Book Depot’s CEO Wilf Wikkerink: Guiding the Company Toward Greater Success
Wilf Wikkerink, CEO of the globally recognized Book Depot, is the proud son of Dutch immigrants and was raised on a dairy farm on Vancouver Island. In his early years, he developed a strong work ethic by caring for animals and taking on various responsibilities, which taught him the importance of hard work. His farm upbringing laid the foundation for his disciplined and steadfast approach to business.
Wikkerink went on to play men’s club volleyball at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, where he obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration.
His career path took him to Legacy Entertainment, where he spent nine years collaborating with his partner to establish a successful budget music company. Their combined efforts resulted in the profitable sale of one of the leading budget music companies in the industry to a UK-based firm, marking a significant milestone in their professional journey.
Currently, Wilf Wikkerink serves as the CEO of Book Depot, a role he has held since 2009. He actively promotes the company’s mission to all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and suppliers. With a dedication to attracting top talent and a focus on improving operations through cutting-edge automation and technology, he leads the company with both passion and purpose.
Book Depot’s Growth Under Wilf Wikkerink’s Leadership
With Wilf Wikkerink at the helm, Book Depot has not only endured but flourished, establishing itself as a key player in the industry. His strategic insights and forward-thinking vision have elevated the company to new levels of recognition and respect.
Wikkerink expresses a deep admiration for individuals who leverage their skills and talents to innovate, create, and make a difference in the world. He is particularly inspired by dreamers who take bold risks, transforming themselves from mere survivors into thriving achievers.
Wikkerink recalls hearing an entrepreneur on a podcast share a quote that deeply resonated 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 earned recognition as one of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies” and has been honored three times (2021-2023) by Waterstone as having “Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures.”
The recipients of the Best Managed program awards represent top-tier Canadian-owned and managed businesses with revenues exceeding $50 million, showcasing excellence in leadership, strategic capabilities, innovation, corporate culture, and financial performance to ensure sustainable growth.
Team members at Book Depot benefit from outstanding perks, including learning and career development opportunities through the company’s own Book Depot University (BDU). The work environment is lively and positive, nurturing a culture of innovation and inclusivity.
Employees express their enjoyment in collaborating and participating in community events, milestone recognition ceremonies, and celebrations that foster camaraderie and fun.
Book Depot fosters a family-oriented culture centered around the concept of “winning together” in both life and business. The company embraces a servant leadership approach, motivating employees to take initiative and lead by example, thereby establishing a daily standard of excellence for their peers.
Book Depot: A Leader in Industry Transformation
As North America’s largest wholesaler and retailer of bargain books, Book Depot places its people at the center of everything they do.
Driven by their core values and a commitment to achieving results in both work and life, they strive to deliver an outstanding customer experience for everyone who interacts with their products and services, all while focusing on continuous growth and innovation.
At Book Depot, fostering an entrepreneurial culture goes beyond mere terminology; it’s a fundamental aspect of their operations. This culture has been pivotal to their success as they leverage technology to innovate and enhance their operational excellence. Their dedication to innovation and quality is what fuels their ability to provide an exceptional customer experience consistently.
Based in Canada, Book Depot is a wholesale bargain book distributor that has been helping organizations save both time and money for over 35 years. With the largest selection of high-margin books available, the company employs over 400 dedicated team members at its expansive 500,000-square-foot production facility. Book Depot distinguishes itself from competitors with its advanced automated order fulfillment system, which allows businesses to stock great titles at a significantly reduced cost.
Book Depot Caters to Customers Both Locally and Globally
Book Depot updates its website daily with hundreds of new titles and offers over 50 categories, ensuring there is something for every organization, no matter its size. The bargain books consist of surplus stock from publishers, available at greatly reduced prices. All selections are brand new, unread, and guaranteed to be in excellent condition, enabling businesses to frequently achieve a double-margin return on their investment.
“Despite what you may read or hear, books are still a great business, and people still are buying them,” stated Wikkerink. “People enjoy cracking open a book and flipping through the pages.” All the titles available are brand new and unread, sourced in bulk from publishers looking to clear excess inventory, which enables Book Depot to provide its customers with significant discounts.
In addition to its main offerings, Book Depot also includes its B2C platform, Book Outlet. A robust culture of innovation and growth has been crucial to the company’s success, as they continuously work to provide an outstanding customer experience.
Central to this dynamic culture is their guiding mission: Enchanting the Mind – one book at a time. Their commitment to promoting the importance of reading and ensuring that books are accessible to everyone shapes their operational philosophy.
“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
Beyond his professional commitments, Wilf Wikkerink, CEO of Book Depot, takes great pleasure in his roles as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Together with his wife, Natalie, he has raised six children—two sons and four daughters—some of whom are now married and have children of their own.
The Wikkerink family values their time spent outdoors, enjoying activities like skiing, playing Spikeball, and indulging in the joy of reading an engaging book.
Wilf Wikkerink’s leadership, both as a family man and as CEO of Book Depot, embodies a blend of dedication, innovation, and a strong commitment to excellence. His path from the dairy farms of Vancouver Island to leading a globally recognized company exemplifies the transformative potential of perseverance and vision. Under his direction, Book Depot adeptly navigates the constantly changing landscape of the publishing industry with remarkable resilience and adaptability, reinforcing its status as a symbol of success and inspiration in literature and commerce while ensuring a stable future for its stakeholders.