Financial Times

Market Focus: Tough Sell for Reference Books
September 1, 2008

A “slow, but steady decline” is how Rhonda Herman, executive vice president at reference publisher McFarland & Co. Inc., characterizes the market for reference books. “We are cautious about sales and will feel lucky if sales remain flat.” The reality of an economic downturn is starting to sink in—McFarland’s volume is flat, Herman says, “but actual income is down 2 percent. The reason for this is that we are experiencing higher than normal overstock returns, which is not surprising in this market.” Both direct and indirect costs are hitting the bottom line at the Jefferson, N.C.-based publisher. Higher fuel costs are forcing up the

Elsevier Puts Harcourt Up for Sale
February 16, 2007

Reed Elsevier put its Harcourt Education unit up for for grabs to the highest bidder this week, as the company announced its plans to focus in on its other segments. Harcourt Education, which serves the Pre-K to 12th-grade assessment and trade markets, was the only Reed division to post a decline in sales last year. It saw its profits drop 20 percent in 2006. According to Reed Elseveir’s 2006 financial report released yesterday, the company said it will focus more on its science and medical, legal and business segments. The report said Harcourt’s business dynamics and strategy have increasingly differed from the other three divisions. “The planned

Tips for E-Commerce Solution Shopping
February 1, 2007

In the ever-changing world of multimedia and shoppers who expect things at the click of the mouse, e-commerce solutions are in high demand. “These days it’s so important to give your Web customers a great experience,” says Jim Morse, president of Morse Data Corp. To do so, it is important to select solutions that fit your company size, scope, staff and budget. The following advice from several e-commerce solution providers can help guide you through the process of deciding which product works best for your company. “A publisher should analyze the cost of not only the development of a solution, but the manpower

Neil Young's "Greendale" Puts 'Green' Production to the Test
April 1, 2005

Legendary rock musician Neil Young who once sang "Look at Mother Nature on the run in the 1970s," on his classic apocalyptic album "After the Gold Rush" continues his environmental advocacy with his newly released book "greendale." From the content, which focuses on a tragic event that impacts three generations of an American family, to the production process, which relies on recycled paper and soy-based inks, the eco-friendly book is the latest manifestation of Young's "greendale" multimedia project. First an album, followed by a live stage tour and a feature film, "greendale" has now morphed into a companion book highlighting lyrics and stories behind