Koorong
 | |
| Founded | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Bruce and Olive Bootes |
| Parent | Bible Society Australia |
| Website |
www |
Koorong is a Christian bookstore chain operating across Australia. It is the largest retailer of Christian books and media in Australia.
History
Koorong was a family-owned company that began over 35 years ago[1] in Marsfield, Sydney, in the garage of the Koorong Street home of Bruce Bootes - a retired veterinarian and Reformed Baptist pastor - and his wife Olive.[2] In 1978, their son, Paul began the management of his family’s bookshop business.[3]
Koorong opened their first Sydney store in Ryedale Road, West Ryde in 1978, moving to larger premises in West Parade, West Ryde in 1995.[4] In August 2005, Koorong took over the three Church Army bookstores at Newcastle, Tamworth and Gosford.[5]
Koorong now operates 15 stores across Australia,[6] including Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Fyshwick, Toowoomba and Launceston, with approximately 400 staff, Australia-wide[7] and a brochure mailing list of about 120,000.[8]
Koorong was described in 1994 as theologically conservative in terms of the books it sold, which was consistent with its Reformed Baptist roots.[9] Since that time, Koorong’s product range has expanded[10] to a broader coverage of the diverse sub-groups and movements associated with contemporary evangelical Christianity, including, for example: Church Growth movement, Charismatic Movement, Progressive Christianity, neo-Calvinism, Emerging church, and the Missional Church movement. Denominational streams represented include Reformed/Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Anabaptist, and Wesleyan.
In addition to a comprehensive range of Bibles, the subject categories and themes of Koorong's product range include: practical guidance on Christian living; popular devotionals; apologetics; academic theology and biblical studies; ministry resources; romance, suspense, and historical fiction; inspirational giftware; classic authors; Bible reference works and commentaries; contemporary worship music.[11] It has been asserted that most of the titles sold at Koorong are by North American authors.[12]
In December 2009 Koorong purchased UK based book publisher Authentic Media and Paternoster Publishers from IBS-STL.[13] In 2014, Koorong acquired a significant share of BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC, with a creative HQ based in Minneapolis MN, USA.
In August 2015 Koorong was acquired by Bible Society Australia. Bible Society Australia’s CEO Greg Clarke said: "We will now be able to share our important Bible work with, and garner support from, Koorong customers. What’s more, those who shop at Koorong can now know that their purchases will fund even more important Bible mission projects here and around the world."[14] The Bootes family continues to retain ownership of Koorong's publishing businesses, and Paul Bootes remains the CEO of the company.
Notes
- ↑ ASIC. "Company Name Search". Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- ↑ See the Koorong General FAQ webpage. Retrieved on 8 May 2009.
- ↑ See a brief profile of Paul Bootes on the Gospel Music Association Board Profile webpage. Retrieved on 8 May 2009.
- ↑ See the Koorong History page for these dates.
- ↑ See the Church Army August 2005 newsletter. Retrieved on 7 May 2009.
- ↑ "Koorong: Store Info". Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ↑ As reported on 2 August 2005 in a Mitel Press Release. Retrieved on 7 May 2009.
- ↑ Koorong also operates a busy online store. As at November 2004, the Australian Prayer Network thanked Koorong for mailing out its prayer newsletter in Koorong's monthly catalogue, with a size of 120,000. Retrieved on 11 May 2009. The August 2005 Mitel case study also gave a figure of about 120,000. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
- ↑ See the Association for Research in Education 1994 paper by Robert Long. Retrieved on 11 May 2009.
- ↑ Koorong advertises on its website that it has 150,000 Christian products.
- ↑ See
- ↑ See Charisma Magazine article entitled "What's Happening Down Under" dated 27 July 2007. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
- ↑ "STL Distribution: IBS-STL UK Trade Announcement".
- ↑ See Bible Society Australia acquires Koorong in partnership to increase access to God’s word. Retrieved on 17 August 2015.