The UK’s major independent book wholesaler Gardner’s has temporarily suspended new orders for physical product, as they move to protect their employees: ” The safety and well-being of our amazing workforce is the primary reason for making this decision.” Existing orders will still be processed and they are “working hard to clear all outstanding orders…
International News
WH Smith Changes Position and Will Close Many of Their Stores
Following Monday’s closure of Waterstones stores across the UK, competitor WH Smith will close approximately 60 percent of their high street bookstores as well. Initially the company resisted closing any locations, with employees complaining about the risks to the media (“It’s putting the general public and ourselves at risk. We don’t want to be there,…
International: Bloomsbury Performance “In Line with Expectations,” Some Orders from China Resume, and More
Bloomsbury offered a brief trading update, in advance of their full annual results May 20. Performance for the fiscal year ended February 29 is “in line with the Board’s expectations,” and “Bloomsbury’s financial position is strong with net cash of £31 million at 29 February 2020,” even after having paid £1.2 million for the acquisition…
Hachette Still Wants to Publish Woody Allen, At Least In France
Following Friday’s cancellation of Woody Allen’s memoir A Propos of Nothing by Hachette Book Group, at least some of the international licensees expressed their intention — or desire — to go forward with publication. Most prominently, Hachette’s Editions Stock wants to proceed. Director of the imprint Manuel Carcassonne told Le Point: “The American situation is…
People, Etc.: Rubin Joins S&S As Consulting Publisher
Former Holt chairman Stephen Rubin has joined Simon & Schuster as a consulting publisher, reporting to Jonathan Karp. Rubin will acquire fiction and nonfiction for all of the company’s adult publishing imprints. Karp says in the announcement, “Steve has an extraordinary eye for talent and keen judgment as a publisher on both sides of the…
Apple Tries to Block Just-Released German Book About Their App Store
Apple is inadvertently promoting a book just released in Germany by the former head of their German app store business: APP STORE CONFIDENTIAL, by Tom Sadowski, from Murmann Verlag. (They are a small business publisher, founded in 2004, and seem to do custom publishing as well.) The company’s lawyers reportedly wrote to Sadowski and his…