B&N Eyes Revenue Growth - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. With just a little digging around our cute kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble's sales revenue. Panzer told you a couple of days ago about Barnes and Noble's decline in sales in their 2017 Fiscal Revenue Report.

Maybe make them cat friendly, too?

According to Jim Milliot's post, Barnes and Noble is planning to make some changes in the hopes of bringing about company revenue growth. CEO Demos Parneros advises the company is undertaking plans to make stores more customer friendly. While 2017 juvenile book sales were down as were adult coloring books among other sales declines, BN.com sales were up 3.9 percent. CEO Parneros advises other plans include reducing under performing book categories to make room for the more popular categories. Mr. Parneros doesn't expect an instantaneous turnaround and is instead looking at long term goals.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... BN.com sales are up. That's good."

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

To read today's post tootle over to Barnes and Noble revenue growth

To read the post about Barnes and Noble's 2017 Fiscal Report, tootle over to Barnes and Noble sales reports

B&N Reports Falling Sales in Fiscal 2017 Report - Publishers Weekly

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There our busy kitty traveler discovered news about Barnes and Noble's 2017 Fiscal Year Report. (Panzer knows it might seem strange for a company to have their end of 2017 year report be announced in June. It just means the company was not started on January 1 but instead part way through the year. Therefore, the company's "year" doesn't start and stop on January 1. This little kitty knows it's confusing, but it's what he expects from humans.)

My ebooks are there online.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble announced their fiscal report for 2017 and the numbers are disappointing. Although according to the report online sales were up 3.7 percent, that wasn't enough to offset the 6 percent decline in retail sales or the 23.4 percent decline in Nook sales. Even though the sales figures do appear to show an abysmal sales record and losses, it does show they are not as bad as the 2016 losses.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Can the new CEO Demos Parneros turn the company around to profitability in the next couple of years? This little kitty hopes so."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Germany's Publishing Revenue Rises 1% in 2016 - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the state of the German book market.

The figures don't look good to me.

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Germany's total 2016 book sales revenue figures are now available. The total 2016 revenue rose just 1 percent compared to 2015. The biggest increase for the period was in children's book sales at 9 percent. Ebook sales, however, were nearly even for the time period having only risen .1 percent. Book translations did show a rise for the period from 12.4 percent in 2015 to 13.6 in 2016. There are graphs and charts to illustrate the percentages in book publishing numbers, genres and revenues.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Ebook sales were flat?"

Note: With the charts and graphs this is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Germany's publishing

Digital Sales Down 2% in Canada in 2016 - Publishers Weekly

Today, when Panzer ventured into the Catosphere, crying and moaning quickly surrounded the Panzermobile. Following all the noise, took our brave kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about digital sales in Canada.

The Publishers Weekly post by Ed Nawotka deals with digital sales in Canada as presented in The State of Digital Publishing annual report.  Digital sales are defined in the report as ebooks and audiobooks sales only.  The report details the fact digital publishing sales in 2016 were down 2 percent compared to 2015. This isn't surprising since digital sales are down in all English-language markets as stated in the post. The report is based on information collected from 50 publishers. The post also contains information about how digital publishing works in Canada.

Who speaks cat language? Wait! I do.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... If digital sales are down in English-language markets, maybe it's time to start translating digital books and audiobooks for other language markets."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Canadian digital sales

Amazon Starts Weekly Bestseller Lists - Publishers Weekly

As soon as the Panzermobile got into the Catosphere today Panzer couldn't believe all the cheering and clapping he heard. Following all the jocularity took our kitty pilot to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's newest endeavor.

This needs looking into.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Amazon has started a new weekly bestseller lists service for readers. Called Amazon Charts the service has two bestseller lists. One has the top 20 books based on sales numbers and the second has the top 20 books based on reading numbers. The sales numbers will include a book's sales across all Amazon platforms. The read numbers will include a book's reads and audio book listens.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty can see that authors who have their books in Amazon Kindle ebooks, CreateSpace paperbacks and Audible audio books have a big advantage when it comes to these bestseller lists."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon Bestseller Lists

New Amazon Buy Button Program Draws Ire of Publishers, Authors - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today just enjoying the trip when his solitude was interrupted by crying and booing. Following all the noise took our inquisitive kitty to the Publishers' Weekly site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's New Buy Button Program.

After all that I need a nap.

Panzer told you last week about the controversy swirling around about the changes to Amazon's Buy Button Program. According to the post by Jim Milliot, the controversy continues. Neither publishers nor authors are happy with the current situation. The new program allows re-sellers to obtain Buy Buttons for books based on several factors including shipping times and new book availability. No one seems to know or be able to agree on where the re-sellers are getting the new books from. Of course there is the usual conspiracy theory whenever Amazon is involved. This one concerns Amazon using Create Space against traditional publishers. Near the beginning of Mr. Milliot's post there's a link to a post in the Huffington Post from last week about the Amazon Buy Button Program.

