Bay Area bookstore chain Books Inc. has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization. According to a release, Chapter 11 will allow Books Inc. to continue operating “while it establishes a sustainably solid financial footing in response to annual revenue losses resulting from steadily rising operating costs and dramatically changing consumer buying habits exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.” The Berkley location will close on February 9, with some of its staff transferring to other stores, and the 10 other stores will continue operating during the court proceedings. The Bankruptcy Code allows Books Inc to “work with its landlords to adjust lease costs […]
Archives for January 2025
Waterstones Results Improve
Waterstones filed a report for its fiscal year ending April 27, 2024 with the UK’s Companies House, reporting increased sales following the full integration of results from the acquired Blackwells and Foyles into their results. Sales were £528 million, up from £453 million the prior year, and operating profit rebounded to £43.8 million, up from £13.9 million. The previous year they suffered from “disruptions to the distribution center, caused by the implementation of a new warehouse management system.” As of the end of the previous fiscal year, the company was in the process of refinancing a £77.9 million term loan […]
People 1/21
New Books Publishing January 21
Rebecca Yarros and Han Kang publish new novels this week, while new nonfiction includes work from Kristen Martin, Markus Zusak, and Naomi Watts. Also out this week is My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher, excerpted in our Buzz Books 2024: Romance sampler. 13 works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-january-21 11 works of nonfiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-january-21 From Buzz Books https://buzz.publishersmarketplace.com/ We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists for the coming months on Bookshop. Check out January‘s 80 fiction releases, 38 works of nonfiction, […]
Obituary: John Taylor “Ike” Williams
Co-founder of literary agency Kneerim and Williams (which now operates as Calligraph) John Taylor Williams, known as Ike, died on December 26, 2024 at home in Cambridge, MA at age 86, surrounded by family. A lawyer by training, Williams represented publishing clients and literary rights at the Boston firm Palmer and Dodge before founding Kneerim and Williams with Jill Kneerim in 1990. The Provincetown Independent writes, “Ike possessed what used to be called charisma. When he walked into a restaurant, heads turned as if there were an invisible spotlight on him, even if most in the room had no idea […]
De Leo Leaves Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble’s chief merchandising officer since 2020 Jackie De Leo left the company earlier this week. CEO James Daunt wrote internally: “It is with great regret – and also sincere gratitude – that I announce that Jackie De Leo has decided to leave Barnes & Noble as she continues her stellar career across bookselling and publishing. Jackie joined Barnes & Noble at the start of 2020 and has been instrumental in the evolution of our stores as she led our merchant teams over the last 5 years. Her leadership has been inspiring and the contribution to the success of […]