Trust Media Distribution - The new name for STL Distribution
IN A TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT issued late yesterday afternoon – just after 5pm – Trust Media Distribution (previously trading as STL Distribution), Carlisle, announced the sale and privatisation of the company to its CEO, Ken Munro.
The change follows an extensive period of restructuring and consolidation within the company as it has sought to realign itself with the changing realities of Christian retailing in the UK, during the course of which it has reduced staffing levels whilst expanding its reach into the secular marketplace with an increased focus on gift product and, most recently, reduced its range of Christian publishers bringing its role as a Christian wholesaler to an end.
Exactly what the change of ownership might imply for Christian retailers remains to be seen, but the evidence of the facebook conversations thus far indicates a distinct sense of uncertainty and disorientation within the trade…
BBC News, Lancashire: Christian bookshop in Preston gets lifeline
Covenant Books, Preston, Reopens
CONGRATULATIONS to all involved in the recent resurrection of Covenant Books, Preston!
The usual story of financial constraints ended with the shop’s closure on Christmas Eve last year, but the shop’s trustees have now agreed that the shop can reopen with volunteer help, subject to review after 6 months.
Describing the shop’s difficulties to BBC Lancashire, Annie Colbert, who founded and still runs the shop, explained the cashflow problems involved in having to stock up for Christmas as early as February but then having to pay for the stock in August, long before eventually selling the stock during the Christmas period. Suppliers, facing their own financial pressures, were largely unwilling or unable to wait until stock had sold through.
CONGRATULATIONS to Jacob’s Well, Beverley, on receiving sponsorship from J Marr Seafoods for their next container’s shipping costs to Ghana:
J. Marr (Seafoods) has strong trading links with Africa and particularly Ghana where the Jacob’s Well Appeal is working with a Ghana-registered NGO called FREED. They have asked for help in sending medicines and equipment to the Upper North West part of the country; it is the poorest part of Ghana and subsequently sterilisers, dental equipment, anaesthetic equipment and many other useful items and medicines were sent. Books and sports equipment were also provided for local schools in the area.
As I prepare this post, both are looking rather lonely with only 15 friends and 8 likes respectively, so head on over there, send your friend request and hit that like button: you know you want to!
Living Oasis prayer line
Neither the profile nor the page give any indication of who in the organisation is behind them or whether these particular facebook presences are intended for mutual support within the organisation, to garner prayer support from outside or to offer prayer support for others. It may well be all three: all are certainly needed and to be warmly welcomed.
Most, possibly all, Living Oasis stores now have their own facebook pages, with Leeds and Liverpool both using the new company logo but still reporting delays to opening as their “Phase Two” development and refurbishment works continue.
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE AN EVANGELICAL SCORCHED, it seems, and John Piper, the USA’s guardian of evangelical orthodoxy, evidently felt the heat rising in his veins as he learnt about a video promoting Rob Bell’s forthcoming book from Zondervan/HarperCollins, Love Wins. Rob’s offence: to dare to suggest that God’s love might actually win out in the end, that God’s grace might reach further than Christian tradition would have us believe. Search Google for John Piper Rob Bell Love Wins and you’ll soon begin to feel the heat yourself as the message that emerges seems to be, “See how these Christians love to hate one another.”
Whether or not you believe Universalism to be a valid evangelical take on truth, the evangelical take on truth is far from universal in the Christian church. Only you, gentle bookseller, can decide whether or not to stock a book that has been so roundly condemned and yet which seems to hold out such an awesome message of hope for humanity. Personally speaking, I’d go for it and welcome the dialogue. To help you decide, however, some wise words from Krish Kandiah, a review by Greg Boyd, a suggestion for further reading, the video itself and, last but not least, full details of the book, due later this month:
AND FINALLY FOR THIS ROUNDUP, congratulations to St Mark’s Press, featured in a new section of STL’s weekly trade email, “Worth a Look!”
The section, which showcases some lesser known publishers, has been added to give retailers more information about the range of publishers STL carries. This time around the feature highlights Today’s Issues and Christian Beliefs by Simon and Christopher Danes: the original edition published by Lion sold over 100,000 copies; this new edition has been completely revised and updated to tie in with GCSE Religious Studies requirements.
Trade Announcement from John Ritchie Ltd 08/03/2011 (pdf, 53kb)
STL DISTRIBUTION, CARLISLE, have entered another consultation period with staff, this time in which up to 30 — just under one quarter — of the 124-strong workforce face redundancy as the company comes to terms with poorer financial results than anticipated over the last year.
All Carlisle based staff have had face to face meetings with senior management and departmental representatives are being appointed for ongoing consultations. It is hoped that a significant proportion of the reductions will be achieved through voluntary redundancy, but approximately 15% of the workforce is likely to face compulsory redundancy once the consultation period ends in April. For all concerned, however, the situation marks yet another traumatic phase in the company’s recent history.
In a trade announcement issued yesterday, CEO Ken Munro reviews some of the challenges faced by the company over the past year, noting that the trade overall is in a period of transition as it struggles with a continuing decline in high street sales combined with increased internet trading and the emergence of new technologies:
… the trade in which we operate is experiencing a period of very significant transition. A combination of a continued decline in overall High street sales, the proliferation of internet traders and the rapid evolution and implementation of new technologies have driven unprecedented change, challenges and opportunities within our sector.
In addition to the factors noted above the prevailing general economic climate combined with unusually harsh winter weather in December has exacerbated the many difficulties that the Trade was facing. STL distribution was not immune from these difficulties and as a result revenues for 2010 were less than planned. As a consequence we face important challenges as we enter the second fiscal year of ownership, challenges which will be addressed in order to secure the future success of the business.
In light of the issues outlined above we are throughout the month of March conducting a consultation with our staff to ensure that we effectively manage costs and importantly, align our business and competencies to a rapidly re-shaping industry landscape.
The company expects to emerge from the consultation in a strong enough position to rise to future opportunities with a clear focus on delivering the best possible customer service and supplier partnership.
The announcement closes with a call to prayer:
Please remember all staff within the group in your prayers as we move through this process.
My thanks to Pete Barnsley at STL for providing this information.
STL UK HAVE ANNOUNCED that following consultations with their suppliers, “in the main” they will be absorbing January’s VAT increase by adjusting ex-VAT prices to keep VAT-inclusive prices for end consumers the same. Vatable items such as CDs, for instance, currently retailing at £14.99 will continue to retail at £14.99 by means of a behind-the-scenes adjustment resetting the ex-VAT price to £12.49:
Current: ex-VAT price £12.76 + 17.5% VAT = £14.99
After 4th Jan 2011: ex-VAT price £12.49 + 20% VAT = £14.99
To make the adjustment on their own systems, STL’s computers will be temporarily taken down on New Year’s Day and customers are advised against placing online orders “from 4pm on 31st December until 9am on 3rd of January.” Any queries should be addressed to STL’s Customer Services department.
Printed books, of course, remain zero-rated for VAT. Retailers will still need to make the appropriate adjustments in their own accounting and VAT returns to HM Revenues & Customs.
We were just so surprised and blessed to find the golden ticket! We have so few orders over the qualifying limit that we had not expected to be in the running. Thank you STL for this encouragement at a time when we really needed it. Everyone is eager to see how we will use this grace gift to the shop.
Mike Foster, Acting Manager at Letchworth Christian Bookshop, with the Golden Ticket
Press Release from John Ritchie Ltd, 14/10/10: Carlisle Consolidation (pdf, 1.7mb)
IN A PRESS RELEASE issued this afternoon, John Ritchie Ltd have announced the consolidation of their UK trade operations under one roof at STL Carlisle.
It’s a decision that undoubtedly demonstrates a renewed trade confidence in the company as they have fought to recover from last year’s turmoil under their former owners, Biblica, and reflects well upon all involved in running STL’s distribution and wholesale services this year: congratulations to everyone concerned.
Consolidation of most stock at STL is expected to be completed by mid-October, leaving the Kilmarnock site dedicated to developing the company’s publishing and retail services. Ritchie trade partners who do not have STL accounts will be contacted separately with further information.
