Baker & Taylor announced yesterday they are buying Blackwell Book Services North America to integrate with YBP and Australia-based James Bennett bookseller (also owned by Blackwell). In turn, they are selling their UK unit Lindsay and Croft to Blackwell UK. Also, “Baker & Taylor’s YBP Library Services and Blackwell U.K. have entered into a strategic sourcing agreement under which YBP Library Services will source all U.K.-published academic material from Blackwell U.K., and Blackwell U.K. will source all U.S.-published academic material from YBP Library Services.”Release
International News
Bookselling: Borders UK In Bankruptcy; Another Gay and Lesbian Store to Close; Update On Elliott Bay
As expected, Borders UK filed for “administration” (the UK equivalent of bankruptcy) last week, with the firm MCR overseeing the process after another company, BDO, pulled out at the last minute citing an unspecified conflict. Stores started offering discounts immediately thereafter to help sell off existing merchandise while employees and publishers wait to see if anyone is interested in buying part or all of the chain. The Bookseller’s anonymous “Borders Insider” wrote of confusion and changing orders at the store level over how deeply to discount. Most UK newspaper accounts expect the chain to be liquidated, with the possibility that […]
Morpeth Rises At Headline; Job Cuts As Nonfiction is Reduced
The Headline Publishing Group has announced their new executive line-up following the departure of two key executives, but also indicated a strong shift away from nonfiction (following a tough year for such books in the UK) and unspecified job reductions as a result. Jamie Hodder-Williams officially takes over as chief executive of Hodder & Stoughton and Headline, reporting to Tim Hely Hutchinson and replacing the retiring Martin Neild. Current joint deputy managing director Jane Morpeth has been promoted to managing director of the Headline group, and she joins the board of Hachette UK. Fiction publishing director Marion Donaldson moves up […]
Bookselling: Palin Sales Said to be 700k In Opening Week; Hudson Picks The Help As Best of the Year; Germany's Thalia Buys Out
A “publishing official close to” Sarah Palin says that GOING ROGUE sold 700,000 copies in its first week on sale. Earlier, Harper had confirmed another leak that the book sold 300,000 copies the first day alone. Last Friday, the publisher announced a new printing would bring the copies in print to 2.5 million units.AP Hudson Booksellers picked Kathryn Stockett’s THE HELP as their best book of 2009. The chain operates 65 full-service bookstores and 350 bookstore/newsstands in airports and other terminals, with 2009 book sales of $93 million. The rest of their Best Fiction list includes: The Year of the […]
With No Buyer Yet, Concern Over the Fate of Borders UK
Concerns about the fate of Borders UK rose over the past few days, as the Times declared Sunday the struggling chain is “on the verge of collapse” after a potential deal with WH Smith fell apart (first reported by Retail Week, and linked here on Friday.) RW had reported that “an alternative buyer of Borders UK is being sought and the retailer is understood to have received several expressions of interest.” Asked for comment by the Guardian, WH Smith “refused to confirm reports that it had pulled out of the deal,” but they too warned the company “appeared to be […]
People: Miner to Crown, and More
Sydny Miner is moving to Crown Publishers as executive editor, starting December 14 and reporting to publisher Tina Constable. She will acquire practical advice, how-to, health, and fitness books, as well as memoirs. Miner was a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, where she worked for 26 years. Brandon Proia joins Mary Anne Thompson Associates as a scout on November 30. He has been an associate editor at Basic. Separately, the company has been appointed US book scout for Ediouro/Agir/Nova Fronteria effective immediately. In the UK, Kate Shaw is leaving Aitken Alexander Associates after nine years to join The Viney […]