Oasis Audio reports that its new consignment program has launched strongly in 2015. The program, which started in January with just two test stores, has grown to 96 Christian retailers this month. The growth has far exceeded the company’s original goal of 50 stores by year’s end.

The program, designed exclusively for the Christian retailing market, provides 150 units of Oasis’ choice to participating stores in exchange for shelf space 2 feet wide by 5 feet high. The store reports sales of the products in monthly reports and returns revenues to Oasis; in exchange, Oasis provides retailers with a 40 percent discount and an easy entry point into the lucrative field of audiobooks.

Steve Smith, publisher of Oasis Audio, said the program has become successful in spite of early industry stigmas.

“Consignment became a very ugly word because of the Family Christian bankruptcy,” Smith said. “But the reality of it is, this is a way stores can enter into a program with us with less risk or, literally, no risk. Our goal is that we’d love to have every independent retailer in America in the program, but this is a really good start for one year.”

The consignment program also includes shelftalkers, a header, window-cling stickers and bookmarks. Though the header features an Oasis logo, the header is otherwise designed to be relatively generic and blend in with most store displays. Additionally, the bookmarks—which read “Also available on audiobooks”—can be placed in the print copies of available audiobook titles in order to drive traffic to the audiobook section. Smith said adding the bookmarks also prompts the store owner and employees to be active participants in the program.

Smith said the program helps Oasis keep strong ties with independent retailers.

“We want to support the independent stores,” Smith said. “We want to see them succeed. It’s a tough time for them—it’s a tough time for everyone—but we want to help. (When) I started my career in the Christian publishing industry… the majority of business was independent stores. To us, that was what was always important, maintaining relationships with the independent stores. I want to keep that relationship going now that I’m publisher at Oasis.”

• Prev
• Next