The bookseller will only sell her books by special order going forward. Spokesperson Leigh Dethman says: “Like any retailer, our purpose is to offer products that are embraced and expected by our customers. When we find products that are met with mixed review, we typically move them to special order status.Salt Lake Tribune
Archives for April 2009
Little, Brown's New Look
For the first time in more than seventy years, Little, Brown and its children’s division have new logos, created by typographer and graphic artist Lance Hidy:
Amazon Continues Growth, But Media Sales Lag
Overall sales for the first quarter at Amazon.com increased by 18 percent to $4.89 billion, as operating income increased 23 percent to $244 million in the first quarter, and net income rose 24 percent to $177 million. But the growth was driven heavily by electronics, as the media segment–which includes books and digital downloads among other items–continues to lag the company’s overall performance. North American media sales of $1.305 billion were up 8 percent compared to a year (similar to the rise in the previous quarter), while international media sales of $1.418 billion were up just six percent, held back […]
Creamer Takes Over at Touchstone, Gompertz Made Digital Publisher, and More
Broadway editor-in-chief Stacy Creamer will take over as publisher of Touchstone Fireside on May 11, but unlike her predecessor Mark Gompertz, she will report to Free Press publisher Martha Levin instead of ceo Carolyn Reidy. But the two lines “will have independently functioning editorial and publishing staffs,” the company underscores in their announcement. Reidy says, “Stacy is one of the true stars of the publishing world. She is highly regarded for her editorial skill, eclectic taste, and ability to acquire and nurture books that garner both critical acclaim and major bestselling status. In […]
Sales Off at WH Smith; New Betrams Owner Reports
High-street sales fell 6 percent at WH Smith in the first half of their fiscal year, at 522 million pounds, and profits of 47 million pounds declined by the same percentage. Same-store book sales declined less, at 3 percent, and the company says “we saw further good share performance versus the general high street with strong market shares in kids books…and celebrity autobiographies.” They add that “we increased the focus on kids books with major range reviews leading to wider ranges being introduced in areas such as picture books.” Smith release The new owners of UK wholesaler Bertrams also reported […]
Walsh Could Rise In WMA/Endeavor Mash-Up
The Hollywood Reporter says that “among the strongest contenders” for William Morris’s five board seats if the merger with Endeavor goes through are literary department co-head Jennifer Rudolph Walsh–plus president David Wirtschafter, COO Irv Weintraub, motion picture head John Fogelman and ceo Jim Wiatt. Multiple accounts estimate WMA’s revenues at $200 million, and Endeavor’s at about $100 million, though they are slated to have five board seats each. The Wrap says WMA currently has 300 agents and Endeavor employees 75–with unattributed estimates guessing that as many as 100 agents will be fired and/or leave.HR