Yes, there could be a book shortage this holiday season. But it is not as bad as you think - USA Today

Today Panzer made a stop at the USA Today site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about the Christmas book shortage of 2021. Panzer has been telling you about the supply chain problems businesses have been experiencing.

Maybe it won't be that bad.

According to the post by Mary Cadden, bookstore owners/CEOs and booksellers aren't worried about paper or labor shortages causing a book shortage this holiday season. Since publishers plan and publish their holiday books months in advance, bookstores only expect minimal inconvenience for their book buyers. A video about supply chain problems is included at the beginning of the post. Also included are several links to other posts and information about publishers and supply chain problems in general.

Panzer says, "This post has a different slant on the holiday book buying season."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of tea and a big muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring extra tea and muffins.

To read the post tootle over to book shortage?

To read Panzer's previous post about the supply chain problems tootle over to supply chain problems

Ingram Warns of 4th-Quarter Suppy Chain Disruptions - Shelf Awareness

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Shelf Awareness site. There our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Ingram Content Group.

 

According to the post, Ingram Content Group is predicting supply chain problems and cost increases for the publishing industry this holiday season. Ingram is also expecting warehouse and transportation problems. All these problems will cause slower deliveries.

 

Another ruined Christmas?

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks you need to get your holiday books ready now, so you don't get caught in the Covid-19 storm in December."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a brownie (everything feels better with chocolate) for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Ingram

Amazon hires 248,500 people in Q3 as Jeff Bezos challenges large employers to raise minimum wage - GeekWire

 Panzer decided to make a stop at the GeekWire site today. With a little digging in the posts there, our inquisitive kitty found one about Amazon.

 

1.13 million?

According to Taylor Soper's post, Amazon has 1.13 million employees worldwide. 400,000 of those employees were hired this year. Now Amazon plans to hire another 100,000 seasonal workers for the company's distribution centers. Amazon pays its employees a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour and CEO Jeff Bezos challenged other large employers to raise their minimum hourly wage as well. The post contains several links to information about Amazon's previous hiring sprees, previous wage increases, letters to shareholders, and more.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Seasonal workers? ... They must be planning for a lot of online Christmas shoppers."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea, a cup of cocoa, three muffins and three cupcakes for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring a thermos of cocoa, twelve muffins, twelve cupcakes, and a blanket for a nap in the middle.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Daunt Tweaks B&N for the Holidays - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Barnes and Noble and new CEO James Daunt.

Only 20 days to Christmas.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, while CEO James Daunt has no plans for major changes at Barnes and Noble before the holiday sales season, he is making some small holiday changes right now. Stores will be making books more prominent by having tables of books right by the entrances. The company doesn't, however, have a big advertising budget planned for the holiday season this year. CEO Daunt does plan to start making store changes in 2020 to increase book sales throughout the year and next year's holiday season.

Panzer says, "Are you as excited as this little kitty about Christmas shopping?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Amazon Reducing Orders to Publishers - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our adventuresome kitty found one about Amazon's inventory problems.

Never have only distributor.

According to Jim Milliot, Amazon is cutting back on the company's book orders from publishers. This is a step the company is taking in inventory reduction at its warehouses. By reducing the number of books in inventory the company will have more warehouse space available for other items in upcoming sales during the holiday season. Because of the possible loss of holiday book sales, some publishers are considering using BN.com, Walmart and other distribution outlets for their online book sales.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe ... Amazon needs bigger warehouses/distribution centers?"

Note: Your choice: This is either a long-short length or a short-medium length post. Either way, bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Holiday Comps Rose 4.0% at B&N - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging around our traveling kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble's holiday sales figures.

I knew they could do it.

According to Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble CEO Len Riggio reported an increase in holiday sales for the company's stores. Barnes and Noble same store holiday sales comparing 2017 to 2018 rose 4 percent. This was due in part to increased advertising by the company in 2018. The company's order online-pickup in store feature also contributed to the increased sales figures.

Panzer says, "This little kitty knew the order online-pickup in store feature would help sales because it's faster (just search the website) and less expensive (no shipping charges)."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble sales

Len Riggio Says He's Ready to Lead B&N Through the Holidays - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Barnes and Noble's future plans.

How can he see the holidays already?

According to Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble founder Len Riggio is ready to lead the bookstore through the holiday season and has plans for before and beyond the holidays. Those plans include opening three more prototype bookstores by year's end. (One is slated to open October 3.)  Mr. Riggio believes there will be a rise in all the company bookstores' holiday sales. He also believes the Nook and bn.com are important parts of the company. As far as picking a new CEO he would like to see someone with experience outside the book selling arena, believing that's necessary to Barnes and Noble's growth. There's more information about Mr. Riggio's plans for the company included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty agrees with him about the Nook and bn.com."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

B&N Sees Better Times Ahead - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catospehere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With a little digging our busy kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

I told them, but they wouldn't listen.

According to Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble is optimistic about a sales turnaround. Company Chairman Len Riggio is pinning his hopes on the new order a book online and pick it up in your local Barnes and Noble bookstore feature and the coming holiday sales. Mr. Riggio said in a conference call that the stores with restaurants have turned out to be a mistake. Going forward, the Barnes and Noble book club will be joined by other in-store events.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty has said all along a restaurant with alcohol didn't belong in a bookstore."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Barnes & Noble Reports Holiday Revenues Down 6.4 % - The Digital Reader

Panzer made a short trip into the Catosphere today. Our speedy little kitty pilot stopped in at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging he found a post about Barnes and Noble's holiday sales figures.

How can we help them?

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Barnes and Noble announced in a press release that holiday sales revenue was down compared to last year's holiday revenue. It appears lower bricks and mortar store shoppers contributed to the 6.4 percent decline. Online sales also declined, but by only 4.5 percent. The company projects the next quarter sales will also be down.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Obviously ...The restaurants with alcohol in the stores isn't working. Maybe ... Do a little work on the Nook? Or work on the Nook for PC app?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea and a cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

B&N Unveils New Apps and New Holiday Sales Strategy - Publishers Weekly

Already thinking about Christmas?

Panzer was out tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard holiday music. Our inquisitive kitty boy followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble's plans for the holiday sales season.

According to the post by John Maher, Barnes and Noble has two new apps to make holiday shopping easier. The first is called Book Graph. When a customer chooses an online book to examine, the app gives them other similar books to consider. Included in the post is a link to the app. The second app is called SmartGift. After a customer purchases a gift they can send an email to the recipient. The recipient has the option to receive the gift or return it and pick another. There's also a holiday catalog/gift guide for the holiday season. Barnes and Noble also has a book drive for charity running until January 1, 2018. Customers can buy a book and donate it to the charity book drive.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks that second app is interesting. ... Mom can send an email to me that says 'I bought you a new cat sweater. If you don't like it you can exchange it for what you want.' ... Hmm ... Then I can exchange it for catnip. ... Sounds good to me."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble