In one of the most vivid examples yet of digital’s impact on traditional print businesses, the German-based Langenscheidt Publishing Group is closing Langenscheidt Publishers Inc., its U.S. division. Best known for its maps, atlases, travel guides and language reference materials, Langenscheidt has been struggling with declining sales in all areas for several years. In March, the company brought in a restructuring specialist, John Muchnicki, to try to turn the company around and as part of that effort, earlier this fall, Langenscheidt sold its maps and atlas group to Universal Map.
With closing of the U.S. arm, some of the company’s best known brands will continue to be distributed by different distributors. In September, Langenscheidt moved Insight Guides and Berlitz to Ingram Publisher Services and IPS will now take over distribution for Langenscheidt Dictionaries. Hammond Atlases will be distributed by Langenscheidt’s parent company. A distribution line, the Mobil Travel Guides, moved to NBN earlier this year.
A spokesperson said Langenscheidt Publishers Group will continue to develop new product for the major imprints. Insight Guides were already developed from its U.K. office and new Berlitz editorial will now be created there as well. New Hammond Atlas material will be generated from the German office as will new Langenscheidt Dictionaries. The final date to send returns for books distributed directly by LPI will be November 22.
The closing of the U.S. office ends a steady decline for the company that had endured a stream of layoffs over the course of the fall as sales continued to be soft. After Langenscheidt experimented with diversifying into some more general trade areas, Muchnicki tried to refocus Langenscheidt’s operations around its core competencies, but couldn’t overcome market forces that favor digital travel and references products over print.
