By Heather Hahn*
The United Methodist Publishing House board’s decision to close its 57 Cokesbury brick-and-mortar stores — including 19 seminary stores — will affect about 285 full-time and part-time employees. The news already has dismayed a number of United Methodist customers.
A customer shops at the Cokesbury store in Nashville, Tenn. The board of directors of the United Methodist Publishing House has announced the closing of Cokesbury’s retail stores and the launch of a transition initiative called CokesburyNext. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.
“There is a sense of loss,” said the Rev. Donna Hankins-Hull, associate pastor of children and family at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. She said she would miss her visits to the Cokesbury store that shares a building with her church.
Neil Alexander, United Methodist Publishing House president and publisher, described the redirecting of resources as a needed change in an increasingly digital landscape.
“I have the highest admiration for the staff teams at the stores whose dedication and skills amaze and delight so many customers,” he said. ”Having the stores close and the staff leave is wrenching and deeply disappointing. But as painful as it is, it is also financially and practically necessary.”
The Publishing House has launched the initiative CokesburyNext to redirect resources to Cokesbury.com and extend the hours of the Cokesbury Call Center (1-800-672-1789) to 24 hours a day six days a week by early 2013. Until the end of the year, the call center’s hours extend to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
Cokesbury also plans to expand its presence at special church events such as annual conference sessions and vacation Bible school showcases. The retailer expects to deploy more than 40 sales representatives to work directly with customers at their churches and other ministry settings.
“What’s most important about the (Nov. 5) announcement are the ways through CokesburyNext that we are dedicating resources to continuously improve Cokesbury.com, expand the hours and services at the toll-free Cokesbury Call Center, enlarge our team of local Cokesbury sales representatives and plan for more special events that provide for hands-on product review in partnership with annual conferences, districts and local churches across the connection,” Alexander said.
Increasing pressure from online retailers
But he also acknowledges economic realities make operating the Cokesbury stores no longer financially viable. He said the stores had fixed operating costs in the 2012 fiscal year that were about $2 million greater than their combined sales.
Online retailers and ebook sales have put increasing pressure on both chain and independent bookstores in recent years — with last year’s shuttering of Borders as the most prominent example.
Alexander noted that Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, recently announced the year-end closing of its last U.S. retail store at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. In the last decade, thousands of Christian bookstores have shut.
Cokesbury customers also are increasingly turning online. A recent customer survey found that only 15 percent of Cokesbury’s customers shop exclusively at its stores, according to a Publishing House statement. In 2009 research, and again in 2012, more than 70 percent of customers surveyed indicated that they did not have a Cokesbury store “within driving distance” and that Cokesbury.com was their shopping preference, Alexander said.
According a frequently asked question form, Cokesbury stores will close based on local circumstances such as lease expirations. All locations will end business no later than April 30, 2013. Plans for each store are at CokesburyNext.com.
The Publishing House plans to make a concerted effort to help the 185 full-time and more than 100 part-time staff at its Cokesbury stores to find new work, providing outplacement services and severance packages.
Tight finances
The United Methodist Publishing House, founded in 1789, is the denomination’s oldest and largest agency. It receives no general church funds and operates as a self-supporting nonprofit.
Its Cokesbury retail division takes its name from Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, the first two Methodist bishops to the United States.
The Publishing House traditionally has devoted any net income from Cokesbury back to the church. Cokesbury profits have helped finance clergy pensions, particularly in the central conferences — the denomination’s regions in Africa, Asia and Eurasia. Its revenue also have helped support churchwide initiatives such as Change the World and Imagine No Malaria.
The Publishing House released $5 million to support the Central Conference Pension Initiative between 2004 and 2008, reports the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Of those funds, $3.3 million went to U.S. annual conferences, which often chose to pass the funds to the Central Conference Pension Initiative. The Publishing House also supplied $100,000 of the pension initiative’s start-up costs.
But the pension board has not received any pension initiative funds from the Publishing House since 2008. Since the financial markets decline in 2008-2009, Alexander said, the Publishing House has not had sufficient net revenue to pay contributions to annual conference claimants. Since the market downturn, Publishing House’s staff pension fund is currently underfunded and its board has adopted a seven-year plan to restore the fund’s assets.
