(PHOTOS) Amazon, that upstart online bookstore, turns 25: A history in photos

Since its launch 25 years ago, Amazon's reach has extended well beyond an online bookstore. And while it may seem obvious today, at the time Jeff Bezos was working to get his idea to the masses, many investors thought it would be no match for bookstore giants like Borders and Barnes and Noble. "He talked to several institutional investors and they basically all turned him down," said Tom Alberg, an early Amazon investor. "The big rival and dominant figure in the book industry in those days was… Continue reading at 'Silicon Valley Business Journal'

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2019-07-08 10:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #online bookstore #obvious today #investors thought #bookstore giants #institutional investors #tom alberg #big rival #dominant figure #book industry #bookstore

Other Publishing stories related to: '(PHOTOS) Amazon, that upstart online bookstore, turns 25: A history in photos'


Taking a cue from nightclubs, 24-hour bookstores boom in Taiwan: Could they work in the US?

Western booksellers might want to take a page from a Taiwan-based chain's nightclub-like approach to book retailing. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Douglas Preston on Amazon, Authors United, and What’s Next

Throughout the months-long dispute between Amazon and Hachette over ebook sales terms, Douglas Preston was one of the most outspoken authors on the matter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #douglas preston #authors united #outspoken authors


Cheaper books make for wealthier authors, insists Amazon's Jeff Bezos

'The Kindle is trying to reduce friction for reading a whole book, and it’s working,' Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said at a conference yesterday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jeff bezos


Bezos admits making 'billion of dollars of failures' at Amazon

Amazon c.e.o. Jeff Bezos has admitted to making “billions of dollars of failures” at the company, and has said it does not matter. Speaking at Business Insider’s Ignition conference, Bezos also addressed the dispute the online retailer had with Hachette Book Group in the US, which has now been... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jeff bezos #business insider #online retailer


Zoe Sugg's Girl Online is fastest selling book of the year

YouTube star Zoella’s first book sells 78,000 copies in its first week, the highest first week’s sales of a new author ever! Girl Online, the first novel by Zoe Sugg AKA “Zoella” has pushed Jeff Kinney’s newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul off the top of the chart as the fastest selling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #zoe sugg #girl online #wimpy kid #long haul


Booksellers report online boost for Cyber Monday/Black Friday

Booksellers are reporting a boost in online retail sales for the period covering both Cyber Monday (1st December) and Black Friday (28th November). The Book People ran themed Black Friday offers including on Cyber Monday yesterday (1st December) offering customers up to 80% off the r.r.p in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year increase #seni glaister


Thanksgiving weekend was kind to some independent bookstores (+video)

Overall, Black Friday sales are said to have dropped this year, but some independent bookstores reported strong sales on Friday and Saturday of the holiday weekend, even as they celebrated the Indies First bookstore initiative. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thanksgiving weekend #holiday weekend #bookstore initiative


Thanksgiving weekend was kind to some independent bookstores

Overall, Black Friday sales are said to have dropped this year, but some independent bookstores reported strong sales on Friday and Saturday of the holiday weekend, even as they celebrated the Indies First bookstore initiative. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thanksgiving weekend #independent bookstores #holiday weekend #bookstore initiative


Campaign group launches 'Amazon Free' shopping guide

Independent booksellers and WH Smith feature on an “alternative” shopping guide for Christmas created by campaign group Amazon Anonymous. The group has teamed up with Ethical Consumer to create an alternative shopping guide for those who have signed up to its “Amazon Free Challenge” – in which... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shopping guide #independent booksellers


Integrating Libraries and Bookstores: In Theory

Deborah Emin, publisher of Sullivan Street Press, offers a theoretical plan for saving bookstores and making libraries more robust. The post Integrating Libraries and Bookstores: In Theory appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deborah emin


Online advent calendar fundraiser from BookTrust

Booktrust will next Monday (1st December) launch an online advent calendar to raise money for books for vulnerable children, featuring authors Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson and Chris Riddell. Each day a picture of a celebrity or author will appear behind a calendar window with a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raise money #julia donaldson #chris riddell


Poisoned Pen: 25 Years of Innovation

Fifteen years ago, at the start of the millennium, PW named Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Ariz., one of 11 innovative businesses destined to influence publishing in the 21st century. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #poisoned pen #influence publishing #21st century


The Leading Players in the Amazon-Hachette Dispute: Notables of 2014

The dispute over ebook terms between Amazon and Hachette Book Group USA generated headlines around the world when the e-tailer stopped accepting preorders on HBG titles and delayed shipments on some print titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon-hachette dispute #leading players #ebook terms #print titles


Curtis Brown launches online book group

Curtis Brown is launching an online book group, offering readers the chance to get “a sneak preview of work from some of the agency’s most exciting new and undiscovered authors” just ahead of publication. Applications for readers for the group, the first online reading group to be hosted by a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #offering readers #literary agency #curtis brown #sneak preview #conville walsh


History Press slashed losses in 2013

The History Press dramatically slashed its losses in 2013, helped by a trade boost in the US and the sale of its German business. The local and military history publisher reported an operating loss of £26,000 in the year to 31st December 2013, up from an operating loss of £892,000 in 2012. At... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german business #operating loss


Jessica’s Biscuit Closes Online Operation

The cookbook specialty retailer was one of the first independent, niche online bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Licensing Hotline: November 25

Sourcebooks has secured the rights to Nickelodeon's portfolio of properties for its Put Me in the Story personalized book platform. The first two titles are 'Dora's Birthday Surprise!' and 'Happy Birthday, SpongeBob!' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #licensing hotline #happy birthday


Post office partnership trebles Amazon's UK collection points

Amazon has trebled its number of collection points for customers via a partnership with Royal Mail. The e-commerce giant revealed the link-up today ( 25th November), which has added an extra 10,500 collection points in post offices to its PickUp Location Programme in the UK, bringing its total... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #total number #royal mail


To survive in the U.S., Chinese bookstores evolve way beyond books

At World Books on Atlantic Boulevard, Lily Li picks up the phone to transact one of her first sales of the day. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Indies First: What's happening at a bookstore near you?

Indies First, in which authors appear at independent bookstores and sometimes work as booksellers, will be happening again this year on Small Business Saturday. Take a look at who's signed up. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstores