Thursday, June 07, 2007
Pocket problem

An old friend and colleague came to visit me yesterday to discuss her new publishing project, Pocket Issue books. This a series of well-written, beautifully produced (with illustrations by my favourite cartoonist Andrzej Krauze), well-priced at £4.99 books on well-chosen subjects of contemporary interest.

Cover of The Energy Crisis book

The problem is that support from the book trade is unlikely to exceed a few hundred copies, the cost and energy for marketing is very high, and thus expenditure will almost certainly exceed income unless she can find alternative ways of generating significant sales. Any ideas would be welcome - and even a few orders for the books.

The Google heist posting of last week is still generating considerable comment here and elsewhere. I am being characterised variously as a fool, a child, a luddite, a crook, or a counter-revolutionary. Hey ho. At least it has generated debate, not least as to whether physical property has greater rights to protection than intellectual property. I don't know but somehow this photo from Book Expo America courtesy of Publishers Marketplace says something about the relative sizes of Google and a very large publisher.

And while on Google matters, I was checking out the excellent Google Scholar platform, which is an example of how search engines and publishers can work together within copyright to allow readers to find what they want, scholars to communicate better, and still have a viable business model.

But that's not my point. I noticed the tag line, 'Stand on the shoulders of giants'. This comes from a letter by Isaac Newton to his contemporary Robert Hooke:

'If I have seen further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.'

The quotation is frequently used as an example of scientific humility. It transpires that Hooke was one of Newton's greatest rivals and enemies and was rather small and deformed. Read the quotation with the emphasis on the word 'giants' and you will see that Newton and his quotation were not in the least bit humble. Truth is a strange thing. For more on Newton try this paper by Nobel-prize-winning physicist Sheldon Glashow.

#    |  Comments [18]  | 
6/7/2007 8:39:06 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I've ordered two of the Pocket Issue guides; they look really interesting, and will certainly write about them on my own Blog. Reading about them on their web site it reminded me of those cards that I bought to try and swot up for my O levels.

Someone from who ever it is that is doing their PR/Marketing should be using blogs to publicize them more widely. A day spent posting here and there would perhaps warm up the drums in the global village. Similarly the comment columns at the online edition of the big newspapers would be another good outlet.
Richard Havers
6/7/2007 8:50:46 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Richard,

What a nice product. One thing they might tackle is this. When i visited their website and went to buy a book, I was greeted with a opage telling me where I could buy it. No link to their own shopping cart, not even a transfer to Amazon to get it. Seems a little foolish to not capture every possible sale even if that means directing it to Amazon (but it could be waterstones too if they were stocked there).

Another thought occurred to me. These are contemporary issues, likley to be the subject of many searches (not to mention news stories), why are there not much more comprehensive websites devotd to them by the company or their authors. The higher up the search they go the better publicity the book gets, perhaps making support from the reatailers easier to achieve. Even an author/editor's blog would help.

It is a tough one though!
Eoin

Eoin Purcell
6/7/2007 9:06:33 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Oh dear me, won't the cabbage sellers stock Pocket Issue Books....the shape of things to come methinks.

Bertram take The Energy Crisis as a stock item, and Waterstone's campus and academic bookshops stock the title....given the "crisis" within the terrestial booktrade its kind of unrealistic to expect much more.

Clive Keeble
6/7/2007 9:16:08 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
My first thought, having clicked through and read the descriptions, was similar to those of Richard and Clive - they would be perfect in the academic market as a way to introduce students to topics before delving in deeper through further texts and other media. Could someone approach the lecturers and universities/schools to suggest they take them in bulk as required reading? I'd bet many students would think it was worth paying a proportion of the cost in order to get a better handle on the topic.
Julie
6/7/2007 9:22:00 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
They should definitely be selling through the site - this is a wasted opportunity - and they should look at selling the books through news stands, particularly those in airports and train stations. WHS travel would be a good target too but they need to be positioned with newspapers and magazines rather than the books. If they are written in an accessible style they are an ideal commuter purchase and a cheaper edition would help to get them into these outlets.
clare
6/7/2007 9:42:55 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments so far. In fact we do have links to buy the books from Amazon, Foyles, Waterstones et al... maybe that needs to be clearer?

We are also planning a blog and further reading areas for the titles...just got yo get my developer to finish it! If anyone has any news stand contacts (other than WH Smith) that would be great. Many thanks again

Emma Hardcastle
6/7/2007 1:27:46 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Emma,
That's totally my bad.
When I first visited the site the links did not change colour as I rolled over them with the mouse!
I see the links a go go now!

Eoin
Eoin Purcell
6/7/2007 1:46:34 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Wow! Six comments on Charkblog by lunchtime. I had to take a look. But it was all just a bunch of book people telling other book people how to sell their books. We have an Afrikaans expression "die beste stuurlui staan altyd aan wal". The best pilots are always standing on the quay'
But, Mr Keeble; are you saying people who sell cabbage shouldn't sell books? Please expand/elucidate.We had a filling station offering books if you filled your tank, and I think that is wonderful!The more sales points , the better. I think it would be great to buy Jamie Oliver or Elizabeth David (the first examples which come to mind) where I buy my cabbages. Or MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER where I buy the horse feed.Or field guides at the zoo.And so on.
At least we can buy (some ) art books at (some ) galleries.
I think that (with some exceptions) we need to sideline bookshops. We will be much better off with Elizabeth David where you get your carrots and cabbages and Hemingway and Ruark where you buy your Kynoch ammo
Let the bookshops sell Paris Hilton's biog and Vicky Beckham's interior design books
But where will we buy the serious literature? Online, I s'pose
cory
6/7/2007 3:14:26 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
"But, Mr Keeble; are you saying people who sell cabbage shouldn't sell books? Please expand/elucidate."

