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Publisher dismay at bookseller charges

18.06.07

The Times takes another look at the charges retailers impose on publishers to get their books in prominent slots. The piece highlights a "confidential letter to publishers", in which Waterstone’s has set out what it expects them to pay if they want their books to be well promoted in its network of more than 300 stores this Christmas. "The most expensive package, available for only six books and designed to 'maximise the potential of the biggest titles for Christmas', costs £45,000 per title." To the despair of publishers, similar charges have become standard across the industry, the newspaper notes.

The leading chains excuse them as a “contribution” towards marketing costs and recognition of a booksellers’ power to create bestsellers by heavily promoting select books. At Borders, bookshop staff vote to decide the book of the month, while schools are polled to find the children’s book of the month. But the publishers still have to pay an undisclosed fee for the chosen book to be awarded the accolade. A spokeswoman for W H Smith said: “Our premium promotion spaces are oversubscribed, which suggests that publishers feel they are getting value for money.” Neil Jewsbury, the commercial director of Waterstone’s, defended the charges and said that the quality of books chosen for books-of-the-year lists and other promotions was not compromised by money changing hands.

The Times

Retail W H Smith waterstone's Borders

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