How to Weather the Economic Storm: A Q&A with Eric Kampmann, president of Midpoint Trade Books and Beaufort Books
Extra: What about longer-term strategies?
Kampmann: During my career in publishing, I have watched many events take place: companies buying companies; divisions coming and going; jobs appearing and disappearing. But through all of this helter-skelter movement, I am not sure I observed any truly revolutionary changes in the publishing community, at least not in the larger companies. On the other hand, I have witnessed enormous change in the world of bookselling. And the engines of these changes are not difficult to identify: Book superstores, national wholesalers, Internet retailers and mass merchandisers all have positively changed a publisher’s ability to reach much wider, national markets.
Publishers have adapted to this new world, but have they really changed? As a result, I would suggest that there is no aspect of the publishing process that should not be examined. The model has grown creaky, and retooling needs to take place.
- Places:
- New York City