All Cokesbury Stores to Close

UNITED METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE LAUNCHES COKESBURY TRANSITION

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (Nov. 5, 2012) – The Board of Directors of the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) has announced the launch of a transition initiative, CokesburyNext, for its retail division. CokesburyNext will redirect focus and resources toward expanding and enhancing products and services at Cokesbury.com, the Cokesbury Call Center (1-800-672-1789), and through a team of Cokesbury Sales Representatives. As part of this transition, Cokesbury will be closing its 38 full-line stores and 19 seminary stores.

Cokesbury, which offers resources for congregations, seminaries, church leaders, study groups, and individuals has seen a steady increase in sales through Cokesbury.com and its Cokesbury Call Center operation over the past 10 years. At the same time, the number of Cokesbury customers relying solely on store locations has steadily declined. In the most recent customer survey, only 15 percent of Cokesbury’s customers reported shopping exclusively in stores. As a result of changes in the industry and the consumer shift to digital shopping and purchasing, the local stores are no longer financially viable.

“Cokesbury has been serving for more than 200 years, and during that time has continuously adapted to the changing landscape affecting congregations and their leaders,” said UMPH President and Publisher Neil Alexander. “A shift toward all things digital and the convenience of placing orders at any time is the reality of Cokesbury today. It is difficult to see the closure of Cokesbury local stores, but doing so will allow us to make a greater investment in the ways of shopping with Cokesbury that customers increasingly prefer.”

CokesburyNext involves the enhancement of four distinct purchasing channels. The Cokesbury Call Center (1-800-672-1789) will be extending its hours to 10 p.m. Eastern Time and increasing staffing to better suit busy customer schedules. Cokesbury.com will be continuously improved to serve customers and will regularly feature special offers and products. The scale and frequency of Cokesbury’s presence at local conferences and meetings will increase, and Cokesbury will work with church partners to host many of its most popular events. To better serve customers who require personal attention, we will deploy more than 40 Cokesbury Sales Representatives who will bring information about a full complement of products directly to customers at their churches and other ministry settings.

Cokesbury is taking steps to help ensure the well-being of store personnel following the closure of the local stores. The ministry will assist them in the transition, providing both severance packages and job search services.

CokesburyNext will be rolled out throughout 2013, and the last Cokesbury local store is expected to close by April 30, 2013. More information on CokesburyNext is available at www.CokesburyNext.com.

What is happening at Cokesbury?

CokesburyNext is an initiative to expand the ways we serve customers and meet their needs. Many of our customers prefer making purchases at Cokesbury.com and through our 1-800-672-1789CokesburyCallCenter, so we are increasing our focus and enhancing these sales channels to better serve them. In order to invest in these channels, we will close all Cokesbury brick and mortar stores where customer demand is decreasing as costs steadily grow.

Why are Cokesbury stores closing?

Increasingly, customers prefer the convenience and speed of purchasing on the web or over the phone. The cost of maintaining buildings, inventory and staff in dozens of brick and mortar stores has exponentially increased at the same time that customers show that they prefer other ways to preview and buy resources for their ministries.  To assure that we are meeting customers in the ways they tell us they want most, we are enhancing the online shopping experience at Cokesbury.com, extending Cokesbury Call Center hours, adding new local Cokesbury Sales Representatives across the U.S. who will meet locally with church staff, lay volunteers  and pastors at their own churches and increasing the frequency and scale of Cokesbury’s presence at special events such as the annual Christian Education Showcase. Closing the local stores allows us to make even larger investments in other already popular Cokesbury sales channels.

How will I be able to purchase books and other resources and supplies for my church? Will I still have my Cokesbury charge account?

Cokesbury will continue to offer a full array of products, which you can view and select at Cokesbury.com, by calling 1-800-672-1789 or contacting the Cokesbury Sales Representative in your area. Cokesbury charge accounts will continue just as they do now and customers may use their charge privileges online, over the phone or in person at events. In the coming months, we will be announcing even more special events at churches and other locations across theU.S.where you can review materials and talk with Cokesbury staff about your needs.

 Is Cokesbury closing both full line and seminary stores?

Yes, Cokesbury will be closing all 38 full line stores and 19 seminary stores.

 Is Cokesbury going out of business?

Cokesbury is not going out of business.  There are multiple ways our customers order and receive the resources they need.  Our sales data and customer research show that most already prefer making purchases at Cokesbury.com and through ourCokesburyCallCenter at 1-800-672-1789. We are increasing our focus on these sales channels, as well as expanding our Cokesbury Sales Representatives  and enhancing Cokesbury Events to ensure that we better meet our customers’ needs.