Wilf Wikkerink has carved a unique path through the industry, becoming a significant figure in the world of book distribution as the CEO of Book Depot. His journey began on a dairy farm on Vancouver Island, where he grew up as the son of Dutch immigrants. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, he embarked on a career that saw him become a partner and Operations Director at Legacy Entertainment. There, he and his business partner built one of the leading budget music companies before selling it to a UK-based company. In 2005, he joined Book Depot, where he has since been sharing the company’s vision and fostering relationships across the globe. His leadership focuses on team building, business development, and optimizing operations through automation and technology. With his wife Natalie, Wilf Wikkerink enjoys a rich family life and has six children and five grandchildren. This interview delves into his experiences, insights, and perspectives on the book industry and leadership.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
How did your upbringing influence your career choices and leadership style?
Growing up on a dairy farm on Vancouver Island instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for perseverance. My parents, as immigrants, worked incredibly hard, and that was something I learned from an early age. The values of hard work, integrity, and the importance of community have stayed with me throughout my career. These principles have guided me in building strong, lasting relationships and have been crucial in leading teams effectively.
What were some of the pivotal moments in your career journey that led you to your current role at Book Depot?
One of the most significant moments was during my time at Legacy Entertainment. There, we were able to grow a successful budget music company which we eventually sold to a UK-based company. This experience taught me a lot about business growth and the importance of strategic partnerships. When I joined Book Depot in 2005, I was excited to apply what I had learned to a new industry. Leading Book Depot has been an incredible journey where I’ve been able to focus on both organic growth and growth through acquisitions.
Achievements and Challenges
What would you consider your most significant career accomplishment at Book Depot?
The acquisition of our largest competitor three years ago stands out as a major milestone. This was a transformative deal for our business, and I believe it will continue to bring long-term benefits not only for our customers and vendors but also for our team members across both the USA and Canada.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your business today, especially considering the industry’s reliance on production staff?
Finding new employees in production facilities is indeed a challenge. Many younger workers are not seeking jobs in these areas, which means we must continuously explore automation as a pathway for growth. Increasing automation can enhance productivity, leading to higher wages—a win-win for our team members.
Leadership and Insights
What advice would you give to someone seeking a career in your industry?
I would say the same thing to anyone, regardless of the industry: have a positive attitude, work hard, be true to your word, and be willing to learn and grow. These attributes will make you stand out from the crowd and open up more opportunities than you can imagine. I always hire for attitude and train for skill, as a good attitude and willingness to learn are far more valuable than skills alone .
If you could start your career over, what would you do differently?
I would have surrounded myself with stronger hires earlier in my career. As we grew our business, hiring for new roles always seemed like a monumental leap. Each time we did, we were rewarded with results and often wished we had made those hires sooner. Investing in your team and their success is key to achieving long-term results .
Success and Vision in Publishing
Where do you think your industry/profession will be in 5 or 10 years?
I believe the printed book business will continue to be a strong business in years to come. We have weathered a few storms over the past years, including the e-book and the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Kindle came out in 2007, there were many who predicted the end of the physical book business, similar to what happened to the music business. A lot in our industry hunkered down in expectation of the worst. It was during that time we decided to spend some time investigating how we could build our business for the future, to embrace new technologies and innovation to strengthen our company. This was the beginning of our automation journey. The pandemic also proved that consumers love the physical book—when supply chains were struggling to deal with the increased demand of e-commerce and consumers had to wait weeks to receive their shipment of books, the largest percentage of customers still chose a physical book over purchasing an e-book, which they could have received in seconds. While e-books will always have their place in the market, today’s consumers have proved again and again that they love the feel and smell of a physical book. Publishers have also innovated a lot by producing books with painted edges and other features that make books a collectible, something that e-books can never do.
Life, Leadership, and Staying Grounded
Do you have any hobbies or interests? How do you like to spend your free time?
I enjoy traveling with my wife and kids/grandkids, golf, reading, and just spending time together as a family.
Please share a quote that you have found particularly meaningful or inspiring.
I have two… one more business-focused and one more political. “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch. “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.” – Ronald Reagan.
How do you stay inspired and motivated during challenging times?
I believe the key to staying inspired and motivated during challenging times is to be grateful. So often our first reaction, me included, is to ask why we have to go through this difficult thing, rather than to understand what we might learn through the challenge. If you start from a posture of gratefulness, it helps ground you and puts you in a better mindset to deal with the difficulty at hand—how you might handle it and what you might learn from it. Being optimistic and casting a vision for your team is absolutely critical as a leader during challenging times. I’m not talking about just painting a rosy sky when it is clearly grey, but rather, being honest about the situation you find yourself in, sharing stories of how as a team you overcame prior challenges, and speaking about some of the current options, even though you may not have all the answers. Constant communication is also very key during difficult times.
Wilf Wikkerink shares insights into the publishing industry that provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for those looking to thrive in this field.
By Chris Bates
