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Artist’s Name Appears on Various Gift Lines
If you haven’t already encountered her, let us introduce you to Amylee Weeks. In her own words, from her website Uncommon Faith:
I am a licensed artist, represented by MHS Licensing, skilled at creating trend-forward layered artwork files for the use on various products.
My love for creating art for everyday items was born when I was in my 20’s after losing someone so very close to me. Small parts of my heart healed each time I visited my local bookstore. I didn’t know then that I was on a path that would eventually end up here — being the one creating art with the goal of bringing a spark of hope and a hint of joy to all who come across it in their daily lives.
Her driving motto is:
my everydays + my faith = why I create
A page at the Legacy Gifts website defines this clearly.
…Amylee’s faith is combined with her artwork – and it wasn’t until she found this combination that everything just started pouring out of her heart…
She explains, “I can remember sitting at my kitchen table, in front of my computer, working on a class assignment. In true ‘Amylee’ fashion, I got sidetracked and just started doodling. I had my Bible open, and used one of my favorite verses. I doodled and typographed (not really a word, I know) – and out came my first scripture tree. After that, well, the rest is history.”
Amylee is happiest at her colorful and full-of-fun home, with her Bible open – and you guessed it, CREATING. She lives in Norwalk, Iowa, with her best friend and husband, Ryan, and their two daughters (Morgan, 8 and Ashley, 6)…
We noticed her name kept appearing as we were scrolling through Anchor Distributing (Word Alive) listings for March and April, 2020. Chances are you have also seen her work before. You just didn’t know it was her. As we scrolled through, I immediately recognized a box of Dayspring boxed Christmas cards from 2017. So we did a formal search which noted the following distributors:
The CB Gifts items include a post of Pass-It-On cards, magnets and Versemarks; lines familiar to readers here from the former Universal Designs range of products. Her own website indicates product from Christian Art Gifts, Blossom Bucket and even Tyndale House Publishers is forthcoming.
Meanwhile her Etsy page shows previous projects including designing fabric and T-shirts.
Her licensing agent‘s website allows Amylee to tell more of her story:
As life ebbs and flows, my heart soaks it all in. There is a quietness of my heart that draws its strength from God. And it is in that quietness that I create.
The biography on her own site ends with this quotation:
“We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.” ― Oswald Chambers
Upper Image: Everything pictured is by Amylee, including the background which is from one her fabric patterns. (product images sourced through Anchor/Word Alive.)
Middle image: From Uncommon Faith, linked above.
Lynda Schoffro on Transitioning from Retail Management to Sales Rep
With seven Gospel Lighthouse stores in Ontario, you would think Lynda Schoffro had her hands full. But for 2020, she took on a new challenge as the new sales representative for True North Marketing, representing Dicksons, Cottage Garden, Legacy, Brownlow and Kerusso.
We sat down together (virtually speaking) over a cup of coffee (now I’m just making stuff up) and I asked her about her new position.
How are the first few weeks going?
Lynda Schoffro
It’s been really great being on the road and seeing the different stores this season. Each one is unique in their approach of how to best position themselves in their community but all sharing a common goal.
You are busy running stores; so how did this opportunity come about?
I didn’t go searching for this opportunity, it found me. A friend heard about the available position and contacted Bruce Wilson, who was hiring for the position, to let him know that I might be a good fit for the job. I’m not sure I would have ever sought it out on my own but it came at the perfect time for me and felt like a natural transition.
How has working in Christian retail helped you in this position?
I feel perfectly suited for this job because of my past experience in the industry. After years of being a buyer for the Gospel Lighthouse stores I understand the issues that retailers face and because of this have an objective view of how to help. Gift buying has been one of my strengths in operating the stores. It is an area we have expanded into and continue to grow. I have taken the time to follow new trends and am careful to watch for value when purchasing. This experienced eye helps me to be able to offer advice when customers ask.
What lines do you carry, and what excites you about any collections or lines?
As a sales representative for True North Marketing, I am carrying Dicksons, Cottage Garden, Legacy, Brownlow, Kerusso and Magnolia Garden. I am also representing Shomali Inc gifts which compliments my other lines well.
I am still buying for the Gospel Lighthouse stores so enjoy looking at the lines I represent from the buyer’s perspective. There are lots of great new products available in the new Dicksons supplement and they have put a focus on designing new looks for the classic lines; Footprints, Serenity prayer, Lord’s Prayer.
There are also some great promotions going on this Spring from suppliers, offering extra discounts and freight reduction for qualifying orders.
What have you learned so far?
I spent a week in Indiana at Dickson’s for a sales conference in December and learned so much about the integrity of the company. They are really focused on the Christian Retailer and though they have had to expand in different areas to keep abreast of changes in the market, their primary commitment is to the independent stores. I was also impressed to see the way they treat their employees, in all levels of business.
