SCM Verlagsgruppe
SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH is a German Christian publishing group, owned by Stiftung Christliche Medien, that operates the Hänssler imprint and scm-shop.de to publish and sell Christian books, worship music, sheet music, films, and gifts to individual consumers, churches, and Christian bookstores across German-speaking markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersHolzgerlingen, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SCM Verlagsgruppe does
SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH is a German Christian media publishing group headquartered in Holzgerlingen, Germany, operating under the ownership of Stiftung Christliche Medien, a nonprofit foundation. Founded in 1919 and operating through its core subsidiary SCM Hänssler, the group publishes and distributes Christian books, Bibles, music and sheet music, films, gifts/lifestyle products, and children's media across German-speaking markets. The catalog totals more than 5,735 products, with the largest categories being music (4,780 items) and sheet music/scores (4,227 items), supplemented by 888 book titles, a Bibles line, films, and gift/lifestyle items. The flagship intellectual property is the 'Feiert Jesus!' worship songbook series, which has been continuously published for over 30 years and is available in multiple volumes and formats (ring-bound, chords, kids, anniversary editions), giving SCM an entrenched position within German Protestant worship programming.
The business operates an integrated go-to-market across owned direct-to-consumer e-commerce (scm-shop.de), a wholesale dealer portal (Händlerportal) feeding Christian bookstores, and a digital download channel with 5,395+ digital SKUs available globally. Monetization is primarily transactional, with physical hardcover books priced at €14.95–€25.00, eBooks from €19.99, and a club membership program (SCM Club) offering member discounts alongside an affiliate program and email newsletter. The customer base is split between individual Christian consumers, churches and Christian communities purchasing worship and educational resources, and wholesale Christian bookstore buyers. Recent strategic emphasis has been on heritage monetization (the 2025 '100 Jahre Hänssler' centenary edition, the 2024 'Feiert Jesus! Gold' 30th-anniversary volume), vertical extension into children's and youth sub-brands (hänssler kids, Feiert Jesus! Kids), and the continued expansion of digital downloads to extend reach beyond German-speaking physical retail. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capabilities; the technology footprint is a standard publishing e-commerce stack with digital delivery of EPUB, PDF, and MP3 assets.
SCM Verlagsgruppe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SCM Verlagsgruppe
- Legal name
- SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH
- Website
- https://scm-haenssler.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH is a German Christian publishing group, owned by Stiftung Christliche Medien, that operates the Hänssler imprint and scm-shop.de to publish and sell Christian books, worship music, sheet music, films, and gifts to individual consumers, churches, and Christian bookstores across German-speaking markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SCM Verlagsgruppe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Publishing and Media
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Fiction & Inspirational Literature Publishing (MPAJAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD), Religious Children’s Publishing (Faith-Based Kids & YA) (MPAJAHAJ), Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB)
Keywords
Where SCM Verlagsgruppe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Holzgerlingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
SCM Verlagsgruppe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | — | Physical books - Hardcover editions |
| One time/ perpetual license | — | Digital products - eBooks and MP3 downloads |
| Unit Pricing | — | Music scores and sheet music |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SCM Verlagsgruppe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SCM Verlagsgruppe is a German Christian publishing group that, through its SCM Hänssler imprint, publishes and sells Christian literature, music, sheet music, films, gifts, and children's media. The company operates the scm-shop.de e-commerce platform, offering over 5,700 products including 888 books, 4,780 music items, 4,227 sheet music items, and 5,395 digital downloads, plus wholesale distribution to Christian bookstores through its Händlerportal (dealer portal). Its flagship offerings include the Feiert Jesus! worship songbook series and the Damaris Kofmehl Bible-thriller novels.
