Thursday's child

In a week when The Bookseller reported that James Daunt was removing Kindle devices from most of Waterstones’ shelves, one wonders if the ever-pragmatic boss of the high street chain was simply making room for Super Thursday books. Last year the trade contrived to release 300 hardbacks simultaneously: this year the number has jumped to 400. Continue reading at 'The Bookseller'

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Thursday's child"


Waterstones’ James Daunt: ‘Student of Bookshops’

From Brexit (no) to bookstore social space (yes) Waterstones' managing director James Daunt is certain about one thing: He wants 'to sell more books.' The post Waterstones’ James Daunt: ‘Student of Bookshops’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Waterstones three years from fiscal autonomy despite upturn, Daunt warns

Waterstones must sustain three years of consecutive profit-making before the company can “stand on its own two feet” and not rely on the “charity” of its owner, the chain’s m.d. James Daunt has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


EU exit could lead to 'catastrophic uncertainty'

The UK’s possible exit from the European Union, looking likely to be the subject of a summer referendum, would be a disaster for the book trade, according to industry figures such as Waterstones m.d. James Daunt, Bonnier Publishing c.e.o. Richard Johnson and Alma Books m.d. Alessandro Gallenzi. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Marvellous medicine

At some point back in 2013, I asked a senior publisher if they had a contingency plan for a world with fewer high street bookshops. It was a period when ebook sales were growing ever bigger, taking chunks out of print fiction’s market share; Amazon was revelling in its recent victory over those... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daunt: 'Christmas is all to play for'

Waterstones is on course to make a small profit this year but it is “all to play for” over the next few weeks, the chain’s m.d James Daunt has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Waterstones reveals 'richly diverse' Book of the Year shortlist

The shortlist for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2015 has been revealed, featuring a list that would  "not have been produced by an algorithm,” the chain's m.d. James Daunt has said. The eight-strong selection nominated by Waterstones booksellers across the UK encompasses four novels, three... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Thursday's child

In a week when The Bookseller reported that James Daunt was removing Kindle devices from most of Waterstones’ shelves, one wonders if the ever-pragmatic boss of the high street chain was simply making room for Super Thursday books. Last year the trade contrived to release 300 hardbacks... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Is it now the time for something completely different?

Is it me, or you? This morning, The Bookseller reported that Waterstones was taking Kindle devices off most of its shelves due to “pitiful” sales. No great surprise here: the chain’s managing director James Daunt said after Christmas 2014 that device sales, once strong, had tapered off, a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bookshop footfall gets a 'Watchman' boost

Booksellers say they are enjoying a “bumper summer”, with the release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman encouraging people to “re-engage with books and bookshops again.” James Daunt, m.d of Waterstones, said the release of the William Heinnemann title last month had injected life into the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daunt: 'higher energy booksellers' at Waterstones

In the last four years, Waterstones has changed to a company which is more customer-focused, with booksellers who have more flexible working hours, more accountability and higher energy, according to the chain’s m.d. James Daunt was speaking on the subject of the value of booksellers in a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Waterstones 'petitioned' to open in Welwyn Garden City

Waterstones is set to open a store in Welwyn Garden City next month after being “petitioned” by the town’s residents. The chain will open a branch in Howardsgate on 25th July, with a special Peter Rabbit family fun day. The shop will include a cafe as well as a stock of close to 20,000... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Waterstones' midnight openings for Harper Lee

Waterstones stores across the country will host midnight openings to celebrate the release of Harper Lee’s forthcoming novel Go Set a Watchman (William Heinemann), while the company’s flagship Piccadilly shop will host a festival. M.d. James Daunt has called the launch a "thrilling"... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


ACNI slammed for 'fundamental misunderstanding' following cuts

Publishing Ireland has slammed the Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) for “fundamentally misunderstanding” how publishers operate following with withdrawal of funding for Blackstaff Press. The Bookseller reported last week that Northern Irish indie Blackstaff Press had had its funding slashed... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daunt: Waterstones shops should be 'more entrepreneurial'

Waterstones shops should be "significantly more entrepreneurial than they are at the moment", James Daunt has said. Speaking on a panel at the IPG spring conference about chain bookshops, alongside Blackwell's David Prescott, Daunt said that the "point at which we become more confident in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishers encouraged by Waterstones revival

Waterstones has passionate booksellers who are “handselling again”, breaking début novelists and “building careers”, according to publishers.  Chief executives and sales directors of publishing houses have spoken to The Bookseller following the release of the chain retailer’s annual results (to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The ebook is dead. Long live the ebook

Reports that physical books are gaining ground at the expense of digital are just plain wrongHas the ebook had its day? If you’ve skimmed a newspaper over the past month you could be forgiven for thinking just that. “The physical book market is making a comeback after years of decline,”... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Waterstones' core Christmas sales up 5%

Waterstones’ core Christmas sales were up over 5% year-on-year but overall revenue was hit by lower sales of Kindle devices. The chain bookseller’s m.d, James Daunt, said the company had a “solid” Christmas and was pleased with sales of books, stationery and toys, with new stores in the estate... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Long live the ebook – it’s a champion of the printed word | Philip Jones

With the public promiscuously hopping from one format to another, reports of the e-reader’s death look distinctly prematureWe have barely stumbled into 2015 and already some commentators are calling time on the ebook. The analysis was provoked by Waterstones’ managing director, James Daunt, who... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daunt: 'Waterstones could break even this financial year'

Waterstones will “break even” this year if the retailer has a good Christmas, according to its m.d James Daunt. In an interview with the Guardian, the Waterstones boss said the chain’s intention was to eradicate its losses by the end of its financial year. “We are heading towards break-even in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HarperCollins and Hatchette UK Introduce Refined Agency Model

The Bookseller reported last week that HarperCollins and Hatchette UK have become the first British publishers to refine the agency model agreement with Amazon co.uk. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this