I have found that they are very transparent about the issues that they are facing; ie. tariffs, shipping costs, price increases. As a retailer, I had a limited view of the reasons that go into these decisions but it has opened my eyes to see that they have to protect their bottom line while maintaining good relations with the customer. It’s a delicate balance.
What are the challenges you have faced?
Pricing and shipping are definitely the issues that customers have raised with me so far. I don’t believe this is specific to the companies I represent. Businesses are dealing with higher costs and less volume, just like retailers. There are often freight caps offered, depending on the order size and prices are increasing everywhere. Buyers have to be careful when purchasing to make sure they are buying products that they will be able to sell at full margin. I aim to help my customers get the best deal possible and provide them with suggestions to help them be profitable.
We wish Lynda all the best in this new venture. Current and prospective Canadian stores which have not yet made contact can connect with her through Gospel Lighthouse, or us, if they’d like to go through a sales presentation or just ask questions.
Telling a Product’s Story (When Supplier’s Won’t)
Something from DEXSA caught my eye when scrolling through listings at the Anchor/Word Alive site. “What’s a reactive mug?” I asked my wife. A little research later, I decided this might be a fun product to order. Basically, I learned that:
Reactive Mugs change colour when hot liquid is added. They are dishwasher safe, however, for best results and to maintain image quality, we highly recommend hand washing this product. Reactive mugs are microwave safe, however, the design may fade over time due to the heat exposure from the extreme heat of the microwave.
So far, so good. I decided to try one each of five designs. After all, mugs are our #1 bestselling gift item.
When they arrived, I had to quickly open the boxes to look for damage. Somehow they made it, but I have never seen fragile gift product shipped in such flimsy boxes.
The next thing I noticed was there was nothing to explain to the customers what they were. Nothing on the box. Nothing on the mug. Just a standard stock number and barcode sticker on the bottom, with no reference to microwaves or dishwashers.
I contacted DEXSA and asked if they could send me a .pdf or some HTML from which I could make an instore sign. I copied Anchor/Word Alive in on the correspondence.
Nobody wrote back.
Suppliers don’t give a rip about answering these types of letters, as long as they’ve got your money. Sorry, but that’s just a fact. I’ve had a price dispute going on with Anchor/Word Alive for months now. They’re taking product and double converting the U.S. dollar exchange. Why else would $11.99 US books be $19.99? On that one, Destiny Image did not answer and Word Alive did not answer. Again.
I think the person who knows how to issue credit notes quit and nobody else knows how to do it. Furthermore, they’ve never fixed the price. Other Canadian accounts are being cheated like I was. Customers are being overcharged. (For reference, it’s 9781929371914, The Torch and The Sword by Rick Joyner, but there are other examples.)
Anyway, we came up with the solution below. We can’t stand there and hand-sell every one of these, so some type of shelf-talker is in order. In the absence of that, we improvise.
I can’t say, “I’d never order these again;” because eventually you run out of sources of merchandise. I think the expression is, ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face.’ We just have to accept the fact that at the customer service level is horrible in this industry and suppliers are pushing out product as cheaply as they can manufacture it to meet the demands of volume buyers like Wal-Mart.
Answering correspondence would add to their costs.
“Inspirational” Products are Ambiguous and Lack Reference Points
For at least the past decade you’ve seen them. In various types of stores. Perhaps in your own store. Plaques, frames and wall décor that simply say “Believe.” Recently my local hardware store circulated a flyer that had the piece at right. To me it begs all manner of questions:
- Grateful to who?
- Grateful for what?
- Love directed to whom?
- Love received from whom?
- Believe in who or what?
- Thankful to whom?
- Faith in what exactly?
- Blessed by whom?
I think it was Philip Yancey who quoted G.K. Chesterton: “The worst moment for an atheist is when he feels a profound sense of gratitude and has no one to thank.” I’m glad the hardware chain’s buyers recognized the world of faith and spirituality, but I generally find that piece of wall art devoid of meaning; too lacking in specificity.
Does that mean everything decorative in a Christian’s home should contain a Bible verse or nothing at all? Not at all. If anything, we can be overrun with “Be Still and Know” and “I Can Do All Things” products. Furthermore the piece of merchandise shown might be a great compromise in a home where one spouse is a believer and the other is not.
But with limited wall space, I am determined to focus on the products that the hardware store isn’t carrying. The things you come into a Christian store expecting to find.
You can “Believe” just about anywhere. Why should I duplicate what others are carrying?
Company Profile: Slingshot Publishing
In many respects Slingshot is a Canadian Christian product creator’s dream. Based in Breslau, Ontario, a few kms east of Waterloo, the business has the benefit of North American distribution through Dicksons. This week we got a company update from Adam Brodrecht.