Two years ago, Alexander said, the Publishing House “made a significant investment in a new merchandising approach for the stores, employing an industry veteran in Christian retailing and adding staff to our buying and merchandising department.”
It was one of many efforts to increase sales in the stores, particularly in those categories that support impulse purchases and that typically require a “see and feel” buying experience, he said. Cokesbury retailers made changes in product selection, store layout and merchandise display.
But the sales volume was insufficient to support additional costs, and store traffic did not increase, he said.
“(The Publishing House) has operated in the black for years by balancing costs and revenues across all channels,” Alexander said. “Our expectation is to continue to operate in this manner and to generate the required funds for capital investments in new technology, start-up costs for innovative publishing and sales programs, funding for our staff pension and health benefit obligations, etc. CokesburyNext is designed to assure a vibrant and financially viable Cokesbury future.”
A sense of loss
Map shows the location of Cokesbury stores. A web-only map courtesy of the Cokesbury website.
Still, many United Methodists like Hankins-Hull have expressed disappointment at the news.
The store’s staff “are able to direct you to resources,” Hankins-Hull said. “I’m going to have to set aside a lot more time for planning because I’m not always going to get it right.”
However, she also observed that the Arkansas store’s downtown location, distant from any shopping center, and its limited weekday hours made it difficult to reach for many potential customers.
On the United Methodist News Service Facebook page, more than 60 people have commented on the news of the store closures. Eighteen did so within the first 16 minutes of posting.
“How will we order custom robes and browse through curriculum and impulse buy books?” wrote the Rev. Sharon McCart, facilitator of DisAbility Ministries in the California-Pacific Conference. “I really don’t like this idea.”
Wendy Lynn Efird, a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, echoed that sentiment.
“This makes me very sad! there is no substitute for the hands on shopping experience in a Cokesbury bookstore,” she wrote. “I regret their decision. So will many pastors and other Cokesbury fans!”
Beefing up online
Many of the UMNS Facebook commenters also complained that Cokesbury’s website is difficult to use.
Alexander said he is aware of the complaints.
“We want to encourage people who may not have shopped with Cokesbury.com in the past year to take another look,” he said. “There have been many changes and improvements. We are also eager to hear any and all specific concerns and questions because we are committed to make every possible effort to address them quickly to meet ever-changing customer demands.”
Cokesbury.com is powered by Google search systems, he said. The Google support driving the site’s search engine has been upgraded again to stay current with industry standards, he added.
Cokesbury.com also soon will add a “Live Chat” feature and expand the teams of specialists who will provide information and counsel about various products for Sunday school, Bible study, leadership development, worship planning and other church-related topics.
Alexander said Cokesbury can be positioned to compete with such online behemoths as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
“Cokesbury offers a unique and specialized set of services and product arrays tailored to the specific needs of churches, their pastors, staff and volunteer leaders,” Alexander said. “And by shifting the economic framework for its retail operations, Cokesbury will continue to be very price competitive.”
*Hahn is a multimedia reporter for United Methodist News Service. Emily Snell, a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.
58 comments
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David Field
November 6, 2012 at 3:10 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
As a member of the UMC in Europe I have in the past bought books online from Cokesbury but have not done recently because they ship all international orders by FedEx thus radically increasing the price of the books, I do not mind waiting a few weeks for books to arrive by normal mail and would like to support the work of Cokesbury. If they are to compete with Amazon they need to reexamine their policy on international shipping.
Stan Scoville
November 29, 2012 at 12:04 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
CokesburyNext must offer free shipping and competitive pricing all the time, in order to compete with Barnes and Noble and Amazon. And, I agree with other comments, that the website needs a lot of work. For example, it is very difficult to find the FREE UMCOR offering envelopes online to order! I have emailed this concern in the past, and saw no changes, and employees on the telephone were not that helpful either! We as purchasers have to have the balance: we want to support our denominational bookstore, but God also calls us to be good stewards! I hope that cokesbury.com will be a great place to browse and shop!
