From Derby Church Network, Mid January 2010

Saved!

Lifeline thrown to Wesley Owen

Last month we reported on the problems being experienced by the parent company of Wesley Owen, which has a branch in Derby.

On 18th December, the news was better, as it was announced that a number of the stores, including the one in Derby, have been bought by Australian based Christian bookshop chain Koorang.

The chain has bought eight of the stores, including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Bromley, Coleraine, Derby, Glasgow and York. They have also bought Authentic Book Publishing and the website wesleyowen.com. All the stores will continue to operate under the Wesley Owen brand.

A further six branches have been bought by CLC International (UK), and will operate under the name CLC Bookshops.

There’s good news for all Christian bookshops as well. STL Distribution (which serves many shops including Food for Thought in Clay Cross, and Books and Bibles in Measham), has been purchased by John Ritchie Ltd, a rapidly expanding book publisher and distributor based in Kilmarnock, Scotland. At a time when everyone is affected by the global financial situation, and trade in the run up to Christmas was described as ‘steady’ rather than ‘busy’, the news brings a welcome relief to all.

Another arm of parent company IBS-STL, Authentic Music, has been bought by Kingsway Communications. The parent company itself has not been bought, and is being put into Administration for an orderly wind down.

Commenting on the sales before Christmas, Keith Danby Chief Executive of IBS-STL said, “I am delighted with the developments. I could not have imagined 5 weeks ago such a positive outcome. All along we have had three goals in mind; the continuity of the distribution of Christian resources, safeguarding as many jobs as possible, and finding purchasers who would invest in the businesses and take them to a new level. We believe all of the purchasers fit these aspirations and we wish them every success going forward.”

However, there are still 26 stores unsold and listed for closure unless local buyers can be found. This includes the relatively new branch in Nottingham. Their manager, Sue Barrett said, “we still hope and pray, even at this late stage, that a buyer will come forward. We walk by faith, and believe that if the Lord wants us here, we will stay.” (Stop press: we have heard that the Nottingham store is now closed.)

Derby’s branch manager, Peter Goddard, said, “The sale and closure of the Wesley Owen chain illustrates just how difficult it is to sustain Christian bookshops at present. In the current economic climate, Christian Bookshops are only viable if fully supported by their local Christian communities.

“Because of the rent and rates they have to pay it is usually impossible for small high street bookshops to match the prices charged by internet giants, but a Christian bookshop is much more than a retail outlet.

“It provides not only books, but also a wide range of other resources needed by the local church all under one roof. It provides goods not only 'for sale', but also 'for inspection' with no commitment to purchase. It provides churches with goods on 'sale or return' for bookstalls and special events. It provides larger quantities of books for local and National Conferences. It provides a meeting place for Christians of many different denominations. It provides encouragement and sometimes counselling for Christians going through difficult times. It provides a 'Christian witness' on the high street and a link between churches and non-Christians.

“But if the local Christian community values and wants to maintain these facilities, it must support its local Christian bookshop. At Wesley Owen in Derby we have established a 'Partnership' arrangement with over 200 local churches and Koorong is keen to develop and expand these arrangements.

“Thus at Wesley Owen in Derby we will continue to do all we can to support local Christians in every way we can, but in the current economic climate it is essential that Churches and individual Christians see their local Christian Bookshop not as a resource to be exploited, but as a 'Ministry' to be supported!”

 
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