would no longer be required. During the consultation 30 members of staff chose to take voluntary redundancy or left having secured alternative employment. We are now moving towards the conclusion of this process and once it is completed, I am confident we will have a strong foundation in terms of skills and experience, on which STL Distribution can develop and face the future with confidence.

Ripon and Leeds Diocesan News: Author cuts the tape as Harrogate's Christian bookshop rescued

Author cuts the tape as Harrogate's Christian bookshop rescued

Living Oasis Now Trading in Harrogate

The first branch of Living Oasis has now opened in Harrogate following the acquisition of the former Wesley Owen premises by Nationwide Christian Trust.

The shop was officially opened at 1pm on Saturday Feb 13th with well-known author Adrian Plass cutting the tape. Former Wesley Owen shop manager Julie Jowett stays on in an extended role as Northern Regional Manager for the Living Oasis chain.

Plans are also underway to reopen the former Wesley Owen in Leeds: a meeting with church leaders in Leeds to discuss possibilities is scheduled for Thursday, March 4th.

Read the full story here: Author cuts tape to reopen rescued Harrogate bookshop

Shop Details
Living Oasis
11 Commercial Street
Harrogate
North Yorkshire HG1 1UB

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The Hub, Walsall

The Hub, Walsall

Official Opening of The Hub, Walsall

This week — 1pm, Thursday Feb 25th — sees the official opening of The Hub, Walsall, another former branch of Wesley Owen, with Christian musicians Phatfish led by Lou Fellingham on hand as special guests to help things along. The group will be appearing live in store during the day and in concert at Walsall Independent Evangelical Church in the evening.

Special opening day offers include a 5% discount on all full priced items (10% when spending more than £25) if you join the shop’s mailing list and mention this site, UKCBD, as where you heard about the opening (offer valid 25th-27th Feb).

Discover more: follow The Hub on twitter.

Shop Details
The Hub
Unit 6
The Crossing at St Paul’s
Darwall Street
Walsall
West Midlands WS1 1DA

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