Indie supplier Westar offers DVDs for $5
Retailers buy online, get free shipping
By Cindy Spielvogel -- Video Business, 8/4/2008 6:08:00 PM
AUG. 4 | Westar Distributors is launching a system designed to make it easy and cheap for retailers to buy its DVDs, offering its titles on a Web site for only $5 each. Retailers can go to Cinetent.com and use the code RETAIL4ME to purchase the films with a credit card, with free shipping thrown in.
The system is designed to encourage retailers to buy some of the company’s independent titles with the budget they have left over after buying major releases, said George Jiha, president of Westar. There are no minimum purchase requirements. And no suggested retail prices, preorder dates or street dates. “This is a no brainer,” he said.
For the program to be successful, the company will need to move about 15,000 units per title, Jiha said.
The first six titles available under the program are faith-based Abraham: The Friend of God, American Pie imitator Australian Pie: Naked Love, South Florida Creole romantic comedy Café au Lait, The Fine Art of Love starring Jacqueline Bisset, animated family film Little Longnose and faith-based The Parable of the Christ. Two, Café au Lait and Parable of the Christ, were shown in theaters, and Parable of the Christ was released on a limited basis on DVD; otherwise, the only previous availability for most of the titles is Amazon, where they sell for about $15.
Westar has exclusive rights to the titles, which include productions under the Westar name as well as films from labels including Harvest Entertainment Group, which supplies faith-based films.
Westar plans to offer six to 10 different titles on the Web site each month.
The company is getting the word out about the program through trade ads and publicity, word-of-mouth and trade e-mail blasts. They don’t plan to use direct mail; “We’re concentrating on the digital aspect,” Jiha said.
Cinetent.com might eventually be promoted to consumers, with titles offered at a higher price point of $7, Jiha said. For now, the company is focusing on retailers.
