Point of sale: The Bookstore
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Point of sale: The Bookstore.
THE BOOK INDUSTRY HAS UNDERGONE a massive transformation over the past decade. Scores of independents, such as the five-store chain McNally Robinson (pictured), are in intense competition with big chains like Indigo Books & Music. Now, the entire industry faces another marketplace shift: the rising popularity of digital readers, such as Amazon”s Kindle. And it”s the big chains that are feeling the heat: They”re jockeying for position as digital content providers to stay relevant in the years ahead.
The value of books sold in Canada by list price in 2008: $955.7 million
Number of books sold in Canada in 2008: 54.9 million
Number of ISBNs (individual book titles) sold in Canada in 2008: 976,616
Hardcover book with the highest sales volume in Canada in 2008: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Paperback book with the highest sales volume in Canada in 2008:
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life”s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Peak sales weeks in Canada in 2008: The weeks ending Dec.more
Publishing Industry Gets a Laugh Track
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Publishing Industry Gets a Laugh Track.
Comedy scriptwriter Gail Lerner scored a deal with CBS for a new sitcom set in the hilarious world of contemporary publishing.
According to Hollywood Reporter, the show will follow the adventures of a book editor and her friends, and has the tentative title: ‘Open Books.’ Lerner has worked on ‘Will & Grace,’ co-executive produced for ABC”s ‘Ugly Betty,’ and had a stint working on CBS” ‘Worst Week.’ She wrote what she knew: Lerner worked a stint as a publishing temp and her sister Betsy Lerner spent 15 years as an editor and now runs a publishing website blog. UPDATE: Lerner writes on her blog: ‘Hello, fact checker, that”s a blog. And I”m now an agent not a website publisher, for the record.’
Here”s an inspiring quote from Lerner that should cheer all publishers, from the article: ‘Publishing is a lot like sitcoms.more
Sky”s the limit for Alberta”s transportation industry: experts
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Sky”s the limit for Alberta”s transportation industry: experts.
And while there have recently been many reports of flagging sales in the auto industry, those in the automotive trades are busier than ever.
‘Generally speaking, it”s recession-proof,’ Moukperian says of working in the transportation and logistics industry.
‘You may have to manage your career by working on this type of vehicle or moving from this employer to that employer, but if you”re not working on old cars, you”re working on new cars, so it can maintain during a recession.’
In 2008, the transportation and warehousing sector employed 102,200 people in Alberta, including automotive mechanics, autobody repairs, car painting and aircraft maintenance technology.
Bill Baker, associate chair of the avionics engineering technology program at NAIT in Edmonton, says aircraft maintenance alone employs thousands of Albertans working within a number of different subcategories.more