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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'How Elf On The Shelf Went From Family Tradition To The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade'


Unseen Stella Gibbons novels revealed by family

Cold Comfort Farm author left two books unpublished on her death, says daughterThe novelist Stella Gibbons, who delighted a generation of girls with her rural satire Cold Comfort Farm, left behind two unpublished novels – including a ghost story – when she died in 1989, her family revealed this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anna davis #literary estate


Doctor Who gains in consolidated Christmas Day TV ratings

Festive special adds nearly 3 million viewers when timeshifted viewing is included, but Mrs Brown's Boys remains top showNearly 3 million people recorded the festive special of Doctor Who and watched it in the week after Christmas Day, with Downton Abbey among the other most popular timeshifted... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #total audience #coronation street


'Shelf-help' books set to fill publishers' coffers in 2014

New 'intellectually credible' self-improvement books set to outsell celebrity biographies in 2014Sir Alex Ferguson may have the coveted Christmas number one spot with the record-breaking sales of his memoir, My Autobiography. But not even celebrity memoirs are likely to match the publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ve made


Photographer Captures The Mysterious Lives Of Modern-Day Gypsies

Photographer Iain McKell documents people in England who have voluntarily abandoned mainstream lifestyles in favor of nomadic ones.Photographer Iain McKell first became acquainted with new age travelers 25 years ago on an assignment for the London Observer. Calling themselves the "Peace Convoy,"... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stunning collection


Apple to give away songs, ebooks, apps during '12 Days of Gifts'

Apple will be giving away digital gifts every day for 12 days after Christmas to users of an app released Tuesday.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


10 Famous Creative Minds That Didn't Quit Their Day Jobs

Kurt Vonnegut worked at a car dealer after publishing his first novel, and Philip Glass worked as a plumber while crafting his music. So while you may be itching to ditch your 9 to 5, take a lesson from these legendary creatives and pursue your passions while still collecting a pay check.No... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #day jobs #open office


Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day continues to grow

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day will be celebrated on Dec. 7 this year and founder Jenny Milchman says she hopes to expand the message of the holiday to year-round initiatives, including field trips to bookstores in at-risk areas. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore day


For Indies First day, authors get behind independent bookstores

Thanks to Sherman Alexie's forgetfulness, writers across the U.S. will volunteer at their local bookstore Saturday for the inaugural Indies First day.Not long ago the writer Sherman Alexie missed one of his readings, standing up fans at the Queen Anne Book Company, a store in Seattle. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstores #sherman alexie #long ago


G’day! New Aussie/Kiwi Literary Festival Sets Sail in London

London's new Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts had a glamorous, clever launch on Monday. It takes place May 29-June 1, 2014. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #takes place


Instagram Is Now Publishing a New Ad Almost Every Day

Advertising on Instagram has quickly moved from a novelty to a near-daily occurence, and they're churning up a tsunami of "likes" as well as a dose of aggrieved user comments.General Electric, Levi's, Lexus and Ben & Jerry's have now posted their first ads to the mobile photo- and... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2013-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mobile photo- #video-sharing network #broad audience #michael kors


Tweet of the Day to JMP

John Murray Press will publish the book of the BBC Radio 4 series Tweet of the Day, which... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


80 Years Later, Orwell’s “Burmese Days” Wins Award in Burma

The Burmese Ministry of Information announced that a new translation of Orwell’s 1934 novel, Burmese Days, won the National Literary Award’s informative literature award. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Traditional Publishers Are Struggling as Buying Goes Automated

No one expected publishing companies’ digital revenue to catch up to print overnight, but what does it say when that revenue stream at The New York Times Co., Tribune Co. and Time Inc. is already declining? All said so in their most rec ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional publishers #digital revenue #revenue stream


Alex Ferguson's errors join a grand publishing tradition

He hates making mistakes, but he's made an awful lot in his memoir. Luckily it's a venerable customIs there a special bad elf that creeps out in the pre-Christmas period to wreak havoc with would-be bestsellers? Novelist Helen Fielding and actor David Jason might be forgiven for thinking so,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great care


In 'Mister Max,' an endearing boy faces a family mystery

Cynthia Voigt's tale presents a youngster who must find out about his missing parents while working as a problem solver for others. Readers who wish their families were more interesting will be hooked, as I was, on Cynthia Voigt's "Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things," the first of a planned... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #family mystery #lost things


Amazon and Facebook: Family members speak out

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's wife MacKenzie defends Bezos and Amazon, while Facebook CEO Mark Zuckberg's sister Randi expresses ambivalence about social media. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bridget Jones: first-day sales 'topped 46,000'

First day sales in the UK for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding topped 46,000... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bridget jones #first-day sales #day sales


Carl Bernstein Plans Memoir on His Cub Reporter Days

The writer Carl Bernstein has struck a deal to write a memoir of his early years as a cub reporter in Washington, his publisher, Henry Holt & Company, said on Monday. Rather than focusing on his famous tenure at The Washington Post, where wit ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early years


The PW Frankfurt Show Daily: Day 3, October 11, 2013

Get complete coverage of the Frankfurt Book Fair with the PW Frankfurt Show Daily. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #complete coverage


The PW Frankfurt Show Daily: Day 1, October 9, 2013

Get complete coverage of the Frankfurt Book Fair with the PW Frankfurt Show Daily. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #complete coverage