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea and a half dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link in Mr. Milliot's post and the link from Panzer's post last week, bring an extra thermos of tea and another half dozen muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon Buy Button Program

To read Panzer's previous post about the Amazon Buy Button Program controversy, tootle over to book publishers and buy buttons

B&N Names Demos Parneros CEO - Publishers Weekly

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble has a new CEO. Demos Parneros has been named to take over the position from Len Riggio. Mr. Parneros has been functioning in the Chief Operating Officer position since he was hired in November 2016. Mr. Parneros came to Barnes and Noble after leaving his position as President of Staples. In addition to the announcement of Mr. Parneros' appointment to the CEO position, there's information on Barnes and Noble's most recent sales figures included in the post.

I'll be watching what happens.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... At the end of the post there are some interesting hints about the possiblity of coming closings of some Barnes and Noble bricks and mortar stores."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble CEO

BISG's Making Information Pay Highlights Print, Audiobooks Resurgence - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There our traveling kitty reporter found a post about the Book Industry Study Group (BISG).

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) reported on the increases in print book and audiobook sales. In 2016 hardcover book sales were higher than ebook sales. This hasn't happened in five years. The decline in ebook sales is attributed to readers switching from ereaders to smartphones. In 2015 (latest available information) audiobook sales increased by 27 percent. The increase is attributed to indie authors now being able to go to Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) and do their own audiobooks. Other information is included in the post.

I'll practice my voice exercises.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Smartphones? Time for Amazon Short Reads? ... And audiobooks? ... Mom. Where's the microphone? This kitty is ready to record his book."

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

To read the post, tootle over to print and audiobook

Amazon Opens Second Bookstore In Massachusetts - Publishers Weekly (PW)

I'll feel better after my nap.

Panzer had to make his annual visit to the veterinarian today, so his trip into the Catosphere was a quick one. Our speedy kitty boy made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site where he found a post about Amazon.

According to the post by Alex Green, all the rumors and speculation were true. Amazon opened their second Massachusetts Amazon Books bookstore on April 18. This one is in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Like other Amazon Books bookstores Amazon Prime members get a discount on books and devices, but other customers pay full price.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Amazon opened a second store in Massachusetts ... and ... they already have a big warehouse there ... and ... there's rumors they're looking for office space there. This kitty wonders if there will be an east coast Amazon headquarters in Massachusetts?"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Kobo Acquires Shelfie Technology Platform - Publishers' Weekly (PW)

She always hides it.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers' Weekly site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about Kobo and Shelfie.

According to the post by Calvin Reid, Shelfie has been resurrected from its late January demise by Kobo. Shelfie has been reincarnated as a part of Kobo. Kobo now owns all of Shelfie's assets, including the staff and platform. The Shelfie service allowed readers who purchased print books to send photos of their purchase to receive digital copies of those books.

Panzer says, "Now where did Mom put her cellphone with the camera in it?"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Kobo

Amazon Opening Second NYC Bookstore - Publishers' Weekly

So much noise I've got a headache.

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere enjoying the solitude, when the Panzermobile was buffeted by cheering and clapping. Following the brouhaha took our fearless kitty traveler to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, it's now official. Amazon is opening a second Amazon Books bricks and mortar bookstore in New York City (NYC). Plans are to open the new store this summer. This will be Amazon's eleventh bricks and mortar store. Amazon is already hiring employees for the store.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The other Amazon Books bookstores must be doing well with their sales to get Amazon to keep opening new stores this fast."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon Books

Microsoft Unveils Digital Bookstore - Publishers' Weekly

Today, Panzer was making a leisurely trip around the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by laughing and guffawing. Following all the jocularity, took our inquisitive kitty to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. There he discovered a post about Microsoft.

According to Calvin Reid's post, Microsoft has plans to open a retail digital bookstore. Quoting from a post at the Good E-Reader site, Mr. Reid says Microsoft will have hundreds of thousands (no specific number anywhere) of ebooks available. Microsoft's April upgrade to the Windows 10 Edge browser will make it easier to read ebooks on your computer, laptop or tablet. The post includes a link to the quoted Good E-Reader post and one to an earlier The Verge post.

A little slow in your old age MS?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This kitty thinks Microsoft is coming to the party a little late. All the customer party goers have already picked their ereader dance partners."

Note: This is a shortish-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the two included links, bring another cup of tea and a whole muffin too.

To read the post, tootle over to Microsoft digital bookstore

Every Amazon Books Location, Mapped - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard ohing and ahing coming from outside. Following all the noise, took our kitty boy to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's bricks and mortar stores.

Is this a building frenzy?

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Amazon has announced the projected opening of five more bricks and mortar stores in 2017. These five new stores will join the five already opened for a total of ten. Two of the already opened stores have cafes, but it's unknown if any of the upcoming five stores will include this feature. There's a map included in the post that shows the locations of the current bricks and mortar stores and the proposed locations for the new ones.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Is there going to be one near you?"

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 Amazon bricks and mortar stores

Hachette Partners with Wattpad to Produce Audiobooks - Publishers' Weekly

When Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today, he found a post scrunched under the passenger seat. Spreading out the post, our fastidious kitty discovered it was from a trip he made to the Publishers' Weekly site. The post was about Hachette and Wattpad's new partnership.

