Book Depot CEO Wilf Wikkerink Is Leading The Company To New Heights
Wilf Wikkerink, the CEO of internationally renowned Book Depot, is the proud son of Dutch immigrants who grew up on a dairy farm on Vancouver Island. During his formative years, he learned the value of hard work through tending to animals and taking on early responsibilities, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. His upbringing on the farm provided the cornerstone for his disciplined and unwavering approach to business.
Wikkerink later played men's club volleyball at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, earning his Bachelor of Business Administration.
His professional journey led him to spend nine years at Legacy Entertainment, where he, alongside his partner, built a thriving budget music company. Their joint efforts culminated in the successful sale of one of the industry's premier budget music companies to a UK-based entity, marking a significant achievement in their careers.
Today, Wilf Wikkerink leads Book Depot as its CEO, a position he's held since 2009. He champions Book Depot's mission across all stakeholders—employees, customers, and suppliers. With a strong commitment to assembling top talent and a focus on enhancing operations through innovative automation and technology, he drives the company forward with passion and purpose.
Book Depot Under Wilf Wikkerink’s Leadership
Under the leadership of Wilf Wikkerink, Book Depot has not just survived, but thrived, becoming a prominent name in the industry. His strategic decisions and vision have propelled the company to new heights, earning it recognition and respect.
Wikkerink says he's fascinated by people who use their gifts and talents to innovate, create and impact the world. He's especially drawn to dreamers who take a leap of faith, evolving from survivors to thrivers.
Wikkerink once heard an entrepreneur share a quote on a podcast that struck a chord with him: "The entrepreneur said something along the lines of, 'When someone tells me that is the craziest idea I've heard of, then I know I'm on to something!' That really resonated with me as many times in our business, we have sailed into uncharted waters and done things that others said could not be done. Are we always successful? No, but you cannot continue to build a business without some bumps and bruises along the way – and those bruises usually make you stronger."
Book Depot has been named one of "Canada's Best Managed Companies" and is a three-time (2021-'23) Waterstone named "Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures."
The Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $50 million, demonstrating leadership in strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth.
Team members who work for Book Depot enjoy exceptional perks like learning and career development opportunities through its own Book Depot University (BDU), and the atmosphere is fun and upbeat, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.
Employees say they enjoy working and serving together at community events, milestone recognition events, and celebrations to promote fellowship and fun.
Book Depot’s family atmosphere is dedicated to "winning together" in life and business. Book Depot has a servant leadership mindset, encouraging employees to step forward and lead by example, providing a standard of excellence daily to those around them.
Book Depot Is An Industry Change-Maker
Book Depot is North America's largest bargain book wholesaler and retailer, and its people are at the heart of everything they do.
Guided by their core values and passion for achieving results at work and in life, they are driven to provide a consistently exceptional customer experience for all those their products and services reach through constant growth and innovation.
At Book Depot, an entrepreneurial culture is not just a buzzword, but a way of life. It's this culture that has been the key to their success, as they embrace technology to innovate and achieve operating excellence. This commitment to innovation and excellence is what drives them to provide a consistently exceptional customer experience.
Canada-based Book Depot is a wholesale bargain book business that has saved organizations time and money for over 35 years. The company offers the largest selection of high-margin books and has 400-plus dedicated team members working at its 500,000-square-foot production facility. Book Depot stands out above the competition thanks to its state-of-the-art automated order fulfillment system that ensures businesses can get great titles on its shelves at a fraction of the cost.
Book Depot Provides For Customers Locally and Around the World
Book Depot adds hundreds of new arrivals to its website daily and has more than 50 categories available, so there is always something for every organization, regardless of size. Bargain books are simply publishers' excess books at significantly lower prices, and the selection is all new, unread and guaranteed to be in great condition. This allows businesses to often get a double-margin return on investment.
"Despite what you may read or hear, books are still a great business, and people still are buying them," said Wikkerink. "People enjoy cracking open a book and flipping through the pages." All of the books on the shelves are new, unread books that the publisher sells off in volume to reduce excess inventory, allowing Book Depot to offer the discounted prices it does.
Additional brands within the Book Depot portfolio include their B2C website: Book Outlet. A strong culture of innovation and growth has been vital to Book Depot's success as they consistently strive to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
Combined with this strong culture is their core purpose of Enchanting the Mind – one book at a time. The importance of reading and the belief that books should be accessible to all drives their operations.
"As we see continued consolidation in the publishing business, it is also becoming clearer that publishers require large partners that can provide turnkey inventory solutions for their remainders, overstocks and returns," said Wilf.
Wilf Wikkerink’s Family and Background
Outside of his professional endeavors, Wilf Wikkerink, the CEO of Book Depot, finds immense joy as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife, Natalie, have raised six children, two sons and four daughters with some of them now married and with their own children.
The Wikkerink clan cherishes their time outdoors, engaging in activities such as skiing, playing Spikeball, and immersing themselves in the pleasure of reading a captivating book.
Wilf Wikkerink and his leadership as a family man and CEO at Book Depot reflects a fusion of dedication, innovation, and a deep-rooted commitment to excellence. His journey from the dairy farms of Vancouver Island to the helm of a globally renowned company epitomizes the transformative power of perseverance and vision. Under his guidance, Book Depot continues to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the publishing industry with unwavering resilience and adaptability, solidifying its position as a beacon of success and inspiration in literature and commerce, and assuring its stakeholders of a secure future.
