How Elf On The Shelf Went From Family Tradition To The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

From self-publishing and selling out of the trunk of a car to millions of dollars in sales and a blue-sky spot in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the creators of Elf on the Shelf discuss how they packaged up a new American tradition. Innovators often have those “blue sky” moments, times where they close their eyes and conjure ideas on the grand scale. But for three business owners, the actual sky was the backdrop for their biggest dream: to see a 46-foot tall inflatable elf sailing through the air during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Not just any old elf, though. Twins Christa Pitts and Chanda Bell and their mom Carol Aebersold wanted to see that North Pole scout from Elf on the Shelf become the first storybook character selected from an independent publisher fly in the parade since Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit (self-published in 1901) sailed down Sixth Avenue on the way to Herald Square.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2012-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #business owners #chanda bell #beatrix potter

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Black Sands Entertainment Focuses on Books, Comics for Black Families

Founded by Manuel Godoy and his wife, Geiszel Godoy, this startup publisher focused on releasing comics, chapter books, and picture books aimed at black parents and their children. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mozley, Bertie and Day shortlisted for Polari 2018 prize

Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist and York bookseller Fiona Mozley is in the running for the Polari First Book Prize 2018, competing with authors including 23-year-old transgender YouTuber Alex Bertie and historical writer Sarah Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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He's CEO, bitch: Young Zuckerberg and the early days of Facebook revealed

"Everyone who has seen 'The Social Network' knows the story of Facebook's founding," Adam Fisher writes at the start of "Sex, Beer, and Coding: Inside Facebook's Wild Early Days" in Wired. The article sets up an excerpt from "Valley of Genius: The Uncensored History of Silicon Valley," Fisher's... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Writing Day events up 83%

The number of events held for this year’s National Writing Day increased 83% compared to 2017, according to the organisers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Snapchat moves beyond traditional publishing brands with latest partnerships

Haven't heard of Daquan or Goalslayin? The teens have, and Snapchat wants to work with the companies behind these social publishing accounts. The post Snapchat moves beyond traditional publishing brands with latest partnerships appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Customers rally to support Imagined Things after shop's 'worst day'

An independent bookshop in Harrogate has experienced a "phenomenal" response to a desperate Twitter plea for sales after only taking £12.34 in a day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Salt signs 'monumental' debut about family dysfunction

Salt is to publish a "monumental tale of family dysfunction" by Eleanor Anstruther. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside stories: Turkey’s grim tradition of publishing behind bars

Former HDP leader Selahattin Demirtaş has published a short story collection, written while in jail awaiting trial – just the latest example of a writer clashing with Turkey’s governmentAt the Istanbul book fair last November, there was a signing for the politician Selahattin Demirtaş’s short... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Beck Dorey-Stein | 'I saw impressive women behind the scenes being unsung heroes every day'

In her entertaining début the former White House stenographer reflects on her time spent working for the 44th president and extols the virtues of a ‘yes, we can’ approach. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'No kids in cages': Children's book authors unite against Trump policy separating families at the border

About 2,000 children’s and YA book authors and their supporters have signed onto a campaign to oppose President Trump's controversial family separation immigration policy under the name "Kid Lit Says No Kids in Cages." The campaign made its appearance Monday on Twitter with a statement signed by... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rocker Tommy Lee's drama with son Brandon gets ugly on Father's Day

President Obama during a news conference in 2012. The former president has shared his recent reading list. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Father's Day without a hero dad: how a widow and her two daughters celebrate his memory

Attending Palomar Fire Academy’s graduation ceremonies on May 31, 3-year-old Evie Iverson looked at the other families in the audience — and noticed how her family looked different. “I don’t have a daddy,” Evie told her mother. Ashley Iverson’s response was immediate: “You have a daddy,” the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Child and Davies lined up for Empathy Day

Children’s laureate Lauren Child and author-illustrator Benji Davies are taking part in an event at Waterstones Piccadilly to mark this year’s Empathy Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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English PEN reviews policies after Galizia family concerns

English PEN has revealed it is embarking on a review of its policies after being accused of a potential conflict of interest with one of its board members. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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April 2018 Bestseller Lists From China: Young Readers Cheer a Celebrity-Powered World Book Day

The endorsement of a Chinese actor powers Yu Hua's 'To Live' to the top of China's April fiction charts, when fellow celebrities spread the word and young readers hear the call. The post April 2018 Bestseller Lists From China: Young Readers Cheer a Celebrity-Powered World Book Day appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michelle Obama shares intimate family photos to promote forthcoming memoir

Michelle Obama is sharing never-before-seen photos of herself growing up to promote her forthcoming memoir Becoming (Penguin).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With a Family Legacy (and Deep Pockets), Alta’s Publisher Charts an Ambitious Course

"From the Rocky Mountains to the West," Will Hearst's new quarterly journal aims to carve out a niche. The post With a Family Legacy (and Deep Pockets), Alta’s Publisher Charts an Ambitious Course appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Otter-Barry Books to publish official National Poetry Day anthology

Independent publisher Otter-Barry Books will this autumn publish Poetry For a Change, the official children’s anthology for National Poetry Day on 4th October.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five-Day Poetry Fest Will Launch London’s New Second Home Bookstore

The way to open a new poetry bookstore at a communal office, says the UK's Second Home, is to hold a poetry festival on the premises. The company's Holland Park facility is the venue in June. The post Five-Day Poetry Fest Will Launch London’s New Second Home Bookstore appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Librarians Set to Descend on Capitol Hill for National Library Legislative Day

The Week in Libraries, May 4, 2018: Among this week's headlines, librarians prepare to make their case to lawmakers in Washington D.C. as a rescission package looms; Congress could wade into the net neutrality battle. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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