Christian Retailing

Barbour Publishing launches Shiloh Kidz imprint Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 03 June 2014 04:02 PM America/New_York

Company partners with Twin Sisters on Christian, children’s educational titles

ShilohKidz-Vertical_200Barbour Publishing has announced the launch of its new children’s imprint, Shiloh Kidz, in partnership with Twin Sisters. With initial releases coming in November, the imprint will offer a wide range of educational products with formats that include boxed games, stickers and board books as well as books—devotionals, Bible stories, Bible reference and fiction—for children ages 3 to 12.

“Our vision for Shiloh Kidz is to develop kids’ products rooted in biblical truth, and it’s important that those products also teach, encourage, inspire—and if they entertain along the way, even better,” said Kelly McIntosh, Barbour’s vice president editorial.

Twin Sisters is well-known in the Christian and educational markets, and has been in business nearly 30 years.

“Being the Christian content-provider for Barbour Publishing’s newly launched Shiloh Kidz brand is an honor,” said Kim Thompson, president of Twin Sisters. “It allows us to focus on creating products that share the message of Christ.”

First titles from this new partnership include My First Bible Color and Trace Book and My First Memory Match Game: Noah’s Ark. 

Barbour’s McIntosh said she is “looking forward” to working with Twin Sisters.

“Adding their experience for already proven titles to the Shiloh Kidz catalog is really exciting for us—and nicely rounds out our mix of kids’ product offerings,” she added.

“We have been impressed with Barbour Publishing’s business and dedication to the Christian market,” said Karen Hilderbrand, CEO of Twin Sisters. “This strategic partnership will allow our Christian music and educational content to continue to impact teachers, children and families.”

Barbour also will be taking on the distribution and production of 71 Twin Sisters titles already available in Christian retail outlets. As titles go to reprint, they’ll be rebranded as Shiloh Kidz products. Customers currently ordering these products will be transitioned to Barbour and will be contacted by their sales reps so there is no interruption of service.

The company recently adopted a strategic publishing strategy that includes a number of imprints as a way to brand titles that are not part of its longtime value publishing program. Along with Shiloh Kidz, imprints include Barbour Bibles, Daymaker, Barbour Books, Value Books and Spanish-language imprint Casa Promesa.

In addition, earlier this year, Barbour launched Shiloh Run Press, a new imprint for the company’s original full-length fiction and Christian Living titles, which include Thank You, Billy Graham, compiled by three of Graham’s grandchildren. —Christine D. Johnson