Full Press Release:
JOHN RITCHIE LTD – TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT
The past 12 months have been a period of significant growth for the Kilmarnock based company, John Ritchie Limited. As part of its ongoing business development, it acquired Penfold Card & Gift in Bicester, Eikon Bible Art and most recently the STL Distribution business in Carlisle at the start of 2010.
The priority over the first 6 months of this year was to stabilise the distribution business and carry out a strategic review of the new expanded organisation to determine its future direction.
After consultation with a small number of staff in Kilmarnock, John Ritchie Ltd is now proposing to further enhance its service to the UK Christian retail trade by integrating all Ritchie trade distribution operations into the Carlisle warehouse. This re-organisation will enable Ritchie to provide a consolidated ordering facility and more efficient supply of products to its trade customers. The existing Kilmarnock site will focus on developing its Publishing and Retailing functions.
Ken Munro, CEO of John Ritchie Ltd said: “I believe this re-organisation of activities is essential in order to improve efficiency and further enhance the excellent support for all our customers. John Ritchie Publishing enjoys an important heritage within Scotland and Northern Ireland and it is our intention to further support this core market through our retailing and publishing activities. STL Distribution offers unparalleled service levels to the UK Christian book trade. By bringing Ritchie’s stock range into Carlisle we will continue to strengthen and broaden the product range we bring to market.”
The majority of stock will be transferred to Carlisle by mid-October, at which point all order enquiries should be directed to STL Distribution. Further details will follow shortly for Ritchie trade accounts that do not have accounts with STL Distribution.
We were overwhelmed with the generous gift that the Gold Envelope represented for us as a business, we offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to STL for this gift.
It is great that we still sell many Bibles from both our shops, so we decided to use the gift to buy in Bibles. The gift of the Gold Award has allowed us to stock up with a broader range of Bibles that can be offered to our customers.
If you’d like your store to be in with a winning chance, simply keep those orders rolling in to STL. The rules are simple: to be in with a chance for the Golden Ticket, worth £500, place an order for £250 or more; for the Silver Ticket, worth £300, place an order for £150 or more; and for the Bronze, worth £150, place an order for at least £75, the old carriage-free minimum.
Remember, all orders remain carriage-free until further notice from STL.
LESS THAN A YEAR after the UK Christian book trade was plunged into turmoil by Biblica’s decision to pull the plug on its UK operations, STL UK’s new owners, who picked up the pieces in Carlisle in the wake of Biblica’s pull out, have announced an exclusive UK trade representation and distribution deal with Biblica Europe for the forthcoming 7th edition of Operation World alongside an exclusive UK distribution agreement for Biblica US titles.
Although Biblica’s international leaders have yet to publicly acknowledge or show any signs of repentance for the damage they caused not only to the UK trade but, more importantly, to individual lives and livelihoods, this new trading relationship must surely be good news and a sign of hope as trust is slowly rebuilt in the trade: congratulations to all involved at STL UK on showing sufficient grace to broker this deal. May it open the door to a new era for the entire trade.
STL Distribution to Distribute New Edition of Operation world to UK Trade (pdf, 635kb)
STL Distribution to Distribute New Edition of Operation world to UK Trade
STL Distribution and Biblica Europe have signed a new agreement which will see STL Distribution acting as the exclusive sales representative and distributor to the UK trade for the new edition of Operation World.
With over 1 million copies of past versions sold, this fully updated and revised 7th edition is the must-have definite [sic] guide to praying for the people and nations of the world. Featuring a daily prayer calendar, maps, political, economic and religious information on each county, along with answers to prayer, this eagerly anticipated resource will be published 15th October 2010.
Graham Sopp, Executive Director of Biblica Europe, said “Operation World is widely regarded as the definitive source of prayer information about every country in the world. Our hope is that Operation World will encourage many more Christians to pray for the nations of the world. We are very pleased to be working with STL Distribution on this project.”
Operation World
The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation
STL UK’S DECISION earlier this year to offer carriage-free delivery on all UK orders was a lifeline thrown at just the right time for us at the LST Bookshop: no more having to hold back until we reached that ever-elusive carriage-free minimum order value, we could simply process orders of any size at any time — and that’s precisely what we have been doing, much to the delight of our customers.
For STL themselves, of course, that decision has come at a price: smaller orders to process and shipping costs to absorb — yet rather than tighten things up, they’ve gone on to offer us better terms and better discounts, albeit on what seems to be an increasingly narrow range if the September/October bulletin is anything to go by.
And now, rather than revert to a carriage-free minimum, they’ve gone the extra mile with this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired initiative of a Golden Ticket — two steps further, in fact, with Silver and Bronze tickets on offer as well. All we need do to qualify for entry is place bigger orders: to be in with a chance for the Golden Ticket, worth £500, place an order for £250 or more; for the Silver Ticket, worth £300, place an order for £150 or more; and for the Bronze, worth £150, place an order for at least £75, the old carriage-free minimum.
So before you press send on that small order, pause for a moment and think: what would you do with a bonus order worth up to £500? Would another couple of items take your order up to the next level? Might it be worth waiting until a little closer to the deadline in case there’s something else to add?
I presume that Woking as a franchise will be able to go back to being an Indie. But what is happening to the Crown Retailers? Does anyone know if that scheme will continue?
The good news is that Woking’s former Wesley Owen franchise has indeed rebranded as an indie— Origin Christian Books & Media — and if their facebook and twitter presence are anything to go by, they seem to be doing well (although a few more twitter followers might encourage them).
Crown Books Now Closed
As far as I’m aware, however, nothing more has been stated publicly about the Crown Books partnership: it seems to have been allowed to quietly fade away. If you go there today all you’ll find is a simple holding page with a message to say that orders placed before the end of May will be fulfilled subject to stock availability: otherwise it’s a case of watch this space and — commendably — a note saying “To purchase Christian products, please visit your local Christian retailer.”
Update, Aug 11, 2010: My thanks to STL for following up on my suggestion for a pointer to UKCBD: much appreciated.
Even better, if I may offer a suggestion, a link to the UK Christian Bookshops Directory might help those who don’t know where to find their local Christian retailer. Anyone wishing to link is very welcome to lift code for text links, buttons or banners from the UKCBD Link to Us page: please let me know if you do this — I’ll gladly reciprocate where appropriate.
So what happened the Crown Books scheme? After consultations with the scheme’s members, the new STL realised that it simply wasn’t working to the benefit of both parties: a new scheme was needed that all retailers could be a part of; and that scheme is the recently launched STL Distribution Retail Partner programme.
STL Retail Partnership Programme (pdf, 766kb)
Most Christian retailers should have received full details of the new programme: if not, you can download the brochure here (pdf, 766kb). STL describe the programme as offering:
Consolidated ordering, supply (one order, one delivery, one invoice)
Broad Promotional Programme
Regular Stock Re-fresh
Preferential trading terms
Stock Management (Synergi)
Personnel support (From the STL Distribution team)
Personally I remain unconvinced by the “one order, one delivery, one invoice” mantra: desirable as that may be, given (for example) IVP’s reluctance to sign up to a wholesale agreement with STL and the ongoing limited availability of much product beyond the more pop-level evangelical range, it still feels a long way off for me at LST.
STL tell me they’ve had an encouraging response so far. How has it been for you? Have you joined? If not, why not? Whether you wish to comment here or offer feedback to STL privately, the more feedback we can give them, the better they can fine-tune the programme to ensure that it does meet our needs. The old has gone, the new has come and we are indeed Stronger Together, Weaker Apart. My personal thanks to the team at STL for all their efforts to work with us in our ministry.
RT @notbovvered: A strange and sad photo: Bijou hair salon puts up its sign over the old Living Oasis signage in South Woodford,... http ... 3 hours ago
RT @notbovvered: Storehouse, Watford's Christian Bookshop, is looking for a new manager: details on the Christian Gateway Watford... htt ... 2 days ago
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