A new owner is expected to be announced soon for Inspirio, the Zondervan gift division closed down last fall.

Zondervan President and CEO Doug Lockhart revealed the impending deal at the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's (ECPA) 2007 Management Conference at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, this week.

Presenting a case study for the event's “Rethink” theme on changes at the company since he took over the leadership two years ago, Lockhart said that he hoped to “hand (Inspirio) off in a way that carries it forward.”

Zondervan kept its Bible cover and gift book products when it ended its 3-D gifts involvement on the grounds that the division that had been launched in 2000 did not fit the company's “core competencies.”

Many retailers “thought we were crazy” to close Inspirio, Lockhart said in his ECPA presentation. But as leaders started to “ask the tough questions,” they had realized that the company would have needed to invest in “a new channel strategy” to develop the division properly.

Lockhart cited shipping and warehousing challenges, pointing out that while the gifts accounted for less than 5% of Zondervan's business they required 3,100 warehouse locations. Bibles, accounting for up to 40% of the business, required only 2,500 warehouse locations in comparison.

“The whole effort to grow was massive,” Lockhart said. But Inspirio was “a wonderful business,” and Zondervan was excited that it could continue under a different owner.

Thomas Nelson President and CEO Michael Hyatt and Cook Communications Ministries CEO Cris Doornbos also spoke about changes since they took over the leadership at their organizations. Around 120 publisher representatives attended the event, which include presentations and discussions on the needs for industry change in the light of cultural and technological developments.

• Prev
• Next