David Mahoney
November 6, 2012 at 3:12 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Another sign that United Methodism doesn’t care for its employees or their families… also a good indication that United Methodism is on the decline and failing!
Naomi Mitchum
November 21, 2012 at 9:48 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Some of the circuit riders may have felt this way when storms delayed their trips and things went awry. They persevered. Although I will miss Cokesbury, I also feel for Neil Alexander who was faced with cold reality that financial storms were dragging Cokesbury into the basement. The man who has been shepherding all this must feel awful about it on the one hand and confident about doing what had to be done to save the publishing life.
AG Kinkead
November 6, 2012 at 3:21 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
The Publishing House was founded in 1789, not 1989. Oops.
Heather Hahn
November 6, 2012 at 3:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Fixed. Thanks
Michael
November 6, 2012 at 3:58 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am very upset. I sort of understand why, but I am not sure that enough research was done. I read in the press release that only 15% of folks actually go to the stores. It would be interesting where these folks were that wer asked. I wonder if you only did online/e-mail survey did you truly get a good sampling of the folks that use the stores. What about those events that Cokesbury does. I like having them there being able to go and look at materials in a way that is not possible online, in a catalog, etc. I knoe that when I have needed things in more of an urgent natur I have gotten better response from my store rather than Nashville. I just feel that you was more worried about how you look to others by still having stores than truly knowing what some of your clients may want. I really feel that you will lose some of your business. I have worked for Cokesbury in one of your stores I know what the people enjoyed when coming in. i worry about what this says about who we are as United Methodist.
Roxanne Terry
November 6, 2012 at 4:39 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
What is the matter with our church? We have shed our hospitals, colleges, nursing homes, and now our Bookstores. No wonder most people have no idea what The United Methodist Church is anymore. We seem to be losing our identity and what once our great strength our humanity.
Jessie Gray
November 6, 2012 at 5:59 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I loved going to the Cokesbury store in Kirkland, WA with my pastor to pick out new Sunday School cirriculum. Its going to be hard to just rely on a website instead of an actual person helping you find stuff for different classes in Sunday School. Will they still have the print catalog available?
Myra Wagner
November 6, 2012 at 7:16 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am at a loss for words. Cokesbury was very much a part of my growing up. My dad started in the mailroom and was promoted up the ladder to manager. My grandparents and several great aunts and uncles worked there also. I remember my dad saying how they made a mistake as they moved from their urban locations to the suburbs. Many inner-city churches and downtown workers visited his store often. He saw sales decline when they moved to the county. This was true of his store in Baltimore and the store in Richmond. Hate to see it go, but must admit I rarely visited the store after Dad retired — too far away.
Bruce Davis
November 6, 2012 at 11:19 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I will be very surprised if they will be able to successfully compete in the online world. The website and service have a long way to go to keep us with other vendors. I wish them luck, I want to see them succeed, but am concerned
Wanda Spraggins
November 7, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I shop at Cokesbury because I can walk into the store. I don’t mind paying a little more for books when I have personal interaction with store staff and I can touch and browse through literature before I purchase. I prefer the personal touch. That is the core of Christianity. Online shopping doesn’t provide that. If the stores close, I will shop at Amazon and other merchants that offer free shipping and lower prices.
Donna Taylor
November 7, 2012 at 6:28 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Too bad they are closing the only reliable way to get anything from Cokesbury. I suspect that in 10 years with the current level of incompetences in the online store, they too will be closed.
John Feagins
November 7, 2012 at 6:44 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Blog commentary on closure of Cokesbury Storefronts: Closure represents one more withdrawal from the culture at large.
http://john-feagins.blogspot.com/2012/11/on-fate-of-cokesbury-retail.html
Bill Yeager
November 7, 2012 at 7:03 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I have been “friends” with the local Cokesbury Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA. for at least 4 decades. The store has become my source to see, to touch, to review books and products for mission and ministry. All the staff have been very interested in the needs of the customer.
I have requested items that were difficult to obtain and they found a way to accomodate the need.
I’ll definitely miss the store, but the “friends” will be missed more.
Thank you Frank, Joyce, Brenda & Barb for all the service you’ve provided to Central PA.
