Breaking the publishing mold; a new book empire your mother would love

Article Abstract:

Health Communications has made a publishing success out of its "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, a rare feat for a small press out of Florida. The popular book series has met with consistent sales, with the series selling 30 million copies, and three titles on the New York Times bestseller list in early July 1998. The series, along with Health Communication's titles by Dave Pelzer, have increased the company's revenue to $85 million in 1997, from $8.5 million in 1991. The company owes its success to unorthodox marketing techniques, placing the short story collections in beauty salons, pet food stores, and printing stories on the sides of Celestial Seasoning tea boxes. The company plans to publish 75 versions of the title.

Comment:

Small Florida publisher meets with great success with the "Chicken Soup for the soul" series, selling 30 million copies

Strategy & planning, Out-of-Home Advertising, Mass Market Paperback Books, Paperbacks, Health Communications Co.

Pearson faces new scrutiny in its Simon & Schuster bid

Article Abstract:

Federal antitrust regulators will begin a new series of probes into Pearson PLC's proposed acquisition of most of Simon & Schuster. If the deal is completed, Pearson will become the largest educational publisher in the world. The US Justice Department broadened its probe into Pearson's bid for Simon & Schuster's educational, professional, and reference publishing units in June 1998. The department was trying to assess the impact the deal would have on competition.

Comment:

Fed antitrust regulators to begin a new series of probes into Pearson PLC's proposed acquisition of most of Simon & Schuster

United Kingdom, Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Foreign operations, Book Publishing, Printing & Publishing, Legal/Government Regulation, Publishing industry, Pearson PLC, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Sales of textbooks continuing to defy gloomy predictions

Article Abstract:

The school textbook market has grown despite fears that it would lose ground to non-print competitors. Buying of elementary school textbooks increased 13% in 1997 to $3 billion while college textbook spending increased 7.4% to $2.7 billion. The trend is being helped by increased government funding of educational books and libraries. The industry has experienced much consolidation recently.

Comment:

School textbook market grows with renewed government educational spending

Sales & consumption, Industry Market Data, Textbooks