Product overview
SCM Hänssler is the principal publishing imprint of SCM Verlagsgruppe, a German Christian media publishing group owned by Stiftung Christliche Medien. It operates as a multi-format publishing house offering a unified catalogue across distinct product verticals: books (including the Feiert Jesus! worship songbook series as its flagship music product, Bible thrillers by Damaris Kofmehl, and a wide range of non-fiction, biography, and fiction titles), music and sheet music, films, gifts/lifestyle products, and children's/youth materials. The entire portfolio is sold through the SCM-Shop.de e-commerce platform, which supports both physical formats (Hardcover, CD, DVD, paperback) and digital formats (eBook/EPUB, PDF, MP3 download). The publisher also maintains branded sub-lines such as Feiert Jesus! (and its Kids spin-off), hänssler kids, the Damaris Kofmehl Bible-thriller series, and the Israel-Thriller series, alongside 100 Jahre Hänssler (centenary) commemorative editions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Feiert Jesus!: Christian worship song collection series - one of the most well-known German Christian music songbook series spanning 30+ years
- hänssler kids
- hänssler music
Products and services
- SCM Hänssler Books & Media Core publishing imprint of SCM Verlagsgruppe publishing Christian books (non-fiction, biographies, fiction, devotionals, children's & youth books), Bibles, audiobooks, eBooks, and periodicals in the German Christian media space.
- SCM Hänssler Music Music publishing division producing and distributing Christian music across genres including praise & worship, choir & congregation, instrumental, children's music, musicals, and MP3 downloads.
- SCM Hänssler Sheet Music Sheet music publishing arm offering printed music for brass/woodwind, choirs (mixed, men's, women's, children's), piano, worship songs, children's songs, children's musicals, and individual song sheets.
- SCM Hänssler Films Film publishing and distribution division offering dramas, series, Bible adaptations, children's films, documentaries, and lectures/talks on DVD and video.
- Feiert Jesus! Worship Songbook Series Flagship worship songbook series spanning multiple volumes (Feiert Jesus! 1–6+), formats (spiral-bound, Chords, easy guitar), and special editions (Best of, Gold anniversary), containing German-language worship songs with lyrics, melody lines, and guitar chords for church services, home groups, and small groups.
- Feiert Jesus! Kids Songbook Series Children's worship songbook series including a notated songbook with over 180 songs for use in children's ministry, containing both classic and newly published children's songs.
- Bibel-Thriller by Damaris Kofmehl Sub-series of Bible-based thriller novels by bestselling author Damaris Kofmehl, retelling biblical narratives (Noah, Abraham, Josef, Jakob) as modern-paced thriller narratives with spiritual themes.
- SCM-Shop.de E-Commerce Platform Primary e-commerce and digital sales platform for SCM Verlagsgruppe, selling the publisher's full catalogue including books, music, sheet music, films, gifts, and children's products across physical and digital formats (CD, DVD, MP3 download, eBook in EPUB/PDF). Includes customer club membership and affiliate programme.
- Christian Gifts & Lifestyle Gift and lifestyle product line including greeting cards, stationery, decoration, tableware, jewellery, clothing/textiles, games/toys, calendars, pop-up books, gift books, and gift vouchers.
- Children's & Youth Products Children's and youth product range including picture books, children's books, children's Bibles, children's music, children's films, children's cups/tableware, children's calendars, audio plays, arts/crafts, and teen books.
- Israel-Thriller Novel Series Series of thriller novels set in Israel covering themes of faith, decision, and courage; includes titles such as 'Der Auftrag' and 'Die Entscheidung', available as individual books or a discounted bundle.
- hänssler kids Children's publishing imprint under SCM Hänssler, publishing age-appropriate books, music, films, and interactive products for children and youth, including the Club der 7 Siegel (Club of 7 Seals) mystery series.