(Hope I didn’t miss anyone.)
Pierce J. Edwards
November 7, 2012 at 7:52 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
It is very sad to see the Cokesbury stores close. I am glad I live in an area where another Christian book store can serve my needs and will welcome my business.
Terry
November 7, 2012 at 7:56 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
They are giving up the ONLY advantage they had in my mind. Now they really do compete with amazon and cbd strictly by advertised price. Something they have been consistently unable to do so far. I am afraid this is the beginning of the end for cokesbury.
Ken Bossart
November 7, 2012 at 8:23 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
This is a huge mistake. There are times when it is necessary to visit a “real” store as opposed to a “virtual” store. It is very sad to see this happen to such an important part of the church’s ministry. Our stores have been a resource to the entire Christian community, not just for United Methodists. This will be a great loss.
Rev. V. A. Barnes
November 7, 2012 at 8:38 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
In this age of increasing digital communication, how can we “make disciples for the transformation of the world” when we continue to detach ourselves from opportunities to engage the world face-to-face? Brother Alexander says these closings are “financially and practically necessary”. If revenue is the issue, what is being done to make Cokesbury more appealing and inviting to the church (not just the UMC) and the public. Instead of sacrificing 285 people to potential dependence on food stamps and Medicaid, why not extend the reach and bring on-line services in addition to in-store services; It seems that Cokesbury has lost sight of its original mission to supply the local church with bibles, books and church resources. Cokesbury has always been the place where anyone could go to get church supplies immediately. Rather than going backward, we need to go “FORWARD” to restore the integrity and purpose of this great ministry of the United Methodist Church. And, if there is anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to contact me!
Danny Davis
November 7, 2012 at 9:08 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I do all of my ordering from Cokesbury online, except for an occasional visit to the small store at the Life Enrichment Center at Leesburg, FL. For me this does not affect my relationship with this valuable denominational resource. I do grieve for the loss of the bookstores at the seminaries. I used to find it valuable just to roam around the store at Candler and sample the vast array of resources available. I would urge some presence in our centers of learning, maybe a relationship with he existing college bookstores.
Jim Harnish
November 7, 2012 at 9:12 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I have a warm, nostalgic place in my heart for the bookstores but facts are facts. Nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills. Nor will it connect with a technologically-conditioned culture. This is a courageous and forward-thinking decision which honor’s Charles Wesley’s words: “To serve the PRESENT age…” One of the early ordination questions for Methodist preachers was, “Does he own a horse.” Trying to protect the stand-alone bookstores would be like insuring that we had horse stalls behind every church building.
Rev. Michael L. Kundrat
November 7, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
well….I won’t have the $3500 that will now go to taxes, when the tax incentives cease as of January 1st anyways. Does anyone have an extra “The End is Near” sign I can borrow??
Jef Paulson
November 7, 2012 at 9:53 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
My prayers are with the employees of Cokesbury. Many of them have dedicated themselves for many years to their doing of God’s work. Maybe the lack of efficiency on the part of the billing dept. should be taken into consideration as well…have you ever tried to figure out the billing process over the years?
However, in the reality of the real world and the digital age, I can understand what is happening. BUT..shouldn’t our seminary stores remain open for the students? The closing of these few stores does not make sense.
Praying for the church in the times of change.
Nancy Flader
November 7, 2012 at 10:29 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
As an older Baby Boomer, I love the hands on feel of books and stuff that is sold at book stores. However, I know that the times, they are achangin’! I hope that the displays at Annual Conferences greatly improve from what we’ve had in Nebraska recently. I thought they were poorly done.
James Morgan
November 7, 2012 at 10:45 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
There is an old saying that goes: “Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.” Everyone writing in wants the Cokesbury Stores to stay open but they seldom if ever shop there. If so many people want the stores to stay open (for nostalgia or emotional reasons mostly) why do the stores have so few walk-in customers?
Hypocrites come in all shapes and sizes now don’t they?