Cory

The 'cabbage sellers' is the nick-name for supermarkets, those luvverly shops which want to sell the latest Wilbur Smith at 48% off but turn their back on minority interest titles.

In my bookshop you would never see books about Paris Hilton, Jade Goody, Vicky Beckham or even Princess Diana

There was once a time when the profit from titles such as 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' was invested in books like those from Pocket Issue Books ; oh those heady days of summers long ago. The days before the 'cabbage sellers' and internet merchandisers wanted to dominate the market place and in the process destroy the terrestial bookshops via predatory loss-leader pricing.

Internet, yes I trade on the internet ; even sell ranching books to america...I often offer the sort of titles which in the future will command premium prices. However, not via the corporate merchandisers websites with whom the world's publishers are in bed. Never listed anything on the Basin and would close my business before I ever swam in those infested waters.

Photo books on Africa...oh what a beautiful subject, the likes of 'African Odyssey' by Robin Taylor, or maybe even a signed collectors edition of 'Africa' by Michael Poliza (published by the regarded German publisher teNeues). Such luvverly titles available from stock here.

Cory, I can't speak about what will happen in Africa but here in the UK you will always be able to get quality books in terrestial bookshops ; there are not going to be as many bookshops...you might have to travel twenty or more miles...as for the internet, who knows and , speaking personally, who really cares.
Clive Keeble
6/7/2007 9:42:45 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I guess it's simpler to name you a criminal than to consider the implications of the "theft." I agree with the guy who remarked (in a response to "The Heist" post) that your "crime" as such was that of conversion, as opposed to theft.

If it was a crime, it was victimless. And definitely illustrative.
--Mike
Michael A. Banks
6/8/2007 9:06:38 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Mike, Thanks for this. I've posted a slight riposte to the negatives as comment 38 at http://charkinblog.macmillan.com/CommentView,guid,c15fd211-7020-42e5-bc0e-f0e4d2fd6ed3.aspx

richard charkin
6/8/2007 8:25:18 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Clive -

It really bothers me that books have become tools of the elitists and the luddites. I loves BOOKS and I love bookshops, but I must admit the latter is only thanks to the former, with a bit of nostalgia mixed in for good measure.

I would shop at your shop if I could, but unfortunately most of us can't. Most of the world is more than 20 minutes away from even a Barnes & Noble (much less the type of shop you describe) and many who are don't have the money or the time to spend 40 minutes in a car (assuming they own a car), fill up on gas, then buy an expensive book that you approve of. Amazon will gladly ship nearly any book to their door and the local grocer will sell them a book on Paris Hilton. If giving a poor kid access to thousands of books that he can afford means you have to close - well I'll help you lock up.

The book industry is clinging so tightly to their dead trees and dusty little shops that they are going to LET those who are willing to take advantage of technology and new distibution schemes take over. Pocket Issue books could be sold online as digital text or through print-on-demand companies like Lulu.com - skipping right over the big publishers and the little book shops.

I have no sympathy for any business that closes its doors because the times changed and they didn't.
Chris
6/9/2007 7:57:30 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Richard a quick sugestion: read "A short history of nearly everything" by Bill Bryson. It will tell you more about Newton and many other famous scientist in a very readable, pleasent way.

ciao

Luca
Luca
6/10/2007 8:03:01 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I agree about Bill Bryson. I remember way back in 1990 (I think) reading a manuscript from an unpublished author which Secker had just acquired. The opening line was 'I come from Des Moines, Iowa. Someone had to.' That was from Lost Continent and the beginning of a great career for Bryson.
richard charkin
6/10/2007 2:16:40 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I understand you point because
is business.................
but in Africa most of the people
can't buy a technical book for
30 0 40 dollars...........
How you can help them to be better
and modern when many of then
have a salary of 30 $ a month
Instead to read it in a very low
price in the internet is the only
solution
thank you
eduardo
eduardo
6/12/2007 8:19:49 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
On a slightly different note we - as a small indie - are trying to use what we have - our energy and enthusiasm, to sell books. We are attempting an unusual and innovative way of marketing each of our titles on pub day - even if it means we are keeping the number of our titles down. We want to give our first time authors the best chance we can so are trying to look beyond (but not ignore) in-store promotions and huge discounting.

Our first campaign - a Book Drop around central London - for The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson seems to have got off to a good start. See www.paperbooks.co.uk for info.




Keirsten Clark
6/22/2007 4:23:35 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Andrzej Krauze is showing original work (including illustrations from The Book of Lost Books by Stuart Kelly) in the gallery at Shandy Hall in Coxwold, North Yorkshire until the end of July. Thought you might like to know.
PW
Patrick Wildgust
8/7/2007 6:42:42 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
good website,my nice site!
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