How to Weather the Economic Storm: A Q&A with Eric Kampmann, president of Midpoint Trade Books and Beaufort Books
So where does the fault lie? I would suggest that the endless and futile quest for the next big book is at the heart of the problem. It is a publishing problem, not a retailing problem.
Extra: To paint a silver lining amid the current clouds, what do you believe are the fundamental strengths of the book industry? Are publishers successfully capitalizing on those strengths?
Kampmann: The greatest innovations are occurring in the independent publishing sector. Most of the recommendations I have made here, in many places, already have been implemented. Independent publishers have modified their royalty structures; they have taken the longer view on sales; they have some of the same advantages in sales and distribution that the large publishers experience and they have been innovators in Internet marketing and specialized sales. In other words, they can often compete successfully against the largest publishers. I view this as good news.
- Places:
- New York City