Gerth Medien
Gerth Medien is a German Christian publishing house (founded 1949) based in Aßlar, operating within SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH and owned by the non-profit Stiftung Christliche Medien. It publishes and retails books, Bibles, music, films, gifts, and children's faith content to DACH-region Christian consumers via its e-commerce site and broader SCM distribution network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersAßlar, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gerth Medien does
Gerth Medien is a German Christian publishing house and media retailer operating as a brand within SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH, which is wholly owned by the non-profit foundation Stiftung Christliche Medien. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Aßlar, Germany, the company publishes and retails physical and digital products across six core categories: books (including novels, devotionals, Bibles, eBooks, and audiobooks), music (CDs, downloads, and sheet music), films (DVD and Blu-ray), gifts and stationery, children's products, and worship materials. Its e-commerce platform at gerth.de, plus the broader SCM-Shop.de, distributes this catalog into the DACH region through direct-to-consumer sales, Christian bookstore retail, a B2B dealer portal, and the SCM Club loyalty program.
The underlying technology stack is a conventional e-commerce storefront with a DRM-free EPUB distribution layer that includes visible and invisible watermarking; eBooks are compatible with a broad set of reading apps and devices (Apple Books, Google Play Books, Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, Bluefire Reader, Aldiko, Tolino, Kobo, and Kindle via Bluefire). Digital formats extend to audiobooks (CD and MP3) and music downloads. The company does not expose a public API and offers no developer-facing integration beyond consumer reading-app compatibility.
Gerth Medien operates a B2C model with primarily one-time/perpetual pricing on physical and digital goods (books €9.99-€25, music CDs €9.95-€17.99, DVDs €7.95-€16), supplemented by gift vouchers (€5-€100) and a free Club loyalty program that requires a minimum €50 annual spend to unlock free shipping, exclusive discounts, and a six-month magazine subscription. Customer segmentation spans general Christian consumers, women, families with children, churches/worship communities, and Christian film enthusiasts; the ministry-oriented foundation ownership structure means the company pursues content-distribution and engagement objectives alongside commercial returns.
Gerth Medien firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gerth Medien
- Legal name
- Gerth Medien i.d. SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH
- Website
- https://gerth.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gerth Medien is a German Christian publishing house (founded 1949) based in Aßlar, operating within SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH and owned by the non-profit Stiftung Christliche Medien. It publishes and retails books, Bibles, music, films, gifts, and children's faith content to DACH-region Christian consumers via its e-commerce site and broader SCM distribution network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gerth Medien industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Media Publishing
- NAICS
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Religious Nonfiction & Theology Publishing (Apologetics, Doctrine, Ethics) (MPAJAHAG), Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age) (MPAJAHAH), Religious & Spiritual Print-on-Demand (Bibles, Devotionals) (MPAJANAG), Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Sales & Merchandising (Publisher Stores, Bundles) (MPAJAKAD), Specialty & Niche Channel Distribution (Religious, Comic Shops, Specialty Retail) (MPAJAKAH)
Keywords
Where Gerth Medien is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aßlar
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Gerth Medien business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift vouchers for gifting |
| Subscription | Annual | Club membership (SCM-Shop.de) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Books - various formats |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Music - Audio CDs and Downloads |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Films - DVD and Blu-ray |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Gerth Medien product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gerth Medien publishes and distributes Christian media products across six categories — books, Bibles, music, sheet music, films, and gifts — for German-speaking consumers, churches, and retailers. Products are delivered in multiple formats including physical (paperback, hardcover, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays), digital (ePUB eBooks, MP3 music downloads), and as gift vouchers. The company operates direct-to-consumer sales through gerth.de and SCM-Shop.de, with wholesale distribution via a dealer portal and physical Christian bookstores across the DACH region.
Product overview
Gerth Medien is a Christian publishing house and media company operating under the SCM Verlagsgruppe (Stiftung Christliche Medien). It publishes physical and digital products across six core categories: Bücher (books, including eBooks and audiobooks), Bibel (Bibles), Musik (music and sheet music), Filme (films on DVD and Blu-ray), Geschenke (gifts and stationery), and Kinder (children's products). The portfolio includes books in multiple formats (hardcover, paperback, Klappenbroschur, flexcover), audio media (CDs, MP3 downloads), digital downloads (eBooks in ePUB format, music, sheet music), and physical gift items. The company also operates the SCM-Shop.de platform with a free Club loyalty program. Notable recent titles include the devotional 'alltagsnah & himmelweit' (2025), the children's book 'Du bist ein Geschenk Gottes' (2026), 'Heiliger Geist für Normalos' (2026), and the DVD 'Wahrheit & Verrat' (2026). The company also produced the worship compilation 'Holy Ground – Lieder für Jesus Nachfolger' (2025). eBooks are distributed DRM-free in ePUB format and are watermarked, compatible with a broad range of eBook readers and reading applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bücher (Books) Physical and digital books across multiple genres including novels, biographies, devotionals, non-fiction, comics, children's and youth books, gift books, audiobooks, and eBooks, targeted at German-speaking Christian readers.
- Bibel (Bibles) Bibles in various German translations, children's Bibles, and comic Bibles, covering multiple versions and reading plans for Christian individuals, families, and study groups.
- Musik (Music) Christian music across genres including songbooks, worship, choir and congregation music, musicals, instrumental, children's music, and digital music downloads, targeting Christian listeners, churches, and choirs.