Mom's feeling better.

According to the post by Calvin Reid, Hachette and Wattpad are partnering to produce audiobooks. The audiobooks will use popular Wattpad author's stories. Plans are to have 50 audiobooks available in the summer of this year. They will be available at iTunes and other sellers. No titles or authors have been announced yet.

Panzer says, "It makes this little kitty want to post some of his work at Wattpad. Maybe it will become popular with the readers there."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Hachette and Wattpad

In Face of NEA Cuts, Small Presses Worry About Their Futures - Publishers' Weekly

Today Panzer was taking his afternoon nap when his cat bed was shaken by screaming and crying coming from the Catosphere. Our sleepy kitty jumped in Panzermobile and headed out. Following all the noise took him to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. There he found a post about the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Cats had nothing to do with him. You did it.

According to the post by Jason Boog, President Donald Trump's budget for the U.S. government has been given to Congress. As rumored earlier, the President's budget cuts all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and, therefore, effectively closing the agency. This proposed budget will certainly have a negative impact on small presses. Small presses receive money through sources who themselves receive NEA money. Some presses will be forced to close and others will be tightening their own budgets.

Panzer says, "Umm ... I wonder if there's even more bad news for writers and publishers in this budget."

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 NEA cuts

London Book Fair 2017: For Publishers, Business Is Booming, But Brexit Means Uncertainty - Publishers' Weekly

Today Panzer was tootling around in the Panzermobile when he heard grumbling and questioning noises coming from the Catosphere ahead of him. It only took our traveling kitty a short time to find the hubbub was coming from the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. With a little digging he found a post about the London Book Fair (LBF) that was raising all the questions.

According to the post at the Publishers' Weekly site, the London Book Fair opened with discussions about the questions of how Brexit will effect publishing in the UK. UK Publishers Association chief executive Stephen Lotinga, DK Publishing CEO Ian Hudson, and HarperCollins CEO Charlie Redmayne discussed the uncertainties of issues of free trade, currency, and copyright among others.

Panzer says, "Brexit is turning out not to be simple for the publishing industry."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and two chocolate cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to London Book Fair 2017

Hachette U. K. Acquires Bookouture - Publishers' Weekly

I've been one busy kitty today.

Panzer is helping Mom update Cat Wisdom for Humans, so he made a very quick trip into the Catosphere today. Our hurrying kitty stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. With a little digging he found a post about Hachette U. K.

According to the post by John Maher, Tim Hely Hutchinson, Hachette U. K. CEO, announced the acquisition of digital publisher Bookouture. Oliver Rhodes, CEO and founder of Bookouture, will remain in that capacity. Bookoutre will stay in its current location and all employees will remain with the company. Bookouture's digital authors can now be seamlessly published by Hachette U. K. Little, Brown print publishing arm.

Panzer says, "Bookouture sure has grown in only four years."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Hachette UK

Amazon Unveils First East Coast Bricks and Mortar (Store) - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering from up ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our kitty boy to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon.

Another cafe, but no alcohol this time.

According to the post by Alex Green, Amazon has opened their newest bricks and mortar store in Dedham, Massachusetts. The 5,800 sq. ft. bookstore includes a cafe. The cafe was included based on customer requests. The bookstore has a limited selection of only 5,700 physical books. It does, however, also carry Amazon digital devices. The Dedham store joins the Seattle (Washington), Portland (Oregon) and San Diego (California) Amazon bricks and mortar stores.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Most libraries have more books than each of the Amazon bookstores."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon bricks and mortar store

B&N Education BuysMBS for $174 Million - Publishers' Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the PW (Publishers' Weekly) site. After a little digging around our ingenious kitty pilot found a post about Barnes and Noble Education.

Inquiring kitties want to know. Who?

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble Education announced the acquisition of MBS Textbook Exchange. B and N Education is spending $174.2 million in cash for MBS's physical and digital textbooks and course materials, their customer base, the textbooks.com site, and other assets. The end of the post also includes Barnes and Noble Education's third quarter financial information.

Panzer says, "There's some interesting, but confusing, information about who is selling MBS."

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

To read the post, tootle over to BN Education buys MBS

Wharton Uses Zola's Everywhere Store to Launch Online Bookstore - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere today when the Panzermobile was buffeted by a chorus of oohing and aahing. Following all the noise took our adventurous kitty to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about Zola's Everywhere Store.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has opened their Zola's Everywhere Store. Books by Wharton Digital Press authors and Wharton School faculty will be available for purchase through the online store. Zola's Everywhere Store is a widget authors and publishers can use by putting the code on their website. Once the code is inserted, the store is functioning. The widget is free, but Zola's receives a portion of each sale. There's a link included in the post to the Zola's site.

Hmm ... Should I try it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty followed the link to Zola's site. There's some interesting information and profit charts at Zola's site."

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to Zola's site too, bring an extra muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Zola's Everywhere Store