Michael
November 7, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I think that an earlier remark about hypocrits was unnecessary. I wonder was there research done in places where it is less likely for some folks to have access. I kow that here in West Virginia our store gets used quites regularly. I don’t think there has been a time that I have not been there and there have been foks just come in. Plus it has been an asset not only to the UMC but also the Presbyterian, and Episcopals as well as many other churches in our area. The wealth of knowledge that our staff has in finding things will be a great loss. I truly think that rather than closing them all that there should have been some thoughts especially in areas that have multiple stores in them. We have the one stroe in West Virginia that not only has been a great asset to us as far as being at events but also helping and serving over 1100 churches in our conference.
I do agree that the seminary stores are a must in my opinion. to be able to go and browse was a benefit to me as a seminarian. Again a sad state of affairs and I feel not truly thought through. Blessings to all those workers that have gave their all for so many years.
Theo
November 10, 2012 at 7:47 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
James,, it’s not hypocritical but impractical, Not everyone has a walk in store within easy reach. The closest store to me is 1 1/2 hour away. I would go much more often if there were a convenient store nearby. There are literally hundreds of people in the same situation because of the scarcity of stores.
Gail Keefe
November 14, 2012 at 9:23 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I have driven 40 minutes many times to purchase items in person at my closest Cokesbury store. In fact, I’m heading over there again Friday.
Rev. Charlie Cole
November 7, 2012 at 10:51 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
It’s sad that a United Methodist icon is “going the way of all flesh.” I miss the ability to go to a store and look at a book, instead of having to guess looking at it on line.
Bev
November 7, 2012 at 11:32 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
There has to be another way. These closings are cutting off those who do not have computers as well as churches trying to cut costs of postage. I know times are hardbut….
Fred Royer
November 7, 2012 at 12:14 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
This is a sad day for United Methodism. Now we will see more Baptist material being sold to our churches. Is this the future of our great church? First the publishing house and now the stores. Very sad indeed!
David
November 7, 2012 at 12:27 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
The United Methodist Church stopped being “great” years ago! It’s now nothing but a dying liberal organization.
Mike Dawson
November 7, 2012 at 1:11 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Sign of the times … I’m deeply saddened by this announcement. How can a decision of this magnitude be made without at least a General Conference vote?
My heart goes out to the wonderful employees of my local store. They are a great bunch of people and I consider them part of my extended family. I hope their severance is generous. One hopes we will apply our social principles to our dealings with the people who have worked so hard and faithfully alongside us in ministry.
Gayle
November 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
A petition was started at this Change.org link http://chn.ge/YOrC9L, It may not change the closings but it will let the UMPH know where customers stand. (Ironically enough, the form on the Cokesbury Next website did not work when I tried to use it.)
To me, the closing of Cokesbury bookstores ensures that congregations without access are unable to purchase United Methodist materials. Even if able to purchase online, the clunky website and complete lack of social media presence makes Cokesbury a non-competitor when compared to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Half.com.
Martha Spivey
November 7, 2012 at 2:12 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am sure that you have done the market research to see if this is a good business move, but the record of Cokesbury making wise business moves that service the people of the UM community does not give me confidence. The Baptist Book Stores or as they call them now Lifeway Stores seem to keep doing well. I’d much rather go to a store in town and purchase books for church supplies than to call or go online and have to pay postage and handling, making it cost more. My other concern is for the people who will be losing their jobs. Here we are trying to create jobs and help grow the economy in the US, not destroy them.
Martha – Orlando, FL
Cynthai Thompson
November 7, 2012 at 6:26 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Perhaps another possibility for change would/should/could be Neil Alexander. it seems that he is very busy doing recommending that we do away with things these days much to the dismay of so many folks. Just a thought…
Jim Davis
November 7, 2012 at 6:40 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
How about encouraging every local church to be a Cokesbury store. We would order (say) $300 worth of books on consignment, (we pick titles), we pay up front, we sell the books to our members, and then, after 4 months, return the books that didn’t sell for credit, and use our book receipts money to pay for another $300 worth of books. I’m not sure who should pay for postage. Maybe you pay to ship TO us and we pay shipping for returning books.
