Scholastic looks to sell SoHo HQ

Scholastic Corp. is looking to sell all or part of its headquarters in the heart of SoHo’s cast-iron district.The book publishing giant said Monday it hired commercial broker Newmark Group to seek out parties interested in acquiring some or all of the adjoining buildings at 555-557 Broadway, then leasing space back to the publisher of Harry Potter and Clifford the Big Red Dog. The company said sale proceeds would support “capital allocation priorities,” including debt reduction and share repurchases. Scholastic’s plan to lighten its real estate load is part of a broader streamlining plan. Revenue at the publishing house with 5,000 U.S.-based employees decreased last year by 7%, to $1.6 billion, while operating income sank by 85%, to $15 million. The company said Monday that new leadership has been appointed in its children’s publishing and education solutions groups with “clear mandates to refine strategies.” A spokeswoman for the publisher, Anne Sparkman, declined to comment on Monday’s announcement.Scholastic’s share price jumped by 10% on today’s news, to $21 a share. It has lost more than half its value since longtime CEO Dick Robinson passed away four years ago at age 84. Robinson declined to pass control onto his two adult sons and instead bequeathed his shares to Iole Luccese, an executive who was his long “longtime romantic partner,” the Wall Street Journal reported. Scholastic leases 10 of the 12 floors at 555-557 Broadway, or about 300,000 square feet. The... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'

[ Crains New York | 2025-06-23 19:34:33 UTC ]

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Harry Potter's World Like You've Never Seen It Before: Illustrated

Publishers Scholastic and Bloomsbury are re-releasing the series with full-color illustrations.Between author J.K. Rowling's fan hub experience Pottermore and a slew of fans bringing elements of Harry Potter's world to life (Marauder's Map, a seven-book saga in one), the boy who lived lives on,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling unnerved by girls who fall for Malfoy

Girls are quick to romanticise anti-heroes, says Harry Potter author, as she shares her vision for the future of the boy wizard’s school enemyJK Rowling says that “girls are very apt to romanticise” the antihero, and reveals that she had been forced to pour “cold common sense” on the startling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alison Morrison dies

Alison Morrison, nee Brathwaite, who worked in book publishing until a move to Which? in 2007, has died. Morrison, 45, was reportedly attacked in a street in Harrow yesterday (18th December), dying later in hospital. Morrison worked as promotions co-ordinator at Penguin from 1994 to 1999, and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Clubs Boost Scholastic in Q2

Led by a 14% increase in its children’s book publishing and distribution business, revenue at Scholastic rose 7% in the second quarter ended November 30, 2014 compared to the same period last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling: Who is the one 'Harry Potter' character she feels guilty about killing off?

The character 'is the only one I feel guilty about,' the author recently wrote in an essay detailing how she plotted her seven-part series and how a story change made this character's death necessary. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories (+video)

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polish event brings 'Harry Potter' castle Hogwarts to life

'Harry Potter' fans came together at a castle in Poland to act out the world of J.K. Rowling's books.  More events are planned for April. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rowling pens Pottermore stories for Christmas

Pottermore is set to post a surprise each day between the 12th and the 23rd December, including new writing from J K Rowling. In a newsletter sent to Harry Potter fans, Pottermore said Rowling will write about Draco Malfoy, a pupil at Hogwarts and one of Harry Potter’s nemeses, as well as... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rise of the Seven-Figure Advance

Major deals have become the new normal in book publishing, thanks to steeper competition for fewer high-profile projects Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Grand Central Goes All Out For “In-House Favorite”

The reigning wisdom in book publishing is that an author’s marketing budget will match his or her advance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Im hooked on ebook highlighting what we underline is so revealing

Ebook readers reveal the most highlighted passages in Harry Potter, the Bible, Lord of the Rings and many more Its an odd sensation to be reading an ebook and to suddenly notice that thanks to the providers data-tracking software youre on a passage that other people have already highlighted. I... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Umbridge was based on a real person, says Rowling

J K Rowling has revealed that Dolores Umbridge, a Hogwarts professor and enemy of Harry Potter, was based on a real person.   In any essay posted on the Pottermore website, Rowling said she “disliked intensely on sight” the person she based Umbridge on, who was a teacher “in a certain skill or... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling reveals past, 'source of inspiration' for 'Harry Potter' character Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge is a sadistic teacher whom Harry encounters. Rowling posted a piece on the website Pottermore with new information about the character's past and revealed how she was inspired to give the cruel teacher a love of bows and kittens. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LIMA report reveals top children's brands

Harry Potter, The Gruffalo, and Horrid Henry are the top book brands for children, according to a report commissioned by the Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA). The report—released at the Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) exhibition, held in London last week—found that books were... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Introducing Frankfurt’s New Business Club

New this year at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Business Club offers exclusive networking opportunities, high-level discussions about book publishing and more. Here is a selection of events for Tuesday, October 7. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Western Great Lakes: Publishers Make the Heartland Vibrant

Some in book publishing may dismiss the region that lies between and fans out from Lake Superior and Lake Michigan’s southern shores as “flyover country.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 100 Books Facebook Users Love

What titles most shaped the site's readers? Harry Potter, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Lord of the Rings—and the Bible. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2014-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Amazon's bid to bury Hachette has backfired

Amazon's suggestion that the ebook and paperback revolutions are comparable has sparked scorn, satire and indigationWhen Amazon published their rather extraordinary "Message from the Amazon Books Team" at readersunited.com last week, they got a few things right and a few things wrong. Alongside... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them': Will David Yates direct?

Yates is reportedly in negotiations to direct 'Beasts,' a new story set in the world of 'Harry Potter.' Yates directed the well-received final four movies in the 'Potter' film series. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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