Partners Switch Roles In PowerHouse Reorg
by Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 4/28/2008
After 11 years running PowerHouse Books—a publisher of illustrated books on art, fashion, street and popular culture—PHB founder Dan Power will cease running day-to-day operations of the book division and become CEO of PowerHouse Cultural Entertainment, PHB's parent. Power's longtime partner, Craig Cohen, will take over as president and publisher of PowerHouse Books, and publicity director Sara Rosen has been promoted to senior v-p, marketing and publicity and associate publisher. In addition, Susanne Konig has been named senior v-p of the PowerHouse Arena, and Wes Del Val has been named v-p, sales.
Power said he will now focus on the business side, working to create new retail and marketing opportunities, including the further development of the PowerHouse Arena, PHCE's innovative 10,000-sq.-ft. exhibition, performance and retail space. Since PH relocated to Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood in 2006, the PowerHouse Arena has attracted attention for its presentation of hip social events, art exhibitions and a range of performance events that create interest in its list and, in turn, drive sales of its titles.
Power emphasized that the reorganization was brought on by “our multisensory business model, which combines live events, exhibitions and book sales.” Power said he was looking to “expand our retail model and partner with other retailers who are very interested in our peculiar business model.”
Power founded PowerHouse Cultural Entertainment in 1995 in his East Village apartment. The company began publishing illustrated books in 1997. Since then PHB has grown from a couple of books a year to about 50 books planned for 2008, including 10 titles from distribution clients. PHB now has 20 employees and annual sales of around $3.5 million.
Power emphasized that PHB's efforts to combine “art and experience” aim to attract a new and often young audience into the world of books. He pointed to two new projects as an example of the PowerHouse model. The house recently installed a library of its titles in the ballroom of Mansion, a hip new Manhattan nightclub; and PHB is also partnering with the VII Photo Agency to organize the first New York Photo Festival, an international photography exhibition that will run May 14–18 at 10 venues throughout the DUMBO neighborhood.
“We believe we can reinvent the way people experience retail by creating events that illuminate and support the books,” said Power.