The Overview
We purchased the company from Mike Clark back in late 2013. The company was heading for bankruptcy and my business partner and I bought it before it was lost. Since then our goal has been to stay true to the original vision of Slingshot, design Christian artwork that appeals to the youth and young adults of today. However, we have massively overhauled the “how” we do it. We discussed a name change. We discussed the core values of how we want to do business. We developed a ‘playbook’ that we adhere to for our day-to-day interactions as well as our long term goal setting. We realized, this really is a complete overhaul of how Slingshot Publishing works. And it has been an absolute thrill to take this company to a new level.
From inception, Slingshot was distributing product directly from the head office in Ontario, Canada. In 2011 Slingshot desired to widen our customer base and distribution was moved to Dicksons Gifts in Indiana. At the same time an opportunity to engage with a Marketing Agency arose and Slingshot became a new product line to the Dicksons Gifts Sales Representatives. Representing Slingshot throughout North America, the sales representatives present each product offering to their customers at in-store engagements. This team is made up of people that love the Lord and are committed to doing the best for their customers.
For those without a Dicksons account, Slingshot’s internal sales team is ready and eager to help. All product still ships from Dicksons distribution center.
Based out of Kitchener-Waterloo, Slingshot is run by owner Adam Brodrecht and a small team of artists, collaborators, customer service reps, sales agents and an administrator.
The Owners
Doug & Karen Guderian love God, love people and love business! This refreshing recipe for life has translated into some incredible opportunities including the turnaround of Slingshot Publishing. Doug’s expertise in business has helped steer the company to a new future.
Adam & Nicole Brodrecht bring leadership to Slingshot in a number of ways. Adam leads the day to day operations of the company and works hand in hand with Doug to ensure the company will be around for years to come. Nicole, a local artist and art teacher, is Slingshot’s Creative Director and works closely with our designers to bring excellent, relevant and influential designs to each release.
The Designers
Our team of designers work year round to bring new designs to the table for each catalog release. These talented, freelance artists embody our motto, Design With Influence. Each of them share a common goal… to influence the world around them with their God-given artistic talents.
The Products
To download catalogs, click below:
2016-1 Annual Slingshot Publishing Catalog
2016-2 Summer Slingshot Publishing Catalog
SDG Cards Add a Touch of Class to Card Departments
Normally when sales people cold-call, I’m automatically predisposed to say ‘no,’ but one look at these cards and the way they are packaged and I was immediately sold.
Michael Deacon’s collection of cards contain a mixture of settings, but many of them are photographs taken in Israel. Some have Bible texts on the front, though many simply show the photo image. Though the cards are blank inside, the annotation on the back is fully printed and describes the location as well as related scriptures. Each card is cello-wrapped. Here are more details from the SDGCards.com website:
‘SDG’ is the acronym for the Latin phrase – ‘Soli Deo Gloria’, meaning: ‘Glory to God alone’. This name was selected to emphasize that God is to be credited for the stunning beauty seen in nature. The sophistication in nature is not only evidence for His existence, but also for His creative brilliance!
SDG Cards is a ‘tentmaking’ effort, seeking to honour God through honest business practices and quality products. As a former skeptic turned believer, the photographer has visited numerous places mentioned in the Bible which still bear the marks of what was recorded in Scripture. Observing such sites has reinforced his conviction that the Bible is absolutely trustworthy.
Photographs are hand-mounted onto embossed-frame cardstock. On the reverse of the card is a caption identifying where the photograph was taken. They are blank inside and can therefore be used for any occasion.
On the cards page on the site, you can see the different designs. (Click or just let the images scroll through.) While you could compose an order yourself, I allowed Michael to select an initial assortment. Though he sells the cards direct to consumers with a minimum order of ten, the wholesale pricing is much better, and considering this type of card sells in gift shops for $6, the margin is quite generous. We’re introducing the cards at $4.50 each.
These cards add a touch of class to any card department. Because there are so many, you may need to display different units in a single card pocket, but if you have some room to spread out — especially in summer when alternatives are needed to fill space — this card line would create a strong impression.
Contact: Michael Deacon is based in Greater Toronto; contact at sdgcards@gmail.com and mention this article and that you’re a retail store.
Willow Tree Pieces as Greeting Cards
Everyone’s favorite collectible gift pieces are now more affordable, even if only two dimensional. Make that “almost” two dimensional; the line of greeting cards from Pumpernickel Press that features the figurines is actually embossed and represents genuine quality in a line of individual counter cards.
So why is it being mentioned here? For various reasons, Christian bookstores have gravitated toward the images and themes in Willow Tree, so this card line, while lacking the usual Christian bookstore insistance on scripture verses, will probably connect with individual store owners. U.S. stores can enjoy a healthy margin on the product, while Canadian stores can purchase the cards from Enesco/NC Cameron.
