According to a message board populated by anonymous Borders employees, all store-based Paperchase merchandisers/managers in the over 337 in-store shops within Borders stores have been let go. Some posts on that same board suggest that regional managers are being given notice as well. One employee writes, “As I understood it, the entire Paperchase field team has been eliminated.” Borders spokesperson Mary Davis says that regional managers are not affected and will continue in their current roles. On the broader reductions, the company says: “Borders is always looking for opportunities to improve performance and profitability. The changes we have made in […]
Bookstores
DC's Politics and Prose Seeks New Owner
The news is now public that Washington, DC’s iconic Politics and Prose bookstore is up for sale. (At least one trade-related group has been in informal discussions with owners Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade recently.) Meade tells the Washington Post, “It’s time for us to stop and let somebody else take over for the future” as Cohen adds, “I just don’t have the energy like I used to.” Sadly, as the story quietly underscores, “Cohen is also seriously ill.” The store’s financials are said to be solid, though for some odd reason the newspaper chooses to cite recent sales number […]
Reflecting Weak Market, WH Smith Confirms Sales Decline
WH Smith issued a brief trading update for the 14 weeks ending June 5. With the UK book market in general decline, their High Street stores declined 4 percent on a like-for-like basis compared to a year ago. Their travel stores were also down 4 percent overall, which they somehow parsed into 2 percent regular decline and 2 percent volcanic ash decline.
Borders: Two Heads Are Better Than One
Borders ceo search is over as the company awards the title to two men. Bennet LeBow further confirmed the extent to which he has taken over the company by making himself chief executive officer of Borders Group as well as chairman of its board. Interim ceo Mike Edwards will stay on as well, keeping the titles of president and ceo of Borders, Inc. running the US bookselling business and reporting to LeBow. Edwards joined Borders last September. He tells Reuters, “Ben has a very sound financial background, understands capital markets, is very astute in managing liquidity in turnaround situations and […]
People, Etc.
On Simon & Schuster’s distribution side, Frank Nunez has been promoted to vp, business operations, reporting to Joe D’Onofrio. Tuttle Publishing will distribute Shanghai Press and Publishing Development Company’s English-language books about China. At McGraw-Hill Professional’s business group, Stephanie Frerich and Leila Porteous have both joined the unit as editors. Frerich was at Ivan R. Dee; Porteous was at Grand Central. In a completely different 40-under-40 list, HarperCollins director of publicity Tina Andreadis has been named to the Greek America Foundation’s list honoring young leaders. Barefoot Books officially announced the opening of their relocated “flagship” children’s bookstore, now in Concord, […]
July 2010 Indie Next Picks
#1 July Pick: Faithful Place: A Novel by Tana FrenchThe Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives: A Novel by Lola ShoneyinFather of the Rain: A Novel by Lily KingThe Nobodies Album: A Novel by Carolyn ParkhurstWhat Is Left the Daughter: A Novel by Howard NormanMr. Peanut: A Novel by Adam RossStill Missing: A Novel by Chevy StevensThe Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet: A Novel by David MitchellWork Song: A Novel by Ivan DoigSavages: A Novel by Don WinslowThe Blind Contessa’s New Machine: A Novel by Carey WallaceCrashers: A Thriller by Dana HaynesThe Sisters from Hardscrabble Bay: Fiction by Beverly […]