Companies that use SCM Verlagsgruppe
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SCM Verlagsgruppe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SCM Verlagsgruppe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Stiftung Christliche MediencoreSCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH is an affiliate company of Stiftung Christliche Medien (Foundation for Christian Media), which owns and oversees the publishing group. This foundation backing provides strategic alignment with Christian media mission.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SCM Verlagsgruppe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kailash Verlag: German publisher with a religion/spirituality catalog under the Droemer Knaur umbrella. Comparable in publishing inspirational and religious literature for German-speaking readers, though with broader spiritual rather than strictly Christian focus.
- adeo Verlag: German Christian publisher producing books, audio books, and films in the Christian lifestyle and faith space. Comparable as a mid-sized multi-format Christian media company targeting individual believers and church customers.
- Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft Dillenburg: German Christian publisher producing books, music, and media for churches and individuals. Comparable as a long-established evangelical publisher with multi-format offerings for the German Christian market.
- SCM R. Brockhaus: Christian publishing imprint within the same SCM/Stiftung Christliche Medien family. Directly comparable in mission, distribution platform, and audience, producing Bible studies, Christian non-fiction, and inspirational titles.
- Brunnen Verlag: German Christian publisher based in Gießen producing books, Bibles, and Christian media. Directly comparable as a German-language religious publisher serving churches, bookstores, and individual Christian consumers with overlapping product categories.
- Gerth Medien: German Christian media publisher specializing in music, books, and gifts, also affiliated with Stiftung Christliche Medien. Closely comparable as a sister imprint within the same foundation, offering worship music and devotional content to overlapping audiences.
- Francke-Buchhandlung: Long-running German Christian publisher and bookseller with a focus on evangelical and pietistic literature. Comparable in serving German Protestant communities with books, devotionals, and Christian media.
- Calwer Verlag: German Christian publisher associated with evangelical educational and devotional content. Comparable in producing Bible-based books, sermon aids, and Christian educational material for German-speaking Protestant audiences.
Regional players
- Bonifatius Verlag: German Catholic publisher based in Paderborn producing books, music, and media for the Catholic market. Comparable in product mix (books, music, gifts) but serves the Catholic segment rather than SCM's primarily evangelical audience.
Broad incumbents
- Penguin Random House Germany: Germany's largest trade publisher across general fiction, non-fiction, and religion. Comparable as a publisher operating at scale with established distribution, but serving a much broader secular market rather than a Christian-specialized niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SCM Verlagsgruppe social profiles
Digital presenceSCM Verlagsgruppe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SCM Verlagsgruppe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SCM Verlagsgruppe subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SCM Verlagsgruppe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SCM Verlagsgruppe 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 SCM Verlagsgruppe
What does SCM Verlagsgruppe do?
SCM Verlagsgruppe is a German Christian publishing group that, through its SCM Hänssler imprint, publishes and sells Christian literature, music, sheet music, films, gifts, and children's media. The company operates the scm-shop.de e-commerce platform, offering over 5,700 products including 888 books, 4,780 music items, 4,227 sheet music items, and 5,395 digital downloads, plus wholesale distribution to Christian bookstores through its Händlerportal (dealer portal). Its flagship offerings include the Feiert Jesus! worship songbook series and the Damaris Kofmehl Bible-thriller novels.
Is SCM Verlagsgruppe a public or private company?
SCM Verlagsgruppe is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SCM Verlagsgruppe founded?
SCM Verlagsgruppe was founded in 1919. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SCM Verlagsgruppe based?
SCM Verlagsgruppe is headquartered in Holzgerlingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are SCM Verlagsgruppe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kailash Verlag, adeo Verlag, Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft Dillenburg, SCM R. Brockhaus, Brunnen Verlag, Gerth Medien, Francke-Buchhandlung and Calwer Verlag. Bonifatius Verlag is listed as a regional player. Penguin Random House Germany is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does SCM Verlagsgruppe have an API?
No public API is recorded for SCM Verlagsgruppe.
What industry is SCM Verlagsgruppe in?
SCM Verlagsgruppe's product category is Christian Publishing and Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAF, Religious Fiction & Inspirational Literature Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAHAA, Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.