A look at the world of magazine media - Issue #12
How do you feel about the closing days of summer? Do you feel sad? Incomplete? Feel that there were things you should have done that you just didn't get to?
Well, stop it! There's no reason to feel sad. This wasn't exactly the "Hot Vax Summer" we were promised and Fall is just around the corner with all kinds of new opportunities. You'll take advantage of some, miss a few others. It all balances out in the end.
I've been feeling very cranky the past few weeks so let's all settle down some. Grab a seat. Get a warm beverage. Maybe with some pumpkin spice in it, check out the news.
To get in the mood, check out this awesome picture of Chicago taken by local photographer Barry Butler.
#1. Failed website Knewz is sold to sadly successful tabloid editor
Rupert Murdoch Sells Failed Website Knewz to Trashy Tabloid King Dylan Howard — www.thedailybeast.com NewsCorp will offload the failed news aggregator onto the infamous tabloid editor who played a major role in covering up scandals for Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein.
Rupert Murdoch Sells Defunct News Aggregator Knewz to Controversial Tabloid Titan Dylan Howard — www.adweek.com “Let’s give it a second chance."
Did anyone actually use Knewz? Does anyone actually use a news aggregator? Actually, that's not fair, I do use Flipboard and if you use one, why would you use another?
#2. BoSacks burns the boats. We're in a new world, terra incognita so we'd best deal...
BoSacks Speaks Out: Publishing Trends and Successes Worth Thinking About — www.bosacks.com Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” I did not know...
Look, when BoSacks tells you something about the publishing world, you should probably pay attention. To be a successful publisher, Sacks points out, is to understand the "need for constant, never ending innovation."
#3. Ingram warns of 4th quarter supply chain disruptions
Shelf Awareness for Tuesday, August 24, 2021 | Shelf Awareness — www.shelf-awareness.com Welcome to the Web site for Shelf Awareness: Daily Enlightenment for the Book Trade, the free e-mail newsletter dedicated to helping the people in stores, ...
Global supply chains buckle as virus variant and disasters strike | Reuters — www.reuters.com A new worldwide wave of COVID-19. Natural disasters in China and Germany. A cyber attack targeting key South African ports.
There have been a lot of articles in news feeds lately about how disrupted the 4th quarter supply chains could be. Shortages, difficulties in deliveries, rising prices. If you work in publishing and Ingram talks, pay attention.
And, even if you're in the magazine side of the divide, sign up for the Shelf Awareness newsletter. Not only is it a brilliant read, but it pays to stay up on the world of indie bookstores.
#4. Heads up Supermarkets, Amazon Fresh is coming...
This Amazon Fresh store is only blocks from a Whole Foods. Why? | Retail Dive — www.retaildive.com Retail industry news, voices and jobs. Optimized for your mobile phone.
The obvious thought here is that an Amazon Fresh store, placed just a few blocks from a Whole Foods, would cannibalize sales from each other.
But maybe not. Read this interesting examination of the issue from the folks at Retail Dive.
And, hey, magazine wholesalers and distributors, if we have magazines in Whole Foods and Amazon Books, why not Amazon Fresh? Just asking...
#5. Publisher's Weekly: Things are looking up for Barnes & Noble
B&N Rides a Wave of Positive Trends — www.publishersweekly.com Helped by a wave of positive trends, sales of the country’s largest physical bookstore retailer are higher than two years ago.
Traffic is up, sales are up (5 - 6% according to the article), the stores look better, the mix of titles and merchandise is better.
I see this in my own store visits as well as in the sales of most of the magazines I represent.
Can this continue? Personally, I'm encouraged. For a change, this new management team seems more interested in selling books, magazines, music and related items than it is in shooting itself in the foot.
As a rule, you don't want to invest in an organization that repeatedly shoots itself in the foot.
And now, for your moment of #MagazineZen and your moment of #MagazineAgita...
OK, be brave. Here comes some agitata...
