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Quercus reports 270% December e-book sales growth

30.01.12 | Lisa Campbell

Quercus has reported that sales of its non-Larsson books increased by 83% over the last quarter of 2010 while e-book sales grew by 270% in December by comparison to the previous year.

The publisher's trading statement for the final three months of 2011 revealed five of its books had performed "notably" well, alongside Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, as the company continues with its strategy of expanding the depth and breadth of its fiction, non-fiction and children's books "while maintaining the momentum of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy". The King's Speech by Peter Conradi, The Mayan Prophecy by Steve Alten, Born Fearless by Phil Campion, The Black House by Peter May and Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson were all highlighted for their performance.

While the Stieg Larsson franchise saw its peak of sales in 2010, the Millennium Trilogy books were three of the top 10 bestselling novels in the UK over the course of 2011.

Quercus' digital arm accounted for 11% of its 2011 revenue and the company noted a December spike in e-book sales, up 270%, as readers downloaded books onto e-reading devices through the festive period. Going forward, Quercus said it would "continue to benefit from . . . significant investments in digital publishing and marketing, website development and social networking."

For the full year ending 31st December 2011, the company's trading was in line with market expectations and net cash was £4.3m.

Quercus chief executive Mark Smith said: "The directors are pleased with the performance of the company over the crucial Christmas trading period and are satisfied that the improved quality of our revenue and earnings will continue into the future."

He added the New Year had started positively with Peter May's The Lewis Man reaching the number four spot on the UK hardback adult fiction chart, Christie Watson's Tiny Sunbirds Far Away winning the Costa Best First Novel Award and A Cold Season by Alison Littlewood being chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club.

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