Very Ruffled,
Very Cute
FROM PUBLISHING
TRENDS (JUNE 2003)
A
day spent trolling the aisles at this year’s Stationery
Show suggests that a name change may be in order:
there ain’t much paper in sight, and what little there
is seems a mere afterthought to the now-familiar deluge
of men’s silk ties, personalized golf and baseballs
(two different manufacturers), lamp shades, chess boards,
beaded evening bags, and picture framers by the score
(giving Sourcebooks’ Picture Frame Book series
particular oomph, the publisher reported). True, there
were fewer angels adorning the Javits Center this year,
and a notable absence of branded merchandise (Olivia
the dancing pig was the exception, with barest hints
of Harry Potter). Fewer independent store buyers turned
out as well, though chains such as Hallmark,
Urban Outfitters, and Anthropologie were
on full alert.
Summing
up the general business climate, one large publishing
presence said cash flow is so tight that accounts won’t
confirm orders three months in advance; consequently,
this publisher had moved all its manufacturing to the
US to be as nimble as possible. All in all, the legions
of vacant booths were testimony that it’s time to think
about hooking up with the gift shows — they service
the same reps, after all, hawking the same merchandise.
Atlanta is next up on the gift circuit, and the event
most show-goers said they were pumped to attend.
Yet what struck this visitor, as in previous years,
was that publishers’ wares seemed so much more distinctive,
even cutting-edge, than the rest of the merch at the
show, which now verges on the homogeneous (very pink,
very ruffled, very cute). Publishers such as Merriam
Webster and Harcourt reported slow business
(suffering perhaps from awkward booth location), but
other booths were busy, including Chronicle,
which continues to offer the quirkiest packaging,
viz. The Chinese Chop Pack (chops are stamps
used for delivering a greeting or message) which comes
with an inkpad and an 80-page book in a wooden box.
Business was also brisk at Random House, where
the Potter Style line continues to elegantly
(and economically, one suspects) expand its line of
note cards derived from Potter titles such as The
Art of Imperfection and Of The Moment. A
standout in the line is All Things Oz, with original
art and text from the 14 works written by L. Frank
Baum himself, created by Linda Sunshine and
following successful books developed from the 40,000-item
memorabilia collection of Willard Carroll.
Traffic was also swift at Andrews McMeel, where
The Little Big Book Series created by Welcome
is now up to a dozen titles and “blowing out of
the stores,” according to AM’s Lynne McAdoo.
Solid market presence Running Press exhibited
titles from its new owners, including books from Perseus
as well as their Da Capo music imprint (the
toughest part was explaining to buyers why the books
had no pictures but would sell anyway). Setting the
pace for cleverly saleable products, Running Press’s
Miniature editions are up to 250 titles — with over
40 so-called kits — from the Bonsai Potato kit
to Golf Voodoo. And stay tuned for twelve inspirational
titles licensed from Zondervan.
©2003
Publishing Trends
