-
Macmillan, Amazon Dispute Nearing Resolution
Although nothing official has been announced and Macmillan’s titles are still not directly available for sale from Amazon, the dispute over new e-book terms that exploded Friday night appears headed towards resolution in favor of the publisher.
-
Investigation Into Online Discount Practices Includes Barnes & Noble
The New York Attorney General office has subpoenaed 22 online retailers has part of an investigation into a practice that links consumers to membership programs that charge unauthorized fees. B&N is among the retailers subpoenaed, but the company said he has never turned over customer information to membership clubs.
-
Indianapolis is Three Bookstores Poorer
Three independent bookstores in the Indianapolis region have closed or have announced plans to close.
-
Recapping the Holidays: Austerity Mixed with Success
The 2009 holiday season had more than its share of harsh realities, including reduced consumer budgets and cautious or uncertain book buyers. But that didn’t stop independent bookstores from making the best of the holiday season—and in some cases great success—with thanks to Suzanne Collins, handselling, and National Public Radio. Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., devoted more space to children’s this year...
-
Companies Step Up Rental Efforts for New Semester
In time for the beginning of the new college semester, the textbook rental market saw new announcements from three of the industry’s players this week.
-
A New Perspective on E-Book Pricing
The publishing industry is right to be concerned over $9.99 price tags for bestselling e-books. One price has the potential to disrupt the current publishing model, as well as change how books are marketed and priced in the future. The good news is that pricing techniques can be used to effectively manage this transition.
-
Educational Paperback Association Broadens Its Mission
If change is good, then the Educational Paperback Association, whose members serve the school and library market, must be doing really well, because the 35-year-old organization just completed a year marked by change. At a time of consolidation throughout various segments of the book business, the EPA broadened its base in 2009, absorbing the American Wholesale Booksellers Association, which had dwindled to a few regional wholesalers.
-
Retail Nation: Some Holiday Cheer for Indies
The just concluded holiday season met the modest expectations of most of the independent booksellers interviewed by PW. Booksellers used a number of different tactics to keep registers ringing, ranging from upgrading their Web sites to stocking more used books to meet the needs of a still very cost-conscious consumer.
-
More on Sam's Club New Book Club
After word broke early this week that Sam's Club is launching a new book club for its members, PW spoke with a rep at the retail chain to get some details on exactly what the club entails.
-
Cooking the Books with Rozanne Gold
When James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Rozanne Gold heard that Condé Nast was selling Gourmet’s collection of 3,500 cookbooks and that NYU’s Fales Library wanted to buy them, she couldn’t stop herself from getting involved—and giving the library $14,000 to acquire the archive.
-
Amazon Offers Free Two-Day Shipping for Kindle
In an attempt to keep the momentum going for Kindle, Amazon is offering free two-day expedited shipping for the device, so customers can order between now and December 22 and receive Kindle by December 24. When customers add Kindle ($259) to their shopping cart on the site, they will have the option to select free two-day shipping. The retailer also said today that December has been the best month ever for Kindle sales.
-
‘Amazon Breakthrough Novel’ Contest Goes YA
For the third year in a row, Amazon and Penguin have teamed up for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, an international writing competition that offers new writers a chance at publication. Earlier this week, it was announced that there would be two prizes for this year's competition, one of which will be for the best young adult novel. Also new this year: the competition is open to novels that have been previously self-published. Up to 10,000 manuscripts will be accepted for the contest...
-
Lambda Rising to Close Remaining Stores
Lambda Rising, which started 35 years ago to sell gay and lesbian literature, will close its two remaining stores early in the new year.
-
Elf on the Shelf's Sales Policy Works for B&N, But Not for All Independents
A self-published children’s holiday book has become a bestseller at a major online retailer—but some independent booksellers are having trouble even getting their hands on copies. First published five years ago and sold through Junior Leagues, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is currently B&N.com’s number-one selling book.
-
Lee Booksellers to Close in Lincoln, Nebraska
After a 30-year run, Linda Hillegass and husband Jim McKee have decided to retire and close their Lincoln, Neb. bookstore, Lee Booksellers.
-
Booksellers See Solid Black Friday
Although less bleak than last year, Black Friday was by no means a slam dunk for retailers this year. Despite this, booksellers reported strong traffic for the major shopping weekend and saw particularly strong sales from some of fall's big authors in Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, and Srah Palin.
-
Cooking the Books with Alison Fryer
Alison Fryer is managing partner of Toronto’s Cookbook Store, the only shop of its kind in the city of 2.5 million. She co-founded the 800-square-foot store in the city's Yorkville district with her business partner, Josh Josephson, 26 years ago. Fryer talks to PW about business, which is surprisingly good this year; the changes she’s observed in food culture over nearly three decades; and what books she’s excited about this fall.
-
Booksellers Profit from National Bookstore Day
More than 140 independent booksellers participated in the first National Bookstore Day on November 7, an initiative sponsored by PW to get customers to shop at their local bookstores—and many reported a surge in sales on that day. Better World Books, a bookseller with a store in Goshen, Ind., and a robust online business that funds literacy initiatives, raised about $30,000 for its nonpro...
-
Andover Turns 200
Other stores may be struggling in today's economy, but Andover Bookstore in Andover, Mass.—the second oldest bookstore in the U.S., after the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, Pa.—has successfully ridden out a number of financial lows to reach its 200th birthday this month. Founded in 1809, Andover Bookstore has had an academic component from the start, supplying textbooks for 231-y...
-
Red Balloon Celebrates 25th Year
The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn. celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend with a birthday bash that included author signings, story times, and other fun activities that children of all ages enjoyed. And we're sure the adults accompanying their children also celebrated the 20% discount on everything in the store, because store co-manager Justine Stahlmann reported that the store did two to three times the amount of business as it usually does on weekends.
Browse archive by date:
