Peabody, MA (June 29, 2020) – Christianbook has recently purchased select assets of Christian Supply, Inc., one of the longest standing, family-owned Christian retail operations in the country faithfully serving the wider Christian community for more than 65 years.
In a message to customers, Chuck Wallington, President of Christian Supply stated “After more than 65 years of serving this area as well as individuals and churches throughout the nation, Christian Supply, Inc. is closing our doors. Please know that this was not an easy decision, and has only been made through much prayer deep soul searching. So it is with profound regret that we are announcing that we will no longer have the privilege of serving the spiritual needs of our customer “family” moving forward. We have not however, left you without our strongest recommendation of “where to go” to find help in the future with virtually all your Christian resource needs (both for individuals and churches.) We have made arrangements with our friends at Christianbook.com, the largest online retailer of Christian products in the world, to step in and service your needs moving forward.”
Ray Hendrickson, President and CEO of Christianbook commented “Just like Christian Supply, Christianbook is a family-owned and operated company dedicated to serving Christians worldwide. We admire the work of the Wallington family, which started in 1953 when Charles and Margaret Wallington opened a small Christian bookstore on a side street in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The family has continued in their footsteps, and served the Christian community with excellence for more than 65 years, receiving many awards along the way for their achievements and dedication to the Christian Retail industry. We applaud—and share—the values upheld by their mission. For more than 40 years we too have dedicated our efforts to offering our customers the largest selection of quality Christian materials with the best savings and the greatest service. The Wallington’s have graced and enhanced the market with their personal experience, professional integrity, and devoted stewardship. We appreciate all they have done, and we are honored to be entrusted now with serving Christian Supply customers, friends and family.”
In closing, Wallington commented “Christianbook.com is much like our own company; a family-owned business with decades of faithfully supplying the spiritual needs of both individuals and churches with the very best selection (and pricing) on every item they offer. We have the highest regard for this organization, and know that allowing them to serve you our customers; you will be passed along to “good hands”. Perhaps most importantly, they share the same Kingdom values and mindset that we have espoused, so your patronage will continue to support Christian brothers and sisters, as well as the many ministry partners they support in turn.”
As part of the transaction, Christianbook has acquired the domain name and customer lists associated with Christian Supply, Inc. Since the company is privately held, no terms of the transaction are disclosed.
From its humble beginnings in 1978, operating out of mom and dad’s home in Lynn, Massachusetts, and carrying only a few academic titles at discounted prices, Christianbook has grown to become the world’s largest seller of Christian products. Through its online presence, Christianbook.com, and 65 unique catalogs, the company offers the lowest possible prices and maintains an inventory exceeding 500,000 items. The wide selection includes books, Bibles, homeschool resources, toys and games, gifts, academic resources, church supplies, DVDs and music. Christianbook.com provides additional information on its website, including author profiles and interviews, detailed product descriptions and excerpts, music clips, articles, reviews, specialized search engines, and video content. The company provides not only great value but also exceptional customer service and support. In addition to receiving the Bizrate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award for 19 years, Christianbook is also a nine-time recipient of the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award. The company currently employs a staff of over 550 employees, and operates out of a 370,000SF facility located in Peabody, Massachusetts, that houses our distribution center, full-service call center, and corporate offices. Christianbook is committed to the spreading of the gospel both through the products we sell each day and in our philanthropic support of missions around the globe. In particular, we seek to have an exponential impact on the kingdom by equipping overseas pastors and Bible school students, who then have a lifetime of impact in their ministries. We are also a proud supporter of the City of Peabody and many local charities.
For more information, please contact Bridget Timmins at btimmins@christianbook.com