Jim Davis, Cedar Falls, IA
Gayle
November 10, 2012 at 9:48 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
We did that for a church event. The pastor and I picked around $400 of merchandise and received roughly a 10% commission. Everything was charged to the church account. We took the remaining books back immediately after the revival. The volunteers got twitchy about handling credit cards but we worked it out. If 2 staff members had to be hired for the 2.5 hours each night, the breakeven point would have been to sell a minimum of $2,500 in merchandise. It was a service to the congregation but not a moneymaker.
Mary Love
November 7, 2012 at 7:13 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
News of the closing of Cokesbury stores break my heart. Seminary communities depend on the stores for many things which the online process can’t fulfill.
Rev. Katherine Riley
November 7, 2012 at 7:44 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
How sad, it is so much easier to think through program ideas and make plans when you can look at a verity of resorces. Then there is always something special about seeing a new book or product and choice to buy it that day. Yes I can read a catalog or look up items on line but I have tried calling Cokesbury to know more about a product and given very little information. Why does items ordered on line have to be sent by Fedx. and left on the porch until I get home when it could be safe ate the local Post office at a lower cost and safer. Most of the time I do not plan at the last minute and need the item extra fast. For example a standing order on bulletins and SS material comes over a month ahead why does it need to come by Fedx?
Well life is changing but with out personal contacts we will find ourselves and churches relying less on Cokesbury. I live about 2 1/2 hours away from Cokesbury but I get there about 4 times a year to buy supplies. Other stores are closer but I have choosen to go to Cokesbury. Next year we will see.
Theodore Runyon
November 8, 2012 at 11:36 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Thank you for your service in the past, but I regret your closing your stores, especially the seminary stores. They are a vital part of the teaching enterprise. Our manager orders recommended as well as required texts. This aquaints students with the various possibilities in the field. You are partners in the teaching process.
Mart
November 8, 2012 at 4:13 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Again the little people are getting left out. How many of you do not have easy access to a computer? Many of the rural Pastors in my area have to leave their homes and/or studies to go to the local library to do research. As for ordering online– the last thing I ordered from Cokesbury was a Bible which I could not inspect. When it arrived it was not at all what I wanted. It will go Mountain Missions in their next collection pickup.
My District is an hour and a half from the nearest Cokesbury and the rest of the District is even farther.
As I see it, the biggest problem is the scarcity of stores. I am in the Kentucky Conference and the ONLY Cokebury stores are at Asbury Seminary and in Lexington, both in the far Eastern part of a long State. Neither are within easy driving distance of most of the Conference.
We would be better served by opening more stores in more accessible places thus building a greater customer base. There is not one in Louisville, Ky’s largest city an area which serves, not only the metropolitan area but most of southern and. central Indiana as well as large parts of central and Western Ky.
FYI I have some knowledge of which I speak as I have been in retailing all of my adult life.
Rev. Randy Perdue
November 8, 2012 at 8:37 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Obviously we do not have the balance sheet to see the bottom line, but I feel this is a bad decision, not only for the employees, but for those of us that are proud to be called Methodist. I am confident the business model could have been updated/refreshed for a positive solution. There is power in volume buying…that is a given. There are ways to use our purchasing power to save money and continue to show a profit. If we could not leverage our #’s with the publishing houses, then we should have looked for alternatives much sooner and combined our resources elsewhere or with other denominations. From a user of the stores, there are far too many times that I have gone in to purchase something and it would be out of stock and was told it was unsure when it would be available. I do feel this was a back room issue and not created by the store. The online site and search engine is in great need of improvement and/or redesign and this needs to be addressed as-soon-as possible. My experience with the
store at Emory has been very positive and orders have always been handled in timely basis. I will pray for these employees. Any business closure that effects families is not a good day for America or our denomination.
Naomi Mitchum
November 9, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
In the business world, it would be unthinkable for a company to send all its profits to another company. Our book business has done just that, and now it has no resources to promote, provide, advertise and enhance the business. Over the years, Cokesbury has sold books I wrote. I have also published on line. For me, a live store far outsells online. Cokesbury also sold curriculum material I wrote, and across the nation persons could go into the store and inspect and evaluate how appropriate it would be for their needs. Let’s hope that a provision has been made for the page by page inspection of what customers need and that from the get-go the online site has fantastic search engines that work.
