Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Competition and books

Last year the British book trade spent a huge amount of time and money on the referral of the Waterstone's takeover of Ottakars to the Competition Commission. I mentioned it frequently - e.g here - not least because I was at the time President of the Publishers Association and thus charged with leading our team during the investigation. Ultimately publishers lost the argument and the takeover went ahead, albeit at a significantly lower cost to Waterstone's owners HMV than had originally been proposed. Apart from the money the other issue was diversion. Instead of publishing, promoting and selling books the industry underwent a prolonged period of navel-gazing.

Yesterday saw another referral to the Competition Commission - Woolworth's proposed takeover of the wholesaler Bertram Books. Apparently the investigation will take several months to complete and presumably once more substantial amounts in lawyers' and economists' fees. At least we can hope the trade will not be diverted from its primary objectives.

So back to books. One of our most successful publishing programmes of the last decade resulted from a collaboration between Macmillan Education and the brilliant lexicographic team at Bloomsbury. We have sold more than two million copies of the dictionaries emanating from this collaboration and are on the point of launching a new edition of the flagship Macmillan English Dictionary. Along with the usual launch parties in various parts of the world (the London one is at Globe Theatre with Andrew Marr metaphorically cutting the ribbon) we are releasing 7500 red ballons each labelled with one of the 7500 most frequently used words in the English language. The person who finds a balloon the furthest distance from its launch pad will win a round-the-world air ticket. So watch out for red balloons. And why red?

Obvious, isn't it?

There are many difficulties and complexities in the dictionary market. The one thing I can say for absolute certain is that it need never be referred to the Competition Commission. It's about as competitive as it's possible to imagine.

Incidentally, I was interviewed for BBC Radio Five Live about why CEOs write blogs. My answers were, I fear, deeply inarticulate but fortunately the interview was broadcast before 6a.m. and so the audience will have been pitifully and mericifully small.

P.S. Here's the link.

#    |  Comments [11]  | 
4/4/2007 8:27:31 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
If publishers were navel gazing during the CC ponderings over Wottakar's, then surely that was their fault for taking their mind off the job for which they are paid. Please don't blame the CC investigation for the right horlicks which Waterstone's have made of their opportunities offered by the acquisition of Ottakar's.

As for Woolies takeover of Bertram Books, and its subsequent referral to the CC, surely there are many important long-term consequences which need a complete airing before the deal is given final approval.

Why should any corporate retailer have access to any confidential sales and stocking data on other traders, especially the adventurous independent bookshops which are not only surviving but prospering by stocking a catholic selection of quality titles away from the mainstream trough which is shelved by the merchandisers (such as Woolies)

I have other points to make : these will be made at the appropriate time in the the appropriate place.

Big business interests should not be allowed to ride rough-shod through the whole trading world without be called to task when they go a step too far.

As I have previously stated I believe that the takeover of Bertram by Woolies is the blackest event for the terrestial booktrade since the abolition of the NBA.
Clive Keeble
4/4/2007 9:01:40 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Clive, I'm not blaming the CC for anything. I was merely observing the donwsides of these investigations. That doesn't mean they shouldn't happen. And don't tell me that booksellers (even independent ones) don't navel gaze from time to time!
richard charkin
4/4/2007 9:15:59 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
At the risk of sounding like a miseryguts of Keeblesque proportions, one really wonders whether offering a round-the-world air ticket is a responsible thing to do, given concerns about the impact of air travel on climate change.
Aleph
4/4/2007 9:31:11 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Aleph, You sound exactly like a Keeblesque miseryguts!
richard charkin
4/4/2007 9:35:44 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I think the responsibility lies with the individual to decide where in their lives they reduce their carbon footprint. We can't stop people travelling. I also think it makes sense for a Dictionary publisher to give the opportunity to one of it's English language leaners to explore the places where the language is most used.
Petrichor
4/4/2007 6:06:20 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Richard, I hate to say this but mass release of balloons is one of the most environmentally damaging things to do. It`s not on any more. Ask the people at NATURE.And I am not geeky-green by any means. But I think you should be told !
SUSAN HILL
4/4/2007 6:57:59 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
What on earth is the problem with helium filled balloons? Helium is inert, and as far as I can tell it's not a greenhouse gas. 7500 balloons will contain very little gas, all of which will have been extracted from the air anyway.

What's not to like?
Bishop Hill
4/5/2007 8:14:44 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Why must so many "simple" marketing tools be considered "anti-environment" by disciples from the nanny state ? Kids love balloon races and the ensuing treasure hunt, I can remember balloon races from the 1950's far easier than I can remember my Latin.

Rather like the new-world booktrade where political correctness rules : thankfully not in many indies where we tend to treat the customer as having the intelligence to make their own decisions.

A late afternoon customer was one such example - the lady had seen the Hogarth (exhibtion tie-in) book displayed in the shop window, and was not going to leave without a copy ! We enjoyed a lengthy adult discussion about the vision shown by Hogarth ; she noticed a local book which she also wanted, and then was delighted to see that I stock "Little Black Sambo".

It is amazing how often people think that the book is now banned and that I am incredibly brave for having the book on one of my display tables ( and in the shop window)

As a society we have become wet wimps, who think that anything or everything is going to damage something or somebody. Cows are not even expected to fart or they will be destroying the atmosphere !!

All I can say is that some people need "to get a life", and those who think that I am 'miseryguts' know f*ck all about either me or my business. Passion in business was once considered an asset ; now it is thought of as an eccentric oddity in the bland gray commercial world, and furthermore not trustworthy.

(PS If I ever obtain early printings of titles like "Little Black Sambo" or "Uncle Remus" the most likely end-customer is going to be a professional Afro-American).
Clive Keeble
4/5/2007 1:48:07 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I am only quoting from an official bit of info... it isn`t the helium it is the stuff the balloons are made of apparently..
SUSAN HILL
4/5/2007 2:52:01 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I am assured the balloons are biodegradable. The team in charge of this promotion do care about the environment.
richard charkin
4/5/2007 3:22:45 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
And if the booktrade really cared about the environment and waste of resources then they would make all transactions *firm sale* ; but then that would require *all* booksellers to act as businessmen and not free stock houses !!!

Give that man a balloon ; may I have a raspberry one please 'mam.
Clive Keeble