Richard

Please try and exert some influence on the appropriate department to get Charles Causley "Collected Poems 1951-1997" back in print : the book will never hit the bestseller lists but IMVHO should *never* be OOP in either h/b or p/b.

Now back to dealing with seasonal sales !!

Clive has been very quiet-- it must be good news and busy down his way. I hope so.

Mrs Hill will be pleased with him, too, for this.

Richard

Rather than patting Macmillan on the back for a job well done I would suggest that you require *all staffers* to read an article from this week's Publishing News.

http://www.publishingnews.co.uk/pn/pno_news4.asp?

snipped

>>“Everyone is in competition with everyone else and Christmas is now all about price – three-for-two and money off,” said Viviane Basset, Macmillan Children’s Books Head of Marketing and Publicity. “There is obviously a cost for us, but it’s either that or you’re not a part of the promotion. The half-price offer is really doing well for WHS, who are reporting good footfall. It’s expensive for us, as always, but it’s working for the consumer, so there’s nothing to complain about, from our point of view, with any of the retail campaigns.” <<

Macmillan are evidently "proud" to be at the head of the differential discounters to the trade.

Thankfully I am busy, ducking and diving to ensure that my customers get the opportunity to purchase from a very eclectic stock range : too many publishers are just keen to satisfy this year's balance sheet.

In this trading environment is it hardly surprising that Charles Causley "Collected Poems 1951-1997" is no longer available from the publishers !!!

The independent booktrade are sick to the back teeth with the regressive attitude at the mega-publishers.

Clive

Thanks so much for this. I was beginning to wonder whether you were okay. I am now reassured.

Richard

You can make light of my comments, but I am not the only independent vehemently complaining at the negative attitude of the mega-publishers.

I just hope that Macmillan get these heavily discounted titles paid for in the appropriate time schedule -without any returns : I doubt either will happen.

Now to open up for the day.

We aren't a mega-publisher and I'm not sure we want to be.