On Sunday I wrote enthusiastically about the report of a new Chairman of HarperCollins UK. It turns out that the story was a mistake caused by Publishing News's assumption that HCUK could only mean HarperCollins. This email from David Worlock's daughter, Kate:
Even though it was lovely to see a picture of my esteemed father in your blog today (and I'm sure he appreciates the compliment too!), the news has in fact been misreported. He's been made non-executive Chairman of HCUK, a producer of online event management software (http://www.hcuk.net/home.asp), rather than HarperCollins. However, since people seem so keen on the idea, perhaps we may soon have HarperCollins knocking on the door as well.
Apologies if anyone was upset by the misreporting but I can't help feeling that HarperCollins could do a lot worse...
As it's Summertime and many people flock to France for their holidays, this video is worth watching, both to improve your French and to get an understanding of the French view of the digital future - deux oiseaux avec une pierre.
And here's another vision of the future.
This is, as one of our marketing people pointed out, either a coke machine or a digital content delivery system. It has been developed by the Laverna Group and is described by them as:
The Felix kiosk is a multi-level marketing device running on ADSL networks and offering a range of functions including Everyone’s a Winner game, Mobile Top-up, Digital Purchase library and ATM. Certain kiosks may also include an Instant print Photography unit.
Perhaps independent booksellers should look at installing one by the cash register.
Independent booksellers should also be interested in the row between Bloomsbury and the supermarket chain, ASDA. This is what a forthright Bloomsbury have had to say:
Asda’s latest attempt to draw attention to themselves involves trying to leap on the Harry Potter bandwagon. This is just another example of their repeated efforts at appearing as Robin Hood in the face of controversy about their world wide group which would suggest they are perceived as more akin to the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Asda may grandstand all they like in their attempts to use poor Harry Potter to lure the public into buying a bag of their groceries but they seem to attribute no value to Bloomsbury’s very serious environmental mission, clearly stated, in printing this Harry Potter book for the first time on part recycled paper which costs more not less; and to fuel surcharges. As people are slowly realizing, there is a price to be paid by the consumer for environmental best practice.
It is self-evident that most multiple retailers deliberately to choose to sell Harry Potter at a significant loss in an attempt to attract customers who will buy their other products, such as a £20 bag of groceries. Loss-leaders were invented by supermarkets and have nothing to do with Bloomsbury Publishing or Harry Potter and we deeply regret being dragged into their price wars.