Indigo Has Strong Year
Indigo Books & Music had a revenue increase of 7.9% in the fiscal year ended April 1, with sales hitting C$849.6 million ($755 million), while net income jumped to C$25.3 million from C$11.7 million. Revenue growth was led by its superstores, where comparable-store sales increased 10.2% and at its online arm, chapters.indigo.ca, which had a 22.8% sales increase, to C$79.5 million.
Books Up at Hastings
Comparable-store sales of books increased 2.7% at Hastings Entertainment in the first quarter, led by higher sales of paperbacks and used books, offsetting a decline in the sale of new hardcovers. Total revenue for the retailer increased 1.8%, to $131.4 million, and net income rose 99%, to $1.9 million.
Workman Buys Timber
Workman Publishing has acquired Timber Press, a leading publisher of gardening titles. Timber, with a backlist of 400 titles, will operate as a Workman imprint and will work with Workman's Storey Publishing unit. Jane Connor will continue as Timber publisher, while owner and president Bob Conklin will retire.
NBF Launches NYC Reading Program
In a bid to create dedicated and excited readers at the middle school level, the National Book Foundation will team with Bloomberg for a pilot program starting in New York City this winter. Aimed at kids in "under-served and under-resourced" neighborhoods, the three-month program will pair writers (and former teachers) with kids at three community centers throughout the city reading an advanced and specifically tailored list of titles. The NBF hopes to roll the program out on a national level.
HC, Fox in TV Deal
HarperCollins has signed an agreement with the TV arm of its corporate parent, News Corp., to get programming based on its titles (predominantly mysteries and thrillers, to start) developed and distributed through Fox Television Studios' various platforms, which include TV, DVD, online and wireless.
Already under development is Lisa Scottoline's Legal Tender, while Elizabeth Noble's The Reading Group is under option. HC president Jane Friedman said these two deals—for Scottoline's backlist series and Noble's more recent effort—highlight that the partnership will look to bring both new and old titles to the venture.
Hampton to Head Disney Publishing
R. Russell Hampton Jr. has been named president of Disney Publishing Worldwide, succeeding Deborah Dugan, who resigned last week. Hampton will be responsible for overseeing DPW's book imprints and magazines around the world. Hampton has been executive v-p of Disney Consumer Products Home and Infant business since 2005, as well as general manager of Disney's Baby Einstein Company.
New Dates for Jerusalem
The biennial 2007 Jerusalem International Book Fair has been rescheduled because of conflicts with the new dates of the London Book Fair. Originally slated for mid-April, JBF is now set for February 18—23.
New PAS Director
Gina Evans has been named executive director of the Publishers Association of the South. Evans, who takes over June 1 and succeeds Pat Sabiston, is a former Books-a-Million bookseller who published the Bibliophile newsletter for reviews of books from small and independent presses.
Correction
W Publishing Group has not signed an agreement with Richard Cizik to write a book entitled A Planet in Peril, as noted in Religion Update (PW, May 22).
