The AAP reported StatShot sales data for April, which looks positive for a number of reasons. Trade sales of $576.6 were well higher than the final count for April 2017 of $518.6 million (which itself is higher than the initially-reported $505.3 million a year ago). And the AAP is still working with a reduced data pool that is missing the PGW publishers for this year. The biggest gains came from adult hardcovers (up $26.1 million in gross shipments, and $20.3 million on a net basis) and adult trade paperbacks (up $11.8 million in gross shipments, and $12.6 million net.) Digital […]
Archives for July 2018
More Earnings: Pearson Says PRH Sales Fell, Amazon Keeps Growing
Pearson reported modest results for the first half of 2018, with “good progress against strategic priorities” and their “efficiency program on track,” in line with their previous guidance for the year. (Which called for falling overall operating profit, though growth in the “underlying” profit.) The US higher ed business “grew modestly in the first half helped by lower returns, as expected” but is still projected to decline in the more important second half due to “underlying market pressures.” And the US K12 business remains up for sale. Profits from their stake in Penguin Random House declined to £22 million — […]
Lagardere Publishing Down Slightly So Far This Year
Lagardere reported second quarter (and half-year) results on Thursday, with sales at the publishing division down 3.7 in the quarter, at €558 million, versus €579 million a year ago. Last year’s acquisitions — primarily Bookouture, Jessica Kingsley, Summersdale and IsCool Entertainment — added about €6 million to second quarter sales (and €18 million in the first half of the year). Foreign exchange — primarily the weakening US dollar — cost €19 million in the quarter, and €42 million in the first half of the year. First half sales totalled €1 billion, down €19 million, and recurring EBIT was €40 million, […]
People, Etc.
At the Penguin Random House US Finance Group, Justine LeCates has been appointed vice president, director of US finance. In the newly created position, she’ll be responsible for overseeing the US division’s financial planning & reporting, analysis and financial Systems. Yvonne Ricciuti has been promoted to senior director of financial systems. In the Random House Publishing Group publicity department, Jennifer Garza has been promoted to director of publicity, Ballantine Bantam Dell; Greg Kubie becomes associate director of publicity; and Dhara Parikh moves up to senior publicist. Emily Ritter has joined Simon & Schuster Children’s as digital & social marketing manager. She was most recently marketing manager at […]
A Romance Publishing Preview, Part Two
Like the first installment from earlier this week, romance booksellers and owners of The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles Bea and Leah Koch wrote the seasonal preview for our recently-published sampler, Buzz Books 2018: Romance (free downloads are available for Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple’s iBooks, and Google Play). In addition to the 14 featured pre-publication excerpts in the sampler (noted in boldface below), the Kochs picked a wealth of noteworthy forthcoming romance titles to look for. Historical Historical romance has always been the bedrock of the genre and this year sees both classical and modern takes on the genre. The queen of the subversive […]
Another Reshuffling: Bonnier’s UK Publishing Will be Just Bonnier Books UK, Under Existing CEO Mann
Five months after the dismissal of Bonnier Publishing group ceo Richard Johnson, the company has decided to eliminate his position entirely. The UK-based book publishing group is renaming and rebranding the troubled division Bonnier Books UK. Perminder Mann, who was already ceo of the operating units, continues as ceo with the group now reporting straight to Bonnier Books in Sweden. Parent company Bonnier cfo Jim Zetterlund, who had been interim ceo after Johnson’s departure, will serve as chairman of Bonnier Books UK. Previously the Bonnier Publishing group had included units in the US and Australia. Now Bonnier Publishing USA will report to […]