The Harris Poll released an interesting survey on ereading conducted among almost 3,000 adults conducted in August. They find that 8 percent of American adults currently use an “electronic reader device, such as a Kindle, an iPad or a Nook.” Another 3 percent are “very likely” to purchase an eReader in the next six months, and another 9 percent said they were “somewhat likely” to do so. But a big fat 80 percent are not likely to do so. Over half of ereader owners believe they are reading more than they did before–and the poll confirms that those owners read […]
Archives for September 2010
People, Etc.
Joe Scalora has moved over to the Random House Publishing Group’s marketing department as associate manager, working on the Del Rey and Spectra lists, as well as the Star Wars and graphic novel publishing programs. He was a publicist for the group. Former managing director of the UK’s The Friday Project Clare Christian has started a web-based service offering “friendly independent advice on self-publishing.” Edwards Brothers has hired Andrew Pate for the new position of director of digital and program sales, part of their expansion into short-run offset, digital and print-on-demand book and journal manufacturing. Alibris Holdings has renamed itself […]
Barnes & Noble Stock Surges
The stock market in general rose this afternoon after the Federal Reserve said it was “prepared” to act further to support recovery, but Barnes & Noble’s stock outperformed other gainers with a 9.25 percent rise on the day with the contentious annual meeting less than a week away. (By comparison, the Dow Jones Average rose over 7 percent, but the broader S&P 500 actually declined almost 3 percent on the day.) Borders stock also rode the updraft, gaining almost 14.5 percent for the day on unusually high volume of 3 million shares (though at just over a dollar a share, […]
Macmillan In Long Tail Inventory Management Deal with Ingram
Macmillan will draw on Ingram’s print-on-demand service and physical distribution infrastructure to “manage traditional inventory and POD for ‘long tail’ titles…that no longer make sense to print and hold.” Macmillan’s chief operating officer Peter Garabedian says in the announcement that “the traditional methods of solving the logistics and print business challenges cannot remain the same.” Their new arrangement with Ingram “helps us reduce our overall inventory commitment and frees up capacity in our distribution center as well as resources to invest in the future success of our company.” Macmillan will “continue to fully service its customer relationships from its primary […]
Your Proxy Fight Daily Report
Today Barnes & Noble chairman Len Riggio added to shareholders’ mailboxes by apologizing for all the mail–and blaming Ron Burkle. “For the past six weeks your mailboxes have been full of letters urging you to vote your shares in favor of the company, or in favor of Mr. Burkle of Yucaipa. They are referred to as ‘fight letters,’ and they often live up to the promise. For myself and the good people of Barnes & Noble it is a fight we did not ask for, and do not deserve.” The company also points to their endorsement by another small proxy […]
People, Etc.: Farley to Leave, Prichard Joins Penguin Canada, Smith Writes for Harper’s, and More
Macmillan Children’s president and publisher Dan Farley intends to step down after an “orderly transition” to a successor so that he can return to living full-time in San Diego “after fourteen years of bicoastal business and commuting.” Based on that decision, Farley and Macmillan ceo John Sargent “looked toward the next phase for the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group” and “determined that my new plans would not mesh with the business needs of the group.” He wrote to employees yesterday in a memo “with publishing programs and operations performing effectively, with consolidation richly underway, with smart and well-thought out strategic planning […]