April 28th, 2011
While reading the latest financials from Martha Stewart I realized that her template could be applied to most long-time publishing organizations today. Revenue up, profit down. The only thing unusual about Ms. Stewart’s story is the “revenue up” portion. More often I read “revenue down, profit down.” Digital widgets generally sell for less than their analog…
April 25th, 2011
From the “You Can’t Please all of the People all of the Time” department: The book in question is the Booker Award-winning The Sea, by John Banville. Most of the 142 customer reviews on Amazon are positive, but those who dislike the book are vocal. Among the negative headlines: Dull as toothpaste This won an…
April 23rd, 2011
I was reading the bio of the David Lavin, the president & CEO of The Lavin Agency, a speakers bureau that represents some famous names, including the 400-Hour Workweek’s Timothy Ferriss, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and “Literary Legend” Margaret Atwood. In his bio Lavin catalogs some impressive achievements. He was the youngest chess master in Canada and represented the country in two…
April 9th, 2011
An informative article in today’s Globe & Mail highlights the plight of Canada’s largest book chain, Chapters/Indigo (formally, Indigo Books & Music Inc.). Unlike in the United States, Chapters/Indigo is already the “last man standing” among bookselling conglomerates. It’s like Barnes & Noble would appear after it ate Borders. As with many flagship corporations Chapters/Indigo…
April 7th, 2011
On April 5th three musicians celebrated the 100th anniversary of Seattle’s Union Station with a free performance using instruments they made and by utilizing the building’s cavernous interior. This lovely short video was made by The Seattle Times’s Ken Lambert.