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Independent publisher Ragged Bears is aiming to triple its turnover to £3m by 2010, according to m.d. Henrietta Stickland.
Stickland said that Ragged Bears' sales in the past six months were well up on 2007, when turnover hit £1m. The increase followed Ragged Bears' decision to bring sales and marketing inhouse in January, she added, with most of its recent sales backlist-driven. "We have had strong support from Waterstone's, but independents are also amazingly receptive to our list," she said.
On the back of this success, Ragged Bears is moving into young fiction for the first time, and has appointed Catnip editorial director Martin West as publisher. "We feel it is time to broaden our base from novelty and picture books," said Stickland. West will take up his new role in mid-September.
Ragged Bears currently publishes around 20 titles a year. It does not plan to increase this, but will publish more young fiction and fewer picture book titles, said Stickland. West will work across Ragged Bears' list, which will cover the nought to 12 years age range.
West said: "I have really enjoyed working with Andrea Reece and Robert Snuggs to set up Catnip. It's been hugely exciting and I'm very proud of the list, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge using my experience in this role with Ragged Bears."
Catnip has bought in a number of young fiction titles from Australia as part of its formative list, and West will continue to look abroad for new young fiction. "There are so many good authors out there who deserve to be published here."