Announcement – STL Distribution & Zondervan Distribution Agreement

STL Distribution is pleased to announce an agreement for continued distribution of Zondervan in the UK

STL Distribution has been the wholesale distributor for Zondervan in the UK for the past 15 years and is pleased to announce a continuity agreement has been reached, securing the on-going future of this important partnership.

The STL Distribution Supply Chain team are now working closely with Zondervan to bring stock into the Carlisle Warehouse to improve availability as soon as possible.

Ken Munro, CEO STL Distribution said, ‘We are very pleased to be able to continue this fruitful partnership and are looking forward to building on the success of the past 15 years. This ensures Zondervan products are available to the UK retail trade and can be ordered through our same day despatch service.’

Tracy Danz, Zondervan Vice President for Product Sales said, ‘We are happy to be represented by the same sales staff that has done admirably over the past 15 years. It is a critical time in UK bookselling and we believe this is the very best route to market for our titles.’

The STL Distribution Area Sales Managers are on the road and will be calling on you to present the spring list, including all the Zondervan new titles.

Up-to-date information on availability of products from Zondervan and other suppliers will be posted on this blog.

Kind Regards,

STL Distribution Blog Team

Returns and Credits

Following the acquisition of STL Distribution by John Ritchie, we have been working hard with both the Administrator Baker Tilly and with The Quartz Partnership who have been retained to collect payments due to IBS-STL UK in administration, to resolve a number of scenarios with respect to returns and credits. There is a level of complexity involved due to the combinations of wholesale and distribution product but the following should cover most scenarios:

Damages and Shortages
As a gesture of goodwill we have credited claims made for damages and shortages on invoices dated up to and including 18th December 2009 as per our terms and conditions (see below for the full details under claims). As we recognise there has been some disruption due to both the Christmas break and recent weather conditions, we will look favourably where possible on any delayed claims.

Promotional Recalls
Crown Christmas and Engage Oct-Dec 2009 – we are actively working with all parties to agree a way forward and hope to have a solution in place by the middle of the week. In the meantime stores have been asked to complete recall forms in the normal manner.

See-Safe Returns
There are a number of Publisher specific see-safe agreements in place and in many cases we now have confirmation to proceed. Please contact our customer services on 08457 056 568 for specific details.

The STL Blog Team in conjunction with Baker Tilly and the Quartz Partnership.

STLD Distribution Terms & Conditions
6. CLAIMS
Claims for any damages or shortages must be notified to the Carriers and the Consignors within three days of the receipt of Goods, with a copy sent to the Company within the same period. Written notice of claims for non-delivery must be given to the Company within 14 days of the invoice date or in the case of non- delivery of invoice within 21 days of the date of the original order. On no account will claims be considered if notified outside this period. Title pages or authorised returns of stock for credit/replacement must be received back at STL within 30 days of the notice of damage or loss being given.

FREE CARRIAGE on all UK orders

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to work hard to improve product availability and hope to restore high stock levels very soon.

To thank you for your patience during this time, we are offering free carriage on all UK orders until 31st January 2010.

To place an order, please visit www.stldistribution.co.uk, contact your Area Sales Manager or our Customer Service Department. All orders are despatched the same day when your order is placed before 2.30 pm by telephone, fax or email or 4.00 pm electronically.

Kind regards,

STL Distribution Blog Team

FedEx - Delivery Update

We are in daily communication with our freight forwarder (FedEx) and as they make us aware of any depot closures we will keep you in formed on this blog.

News Update:
Gretna (54/58) have advised that their vehicles covering Route 3 (CA2, CA5 and CA7 postcodes) and Route 15 (TD11, TD12 and TD15 postcodes) have broken down, therefore some deliveries may be affected.

The following depots have reported heavy snowfall throughout their region, resulting in icy conditions and impassable roads (especially in rural areas), therefore deliveries and collections will be affected:-

Ipswich (101), Kings Lynn (75), Norwich (22), Gretna (54/58), Kilmarnock (59), Cumbernauld (60/87), Dundee (61), Aberdeen (62/67/69), Glasgow (71/171), Edinburgh (85), Cowdenbeath (86), Inverness (88/89), Liverpool (42), Manchester (44), Knaresborough (48), Hull (49), Leeds (50), Chorley (51), Kendal (52), Middlesborough (55), Newcastle (56/156), Littleborough (90), Jersey (6), Guernsey (4), Cambridge (37/137), Scunthorpe (47), Byfleet (7), Gloucester (26), Sleaford (43), Spilsby (143), Fareham (11/84), Poole (13), Weston (14), Exeter (15/115), Launceston (16/72/81/172), Bristol (17), Camberley (18), Cardiff (27), Swansea (28/98), Swindon (83), Slough (951/95), Frome (114), Croydon (1/77), Brighton (3), Sittingbourne (8/5), Tunbridge Wells (9/10), Park Royal (19/119), Chelmsford (20/21), Harlow (23), Aylesbury (24/124), Beckton (80/105), Hornsey (96/196/396), Central London (180/176) and Dartford (305/76).

Don’t forget, all orders placed by 2.30pm (phones, fax, email) or 4pm (electronic) are being despatched the same day.

If you have any queries our friendly Customer Service team are on hand 6 days a week – call 0800 28 27 28.

Our apologies once again for any inconvenience caused - if you have a query on a specific order please contact our customer service team directly in the normal manner.

Kind Regards,
STL Distribution blog team

Focused on Serving You

Dear Customer,

Happy New Year!

2010 marks a fresh start for STL Distribution and we are focused on supplying a broad range of Christian products for your ministry.

Our focus is to re-establish supplier relationships and improve our stock availability.

We are focused on discussions with all our key suppliers to establish new supply agreements. We are pleased to announce that continuity agreements have been reached with Tyndale, Hodder, BRF, Evangelical Press, Alpha International, Kregel, Destiny Image USA, Veritasse, Zoe Records, Roper Penberthy and Shepherd Press. We will be working hard with these suppliers to bring stock levels back up as soon as possible. Numerous other discussions are now reaching maturity and further announcements will be made in the next few days. Information will be made available via emails and our blog. Feel free to visit and comment.

We are also focused on re-establishing our previous Informix IT system and are making steady progress. The Informix system is designed to support a distribution business and was the bedrock of the original STL infrastructure. Over time, as STL expanded into retail and publishing, significant pressure was placed on the Informix system and as STL embarked on a global initiative, it was decided that a new system was required to support a global ministry. The new STL Distribution, however, is a focused distribution business and Informix meets its needs. As we move through this development project our experienced IT team, who have developed and lived-and-breathed Informix for over 20 years will undertake the implementation. Details of our planned timeline for the implementation will be made available as we progress the project over the coming weeks.

Our Area Sales Managers have just emerged from the January Sales meeting and will be calling on you over the next few weeks to present the new spring titles to you.

If you have any queries or would like to place an order please contact our Customer Service Department, your Area Sales Manager or visit www.stldistribution.co.uk. All orders are despatched same day when your order is placed before 2.30 pm by telephone or fax or 4.00 pm electronically.

Thank you for sticking with us and we look forward to serving you in 2010.

Kind Regards,

STL Distribution