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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No Decision Yet on Family Christian Deal

Despite a 14-hour hearing yesterday in federal bankruptcy court, Family Christian Stores must wait awhile longer for a ruling on whether the struggling Christian bookstore chain will be sold to FC Acquisitions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fc acquisitions


Nielsen: Self-Publishing Now More Like Traditional Publishing

With £58 million in sales and 5% of the UK book market in 2014, self-publishing is gaining further acceptance with readers, reports Nielsen. The post Nielsen: Self-Publishing Now More Like Traditional Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First to Tweet and Take Selfies? It Was This Horrid Family From a Century Ago

Kim Kardashian may be the queen of selfies, with a best-selling book to prove it, but she's not the first over-sharing, narcissistic reality show star. That dubious title would go to the Bellacourts of the upcoming Comedy Central series Another Period. They're the debauched, filthy-rich... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #modern technology #gilded age


BookCon 2015: A 'Mostly Positive' Second Day of Literary Fanfest

BookCon 2015, held at Javits this weekend, drew mostly positive comments from both attendees and publishers who exhibited there. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fanfest


Indie Bookstore Day to Return in 2016

After the success of the first national Independent Bookstore Day last month, plans are moving forward for a second annual event to be held on Saturday April 30, 2016. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #moving forward #annual event


Family Christian to Be Bought by Investors

The bankrupt Family Christian Stores retail chain has accepted a buy-out bid, pending court approval, from FC Acquisitions, which is owned by the same umbrella company that owns FCS. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #family christian #fc acquisitions #umbrella company


The Red Bulletin Evolving into Traditional Magazine

Expands from content marketing roots with paid subs and BPA-audited, 550,000 rate base. The post The Red Bulletin Evolving into Traditional Magazine appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Freelance With A Family: Advice On Making It Work From One Of America's Top Rock Critics

Jessica Hopper on how she kept her creative dream job—and her family—thriving.In the early '90s, then-ninth-grader Jessica Hopper started putting out a fanzine to write about her favorite bands in Minneapolis. She turned that into assignments for local publications like City Pages, and then... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Day opens online shop selling UKYA merchandise

Author Susie Day is hoping to promote YA books written by British and Irish authors through an online shop selling UKYA-branded merchandise.   The ‘We Have Crisps’ shop is currently selling tote bags, vest tops and t-shirts featuring the names ‘Patrick & Bali. Sarra & Non’,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarra manning #irish authors #bali rai #james dawson


Independent Bookstore Day was a success for many

Inspired by 2014's California Bookstore Day, the first Independent Bookstore Day was held on May 2. Many stores reported an increase in sales. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Booksellers, 13 Bookstores, Six Days! A Road Trip Photo Essay

Two Massachusetts booksellers take advantage of Children's Institute 3's California location to take a bookstore tour of the California coast. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie Bookstore Day: ‘Christmas in May’

The inaugural nationwide celebration of indies was a success, with more than 25 stores exceeding their 2014 numbers for the same day within the first three hours. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day

Want to know what to look out for during today's Free Comic Book Day? We've got you covered. The post What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent Bookstore Day will be held all over the country in May

After the success of the 2014 California Bookstore Day, bookstores all over the country will be taking part in Independent Bookstore Day on May 2. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LéaLA Showcase of Spanish Lit in the USA Adds Professional Day

LéaLA, the Spanish-language Book Fair of Los Angeles, taking place May 15-17, has added a professional day and will feature more than 100 authors. The post LéaLA Showcase of Spanish Lit in the USA Adds Professional Day appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-Publishing Day: German Indie Authors Unite

The second annual Self-Publishing Day in Münster, Germany, brought together authors, distributors and bestselling self-publishers like Poppy J. Anderson. The post Self-Publishing Day: German Indie Authors Unite appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WSJ now has a 40-person video team cranking out 40 videos a day

Like other traditional publishers, The Wall Street Journal is trying to promote digital video viewing on its own site rather than distribute video widely to other platforms that it can't monetize. On the eve of its third NewFronts presentation, the Journal described how it uses interactive... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post wsj #day appeared #traditional publishers #newfronts presentation #interactive video #boost engagement


Retailers Prep to Kick Off Independent Bookstore Day

Aside from simply celebrating small bookstores, one objective of the forthcoming Independent Bookstore Day, on May 2, is to bury a long-running narrative that the indies are dying. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere signs Felicia Day memoir

Sphere has acquired a memoir by American actress and web entrepreneur Felicia Day, titled You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). Sphere’s non-fiction editorial director Hannah Boursnell bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Cathryn Summerhayes on behalf of Erin Malone at WME. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american actress #cathryn summerhayes #erin malone


How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic

In honor of World Book Day, the International Publishers Association has an infographic on how much children should read and why literacy is important. The post How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children read