GodRocks Goes It Alone for Canadian Distribution

In a promotional package mailed February 16th to some — but clearly not all* — Canadian stores, Chelsea Road Productions, creators of the GodRocks series of books, DVDs, apparel, and VBS curricula for children and early teens announced the launch of their own distribution company.   Product was previously fulfilled in Canada through David C. Cook.

Independent distribution — such as when Steve Bell pulled his product from CMC years ago to create another distribution source — allows authors and artists to ensure a more focused marketing effort on behalf of their product.   They feel that otherwise, product gets ‘lost in the shuffle’ of a larger distributor.

But some retailers don’t like the idea of having to add another supplier to their database.   As someone who worked on two different occasions — in two different locations — for InterVarsity Press Canada, I can tell you that the absorption of that product line by R. G. Mitchell would have had a mixed effect depending on the size of the stores buying product.

In the larger store environment, maintaining separate accounts for Steve Bell’s Signpost Music, InterVarsity Press, or GodRocks is a non-issue.  But for smaller stores that are more conscious of freight costs, being able to buy single units in the context of larger stock orders is more efficient.

However, GodRocks is offering free shipping on orders of $200 with many core products available at better than normal trade discounts, including an aggressive VBS curriculum discount.

*Stores like ours which didn’t get the mailing piece should contact GodRocks in Kilbride, Ontario at 877 444 4045 for a 48-page, full colour catalogue.  You can also visit the webiste at www.godrocks.ca