PW: New Alliance Gives Walker Access to Gift Market

Walker & Co. has announced an alliance with Niche Publishing Group under which Walker will serve as the exclusive distributor for the new gift-product company. As part of the agreement, Niche, headed by publishing veteran Sol Skolnick, will help Walker establish a gift-store sales force. The new sales unit will use commissioned rep groups and will be set to go when Niche launches its first line this spring."We are not looking to be a distributor of other publishers, but the chance to link up with Sol Skolnick, who knows the gift market so intimately, inspired us to develop a strategic alliance," explained Walker's president, George Gibson. "We will help Sol launch and grow his company, and he will help us bring certain of our books into the gift and stationery market."

Skolnick told PW that Niche will focus on gift items that feature "words and illustrations in different paper forms," noting that the company has applied for patents for several of its products. The first list will emphasize inspirational items for the workspace, whether for a person's home or a traditional office.