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Disney Mum on Marvel Integration
New Year’s Eve 2009 saw the House of Ideas become the House of Mouse as Marvel’s stockholders approved the $4.3 billion purchase of Marvel Entertainment by Disney. Under terms of the agreement, Marvel shareholders received a total of $30 a share in cash plus approximately 0.7452 Disney shares for each Marvel share they owned.
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B&N Sales Lag
Sales at Barnes & Noble's retail stores fell 5% in the nine-week holiday period ended January 2, falling to $1.1 billion. Same-store sales declined 5.4% in the period, and the nation's largest book retailer acknowledged that results were below expectations. For the full third quarter that ends at the end of January, B&N had expected same-store sales to decline 1%—3%.
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Distribution Deals: Hachette Gets Peterson's, Perseus Takes Interweave
Hachette Book Group is taking over sales and distribution of test prep publisher Peterson’s titles (previously handled by S&S), beginning June 1. Perseus Distribution is taking over sales and distribution of arts and craft publisher Interweave Press (previously with IPG), beginning July 1.
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Simon & Schuster Reorganizes Field Sales Operation
As part of the reorganization of its field sales force, Simon & Schuster has created a new telemarketing department while reducing the number of reps in the field. Sources said that the addition of telemarketing reps somewhat offset the cut in number of field reps, resulting in a net job loss under 10.
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Actar Acquires Birkhäuser Architecture Titles
Actar, the publisher of books on architecture, graphic design, and contemporary art with offices in Barcelona and New York, has signed an agreement with Springer Science + Business Media to acquire the sales and distribution of titles from Birkhäuser Verlag in Basel, Switzerland. Birkhäuser will become an imprint of Actar but will remain in Basel.
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Kindle DX Adds Global Wireless
Kindle DX is now available with global wireless access, Amazon announced last night. Customers can now pre-order new versions of the 9.7-inch e-reader with wireless content delivery in more than 100 countries. The device also features auto-rotate capability and storage for up to 3,500 books. It is priced at $489 and ships January 19.
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Pre-Ordered Nooks On Way
Barnes & Noble issued a statement around noon on Wednesday announcing that all customers who had ordered the Nook before November 20 will receive the e-reader by Christmas. Last week, B&N said there was a chance a small percentage of customers who pre-ordered before November 20 may not receive the Nook by the holiday.
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Investor Takes 10% Stake in Barnes & Noble
Aletheia Research & Management has accumulated a 10.8% stake in the retailer, paying $137 million for 6.2 million shares.
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University Presses Gain Ability to Sell E-books
The University of Chicago Press has teamed with BiblioVault to develop a new tool that lets presses sell e-books directly from their own Web sites rather than limiting sales to retailers.
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Random Launches iPhone Apps for Authors
The Random House Publishing Group announced today it will launch free customized iPhone applications connecting bestselling authors to fans using mobile technology. It is working with iPhone app creation platform Mobile Roadie, using an author-focused variation of Mobile Roadie’s app creator that currently supports apps by musicians including Brad Paisley and Alice in Chains.
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Former Publisher Takes to Writing, DIY Style
It's precisely because Robert Wyatt knows the in's and out's of corporate publishing that he's decided to go it alone with his latest venture in the book business.
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PublishingWorks Grows Using Traditional Publishing Model
After significantly scaling back its self-publishing business, PublishingWorks has enjoyed a growth spurt using more traditional publishing techniques.
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Gotham/Avery/Dutton Holds 8th Annual Bake-Off
Out-for-blood corporate softball teams may have given the idea of inter-company competitions a bad name, but a skinned knee has nothing on 10 stitches in your finger after testing recipes for the company bake-off. That’s right: Dutton assistant editor Jessica Horvath was trying out desserts for the 8th Annual Gotham/Avery/Dutton Bake-Off when she sliced her hand on the blade of an immersion blender, wound up in the emergency room and walked out with 10 stitches.
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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.
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LiVolsi Calls Amazon Pricing 'Predatory'
Bob LiVolsi, founder of independent e-book retailer Books On Board, grabbed the spotlight at the MediaBistro eBook Summit, charging Amazon.com with “predatory pricing” and lamented the lack of antitrust enforcement in today's marketplace.
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Scholastic Weathers Rough Economy
Increases in the school and international segments offset declines in the trade and media groups, resulting in a 1% increase in overall revenue at Scholastic in the second quarter ended November 30. Operating income slipped to $105.6 million from $108.0 million, but net income in the quarter rose to $55.5 million from $43.1 million.
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Putnam Books for Young Readers' Paulsen Gets Own Imprint
Putnam Books for Young Readers president and publisher Nancy Paulsen is launching an eponymous imprint, Nancy Paulsen Books, with the first titles landing in 2011. Paulsen, who has led the division for 15 years, plans to publish 12 to 15 picture books, middle grade and young adult novels annually. She will continue at the helm of Putnam Books for Young Readers until the company finds a successor—a process that has already begun.
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Kobo Touts Open Access, Hopes for e-Reader
Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, the newest player in the e-book market, said the company will challenge competition from the likes of Amazon and Sony by giving consumers more choice. Serbinis said it is also early days in terms of digital devices and the best device has not yet been developed.
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Macy's Offers Its Employees Discount on Store History
In time for the holidays, Macy’s Inc. is offering all its employees a 40% discount on the Square One title Macy’s: The Store. The Star. The Story. The book, which pubbed in April, is a lavishly illustrated history documenting the iconic store’s evolution over the past 150 years.
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Borders Invests in Newly Minted Kobo
Shortcovers, Indigo's e-bookstore has been rebranded as Kobo and spunoff from the retailer in a partnership that includes Borders. Kobo will power a new e-bookstore at the American chain and develop the first apps for Borders.
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