Kim James
November 10, 2012 at 10:23 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I will miss the store in Denver, CO, and its wonderful manager Su Friedman. I understand the financial pressures and respect the need for this decision. However, I am worried about Cokesbury.com . When I have tried to use it in the past, it was nowhere near as effective as Amazon.com , where I would more often end up buying books for adult studies. Cokesbury.com needs to get larger pictures of its products and we need to be able to look inside the books, etc. If you can afford to make those changes, Cokesbury online might have a future.
Rev Bill Berry
November 10, 2012 at 9:11 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I have used Cokesbury Stores for everything from books to music to gifts for congregants. In fact, I am probably a United Methodist Pastor today because of the Cokesbury Store in Charlotte, NC, where I picked up a copy of Albert Outler’s “John Wesley” (Oxford, 1964), and reconnected with the true nature of the Father of Methodism. That was back in 1986, and since then Cokesbury has literally received tens of thousands of dollars from me for my seminary texts (Duke Divinity School), hymnals, bible studies, bible dictionaries, and even presentation bibles for my churches. Even for the seminary texts used by my son, now also a UM Elder, doing his M.Div at Austin Presbyterian Seminary. Yes, even the Presbyterian Seminary HAD a Cokesbury store. But no more . . . Alas!!! And what a loss for the future of Methodism.
Kristen Patt
November 11, 2012 at 10:31 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I think that we are making a big mistake closing our bricks and mortar stores. I do all my odering through the store.The staff is helpful and give other ideas for what I might be looking at.I know that times are tough all over. But it is great to go to mainline Christian book store. Once again the mainliners give up and just throw their hands in the air. I dont want to read or hear that we might have made a mistake that we can’t take back when the onthe line sales do not pan out or (go to cyber space). What will we do then??Thanks to the worker in the Canton store.
Rev. Kris Patt
Rich Thompson
November 12, 2012 at 12:24 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
“Cokesbury can be positioned to compete with such online behemoths as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.” FAIL
We have to be compelling, in what we are. Trying to be Barnes and Noble is the path to fail. We have exceedingly brilliant professors at our seminaries and they are required to write. Sell these and other compelling materials on the website. Setting up sales at events may be part of what Cokesbury does, but the secular entrapment of triggering impulse buying will never replace the hunger and thirst the engaged Spirit brings. Pushing copies of the Discipline is a sure way to make people not want more.
Developing the Cokesbury online marketplace can be the best thing that has ever happened for the store. An interactive and exceptionally informative interface that provides the ability to read reviews, sample print, music and video, blog with sales personnel, authors, and each other combined with the ability to bookmark and send links to committee members and such at the local church can make online a richer and much more productive way of purchasing educational materials than the usual brick and mortar could ever be. Technology is a gift from above.
Methodism not caring about its employees is a missed understanding; not caring about engaging others is its death.
Orin Smith
November 12, 2012 at 1:13 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
The news abour closing Cokesbury Book Stores is incredibly sad. And short sighted in my opinion. Cokesbury stores have been one of the few avenues of information and inspiration regarding mainstream Protestant thinking and devotion to Christ.
I am quite aware of our “digital” cultural shift. The magic screen of the computer and/or now the tablet continue to have a mesmerizing effect on “readers.” I know my opinion can easily be dismissed as the rant of a dinosaur, but if we Christians claim to be the “people of the book,” we should not be swayed by the mindset of those who are capitive to business decisions. Much of what the church does makes little sense to confentional economic devotees, but it is still important to make books available to a largely religiously and biblically illiterate population.
It was George Buttrick who said, “The Bible (and ancillary books, I would say) is not widely read. It is in most of our homes but only as a kind of sacred horseshoe.” Maybe we are well on the way to the worship of 1 and zeroes, which is all that our electronic devices have to offer. Good luck with that…….
Orin Smith, Spring, Texas
Gail Keefe
November 12, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am so sad about this decision. I called my local store and thanked the workers for their service. As so many have said before me, it is so much easier to choose what you want when you can look at it.