Covering All The Categories
Yesterday we visited the Arrowhead Parable store in Binghamton, NY. It was much larger than anything I expected, given the size of the town. I joked with one associate; “Is there a piece of Christian giftware you don’t have here?”
There were entire categories of product that I had never considered before; at least never considered them as a entity worth highlighting. We carry the same product, but we know where it is; our customers may not.
The problem is that many Christian stores try to be all things to all people. That’s hard. You have to decide what categories of general Christian products work for you, and what categories you simply aren’t going to cover in your store.
This store had depth in every area, but it was the smaller Church supplies section that struck me. I’ve seen stores carry candles before, but the $9.50 bottle of “Candle Wax Remover” was a first.
Is yours a Church supply store or a Christian bookstore? Are you a Christian bookstore or a religious bookstore? Are you a religious bookstore or an inspirational bookstore? Do you try to carry everything, or do you run lean and mean? How familiar is your staff with the items that you don’t have in stock, but can access?
These kinds of questions help us to focus on what it is we’re doing and what we’re going to pass on in order to keep a sharper focus on the things we do well.
Dear Cards Provides a Christian Greeting Alternative
Sometimes a store owner will be reluctant to recommend a supplier with whom they had problems — especially multiple problems — but in this case, they all had to do with errors that took place as part of the extra contingencies that have to be in place when a U.S. supplier is shipping to Canada. As the saying goes, ‘Your mileage may vary.’
All that to say, I still think we made a good choice in selecting Dear Cards as a supplement to our greeting card section; the cards are designed and printed somewhat differently; the inside verses are often full, multi-verse poems; and the wholesale and retail pricing is very reasonable. The response has been slower than I hoped for, but I’m including their advertisement here — at no cost to them — because I tire of reading that there is only one supplier in the Christian greeting card industry.
Carpentree and Comfort Candles from Cherison
Don’t you just love the alliteration in the title of this article?
Several years ago, one of our employees was reading an advertisement for wall décor back when there were print editions of Christian Retailing magazine. I contacted the supplier in question — Carpentree — to see what arrangements they had for distribution in Canada.
Not receiving a reply, I informed my employee that we couldn’t get the brand.
Then, just two weeks ago, in the process of tracking down a gift line — Comfort Candles — I found out that Cherison Enterprises in Vaughan, Ontario (you can see the peak of the roller coasters at Canada’s Wonderland) also distributes Carpentree and has for many years.
Now I really wish Carpentree had answered the e-mail at the time.
We ended up meeting with sales rep Mark last Monday from 10 AM to noon, and at some point early in the afternoon on Tuesday I got a call that my order was ready for pickup. That’s not exactly normative in the giftware industry, but when you’re a bookstore accustomed to the speed of the book and music industry who also happens to sell giftware, it’s a very appreciated efficiency.
We didn’t get to Toronto until Friday. Because we entered off Highway 400 and came in the back way — most people enter off Jane Street — we missed the large sign for the company and found ourselves at the rear of the building just as a large truck was backing in and blocking that sign. I got a few blank stares when I told them, “This place is rather hard to find.” (It really isn’t.)
However, that crisis passed, and check-in revealed 100% picking accuracy, no damaged pieces (that we’ve seen so far) and one manufacturing problem with one of the candle holders that we might be able to fix ourselves.
For a Christian retail store, the key to both Comfort Candles and (especially) Carpentree is their choice of texts. The Comfort people had a few pieces with scripture verses that were definitely not King James Version (thankfully) but I never did get around to figuring out which translation they have used. (It was one of their candles — just called “Faith” — that got us interested in tracking down the line.) As the above photo demonstrates, the gift boxes they use are the finest. We noticed that another store with this line displays the boxes next to the product, or even in-box, which isn’t normally done in the gift industry.
Carpentree knows exactly what they’re doing when it comes to texts. There is a healthy mix of gift industry “standards” and a few Bible texts I haven’t seen on frames, plaques or wall art before. The price range was the widest I’ve seen, with coaster sets you can sell as low as $4.99 (CDN) all the way to framed art pieces in the several hundred dollar range.
The fill rate was just a bit over 50%. There’s a vast inventory of SKUs with Carpentree alone, and the peek I got at the Cherison warehouse showed a huge distribution capacity, but I wouldn’t expect them to carry everything.
Our backorders have been promised in 3-4 weeks, by which time I’m expecting sell-through will have created more display space. Actually, I prefer to have a larger order arrive this way; and this time around, I’ll know exactly where I’m going when I go to pick up!
Upper photo – Comfort Candles; lower photo “As For Me” from Carpentree
Christian Book Shop Talk 