Post Thanks / Like - 3 Thanks, 0 Laughing
Considering that Nashville is the center of Christian music, it's a no-brainer for Lillenas to locate there.Originally Posted by G R 'Scott' Cundiff
I expect some other notable changes on the NPH front in coming months.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us wthout end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
- C.S. LewisPost Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 LaughingG R 'Scott' Cundiff - "thanks" for this post
Makes sense.
"Fully embracing the Gospel, fully engaging the world"
Yeah, I think this is a good move but like you I think it is probably the first of some major changes. I'm guessing this is the beginning of the end of Lillenas as a relatively exclusively Nazarene institution.
My personal opinion is that NPH needs to get rid of the presses and move digital. I'm guessing that would be hard pill to swallow. Although, money will eventually force the issue, which seems to be our proffered method for creating change.
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge. -- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
I thought the headline was a joke until I read the actual newsrelease. Lillenas will chart a course similar to the credit union. I think it is a glorious thing, Baptist folk singing songs with a Arminian slant, what could be better?
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 3 Laughing
Way to go Lillenas! We already have a presence inside of lifeway, as Craig Adams, who is the son of Nazarene Song Evangelist Steve Adams, has been on staff with Lifeway as Director of Creative Development, Publishing, and A&R Director. Steve tells me that they have dubbed Craig their "token Nazarene." Hopefully the SBC has learned that they need us, everybody know that the CotN is the "Singing Church!"
-Jim
To know and to serve God, of course, is why we're here, a clear truth, that, like the nose on your face, is near at hand and easily discernible but can make you dizzy if you try to focus on it hard. But a little faith will see you through.
Garrison KeillorPost Thanks / Like - 2 Thanks, 0 Laughing
And fortunately for us, a couple of our GS have buddies and family members in the publishing and media business. NPH will likely be dismembered and parted out to various businessmen.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us wthout end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
- C.S. Lewis
Yeah, I heard that rumor as well. Sad.
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge. -- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
YEAH! Welcome to Music City!!
Marsha GuptonPost Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
My brother-in-law is V.P. of CBA Sales for B&H Publishing Group (Division of Lifeway). He was Nazarene most of his life and is an ONU alum. However, he now seems to be "one of them."
I'm spending next weekend with his family in Franklin (Nashville suburb).
Wilson
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Cor. 15:10)Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
Yeah, we know where Franklin is ... Michigan friends moved there about the time Danny & I moved back to Arizona. That's another place, if not AZ, tho't I might not mind, due to various reasons.
Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.
~ Stella Adler ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It takes a great deal of maturity to accept that trying to eliminate all risk eliminates life.
~ Susan Lapin ~
I think NPH has not helped themselves in any way with their sales strategy. Two things stand out:
1) Their decision to take the "book stand" out of district assemblies and camp meetings. Every pastor I have talked to about this has told me they have bought less because the books are not there to look at.
2) The bigger issue also regards the "physical presence" of their materials. If I am looking for a SS curriculum, a VBS curriculum, or even just an interesting book I can go to Cokesbury, Berean, Family Christian, or any other Christian bookstore. I can look at several options from several publishers, just not NPH. They don't sell because they don't market their stuff. Put it on the shelves and I bet people might buy it.
Just a hunch...
Post Thanks / Like - 6 Thanks, 0 Laughing
Absolutely! And I really miss the book stand at Assembly.
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18a
Become an organ donor ~ donatelife.net ~ www.organdonor.gov
I only buy from NPH because I take the time to go to the website and see what is there. Having the stand back at DA would definitely help.
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
My understanding is that NPH was losing tons of money at the Assemblies.
I am the Lone Locust of the Apocalypse! Think of me when you look to the night sky!Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
I imagine it was difficult to show how displays at assemblies generated future sales.
While I would always buy a book for each of my delegates at district assembly, I would never make an "impulse" purchase of curriculum. Seeing the book at an assembly would lead me to go look at it on the website.
I think that such things as the new Beacon Commentaries would have continued to benefit from exposure at assemblies.
"Fully embracing the Gospel, fully engaging the world"Post Thanks / Like - 2 Thanks, 0 Laughing
That's what I was told. I still don't like it. I am such a weak willed person at book stands and stores, I could have made up for those losses!!!
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18a
Become an organ donor ~ donatelife.net ~ www.organdonor.govPost Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 2 Laughing
Since NPH is for-profit, they likely discontinued book stands because revenue was not sufficient to justify the cost. Maybe there would still be marketing value in having a physical presence even if it was not a money maker. Considering how quickly things (don't) change in the church world, it's likely that NPH absorbed years of monetary losses befo pulling the plug on their district assembly presence.
I agree that marketing has been an issue. NPH was slow to respond to the erosion of denominational loyalty as their main competitive advantage. NPH seems to be at the confluence of three immovable forces.
1. The CotN is moving away from a distinctive, sectarian holiness identity to a more generalized conservative evangelical identity.
2. The publishing world is being rocked by ecommerce giants like Amazon, and the increasing availability of self-publishing.
3. Economic hardship and ongoing competition is going to squeeze less competitive players out of the market.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us wthout end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
- C.S. Lewis
Our town has a Barnes & Noble, but if I want to visit a Christian bookstore, the only option is a Family Christian Store that's in the next town over, 25 minutes away. And it's horrible (slow service, etc). I imagine it's only surviving because it's the only Christian bookstore serving a large region.
As much as I like being able to skim through a book before buying it, there just aren't the options around here that you appear to enjoy. So I've learned to depend on Amazon's "Look inside" feature instead.
Rich, there is one in Highland (Kolas?) and a Catholic one in St. John that I have visited for some needs.
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 0 Laughing
I prefer the Lifeway stores over Family Christian here in Nashville.
Deaton, enjoy your time in Tennessee.
Marsha Gupton
I suppose there is a Christian bookstore somewhere in northern Vermont...the last one we went to was in Barre (about 1.5 hours drive for us), and I don't know if it's still there. We went a couple of times years ago, but I had the same problem I did ordering from Christianbook.com (and the catalog). I was a relatively new and immature Christian and had no idea what I was buying. I didn't know there were differences in doctrine and theology. I figured if it was a "Christian" bookstore, the stuff wouldn't be Mormon or Jehovah's Witness or anything, so I'd be all set. I ended up with a mish-mash of stuff, a lot of which does not represent my beliefs at all. I never imagined I'd be saying this, but I don't think I'd send a brand new believer to a Christian bookstore, unless I knew exactly what they did or didn't promote.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