Gail Keefe, Reidsville, NC
Barbara W. Miles
November 12, 2012 at 8:16 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Lifeway and Cedar Springs Christian Stores are nice so I shop there occasionally; but as a United Methodist, they are not where I want to do the bulk of my shopping. At this point, I feel that I am being forced to do so. To make wise decisions about products I use with my youth and children groups, I much prefer the “look and feel” approach over some one’s sales pitch on-line. If I do order something and it is not satisfactory, I get the pleasure of returning, trying again, etc. Why do we need to close, when these other stores feel they can remain open?
Rev. Connie Gibbs-Morris
November 12, 2012 at 10:05 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am very saddened at this news and for the employees who will lose their jobs after years of dedicated work. There is always the need for face-to-face contact in this computerized, non-personal world. Cokesbury employees were eager to help and even listen to the many problems clergy have to deal with, ministering to people in all walks of life from lay persons in the church to leaders of mega churches. My thoughts and prayers are with the employees at all Cokesbury stores. It seems anymore that consideration is focused on the almighty dollar as the bottom line when business decisions are being made–before exhausting all options.
The path on which the United Methodist Conference is now traveling is barely recognizable as the caring, people-oriented, disciple-making, life-changing Conference that I have known all of my life.
Rev. Mary Sullivan
November 12, 2012 at 10:52 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am very sad by this decision. I enjoyed the stores I have spent many hours in. The staff has always been very helpful. Whether in seminary or serving a local congregation, I chose to shop in the stores believing the store was and is an incredible tool for ministry. Looking at the books, seeing the illustrations and pictures was and is important. I frequent my local book store, and the library for the same reasons. I don’t shop other internet companies because I’m such a visual person. I’m very sad by the denominations decision. This is a tradition of United Methodism that goes all the way back to John Wesley and his publishing house. I’m sorry this great resource is coming to an end. And I traveled 3 hours to my local store too!
Mary Sullivan, Toledo, Ohio
Rev. Linda Troy
November 12, 2012 at 11:33 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Physical presence is an important part of our witness. Removing the physical presence of Cokesbury stores takes away a part of our witness in the community. I was sorry to learn of the closing of the stores–our Cincinnati store closed a few years ago, and I have missed my visits there and the staff who were so helpful. I also mourn the loss of the stores on seminary campuses–I loved to browse in the store between classes and picked up many books and other items there. I, too, have found the website to be awkward and not adequate at times. Difficult decision….
Gail Keefe
November 15, 2012 at 8:54 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Here’s an example of why I LOVE having the physical store as a resource. I suddenly realized yesterday that i had gotten overloaded and forgotten to purchase 2 Bibles to give to kids in church on Sunday. Ack!! I called my Cokesbury store, gave them the names and ordered. They called me today and said they were ready! The online store can’t do that!
Michael
November 16, 2012 at 6:12 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Amen to that i have had similiar situations and my store was right there with what I needed. God bless all those hard workers in our stores.
Jim Harnish
November 16, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Sisters and Brothers: Every word written and story told here is absolutely true and I affirm all of them. Unfortunately, they all miss the reality with which the Publishing House has to deal, namely, that the free-standing stores are not able to break even financially. My sense is that this is because 1) there are fundamental changes in the entire world of publishing, 2) the Publishing House does not receive any financial support from the denomination and either survives or dies (as just about every denominational publishing house has) by its balance sheet, and 3) the continued decline of the UMC as a primary market for its resources. Change those realities and the stories could probably survive. Deny them, and we risk losing the Publishing House entirely. The question for each of us could be: When was the last time I ordered a used book from Amazon rather than purchase it from Cokesbury? My answer would have to be last week! I trust the leadership of UMPH to use this shift in direction to radically improve the rest of the services that Cokesbury offers.
Pam Ray
November 20, 2012 at 3:40 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
This is so sad. I pray God will watch over all the employees. I remember going into Cokesbury store as a little girl in Pennsylvania. Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayers!
Cokesbury.com Cyber Monday sales set record - United Methodist Connections
December 4, 2012 at 12:27 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
[...] The Cyber Monday sales are good news for the 200-year-old brand, which next year will close all 38 of its stand-alone retail stores and 19 seminary stores across the United States. [...]