- Noten (Sheet Music) Sheet music for Christmas, brass ensembles, choirs, worship songs, children's songs, children's musicals, individual song sheets, songbooks, and sheet music sets, targeted at churches, choirs, and worship groups.
- Filme (Films) Feature films, TV series, Bible adaptations, children's films, documentaries, and lectures on DVD and Blu-ray formats, targeted at Christian film enthusiasts and families.
- Geschenke (Gifts) Gift items including cards, stationery, decoration, mugs and tableware, clothing and textiles, games and toys, stand-up books, gift books, and gift vouchers, targeted at Christian consumers and gift purchasers.
- Kinder (Children's Products) Children's products including picture books, children's books, children's Bibles, children's music, children's films, children's mugs and tableware, audio plays, games and crafts, and teen books, targeted at families with children seeking faith-based content.
- eBooks (Digital Books) Digital book formats (ePUB primarily) compatible with a wide range of eBook readers and reading applications, offered DRM-free with visible and invisible watermarking for German-speaking Christian readers.
- Hörbücher (Audiobooks) Audiobooks available on CD and as MP3 downloads, covering devotional, fiction, and non-fiction titles for adults and children.
- Musik-Downloads (Music Downloads) Digital music downloads including worship songs and other Christian music genres, available for purchase on the platform.
- Geschenkgutschein (Gift Voucher) Gift vouchers available in denominations from €5 to €100, enabling recipients to choose from the full range of products on the SCM Shop.
- SCM-Shop.de Club (Loyalty Program) Free customer loyalty program offering free shipping from €25, exclusive discounts, a free 6-month magazine subscription, and birthday surprises for members who spend at least €50 per year.
- Holy Ground – Lieder für Jesus Nachfolger (Worship Album) Worship music album featuring 10 songs produced during a 2-day writers' gathering in May 2025 with worship leaders, musicians, and intercessors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
- Händlerportal (Dealer Portal) B2B dealer portal for retailers and resellers to purchase Gerth Medien products at wholesale for physical or digital resale across the DACH region.
Companies that use Gerth Medien
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gerth Medien technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature1 record
Gerth Medien partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gerth Medien competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- R. Brockhaus Verlag: Another SCM Verlagsgruppe imprint focused on devotional, theology and Bible resources; directly comparable to Gerth Medien in product mix (Bibles, devotionals, theology) and target audience within German Protestant faith publishing.
- Brunnen Verlag: Giessen-based German Christian publisher offering books, devotionals, music and gifts in overlapping product categories — a like-for-like rival in the evangelical German Christian media space.
- SCM Verlag: Sister imprint under the same SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH, publishing general Christian titles, Bibles and media; competes directly with Gerth Medien for shelf space, author relationships and consumer mind-share in the DACH Christian publishing market.
- Hänssler Verlag: Stuttgart-based publisher of Christian books, music and audio media including well-known hymnals and worship resources; overlaps directly with Gerth's Musik, Noten and devotional book categories.
- Francke Verlag: German Christian publishing house with a strong devotional and audiobook catalog targeting the same evangelical DACH audience; competes with Gerth Medien for devotional buyers and audio format demand.
- Verlag der Stiftung Christliche Medien: Publishing arm of the same parent foundation (Stiftung Christliche Medien); operates as a peer Christian imprint adjacent to Gerth within the foundation's wider publishing strategy.
Emerging players
- Gerth Medien competitors – Adonia Musik: German Christian music label and publisher particularly active in children's musicals and worship; partial-overlap competitor to Gerth's Musik and Kinder (children's music) lines.
Broad incumbents
- Herder Verlag: Large Catholic-leaning German publisher with broad religious, devotional and children's books; broader incumbent that overlaps with Gerth's devotional and family content categories at scale.
- Gütersloher Verlagshaus: Protestant publishing house (Erlangen/Gütersloh) covering theology, devotionals and religious education; broader incumbent competing for theological and educational buyers that overlap with Gerth's core readers.
Regional players
- Calwer Verlag (Oncken-Gruppe): Stuttgart-based Protestant publishing house under Oncken Group distributing books, eBooks and audio media in Germany; complementary niche peer in the German evangelical book/audiobook market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gerth Medien social profiles
Digital presenceGerth Medien financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gerth Medien leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Gerth Medien funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gerth Medien M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gerth Medien
What does Gerth Medien do?
Gerth Medien publishes and distributes Christian media products across six categories — books, Bibles, music, sheet music, films, and gifts — for German-speaking consumers, churches, and retailers. Products are delivered in multiple formats including physical (paperback, hardcover, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays), digital (ePUB eBooks, MP3 music downloads), and as gift vouchers. The company operates direct-to-consumer sales through gerth.de and SCM-Shop.de, with wholesale distribution via a dealer portal and physical Christian bookstores across the DACH region.
Is Gerth Medien a public or private company?
Gerth Medien is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gerth Medien founded?
Gerth Medien was founded in 1949. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gerth Medien based?
Gerth Medien is headquartered in Aßlar, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Gerth Medien's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are R. Brockhaus Verlag, Brunnen Verlag, SCM Verlag, Hänssler Verlag, Francke Verlag and Verlag der Stiftung Christliche Medien. Gerth Medien competitors – Adonia Musik is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Herder Verlag and Gütersloher Verlagshaus. Calwer Verlag (Oncken-Gruppe) is listed as a regional player.
Does Gerth Medien have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gerth Medien.
What industry is Gerth Medien in?
Gerth Medien's product category is Christian Media Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAB, Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAC, Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides). Its NAICS code is 5131 and its SIC code is 2731.