35 years ago today (June 26th, 1974) the first barcoded U.P.C. was scanned on a package of Wrigley’s gum in Troy, Ohio. I for one will host a barcoded libation in celebration of the little black and white bars that have served so well.New Publishing Business Model #3: The Tor Store
Mike Shatzkin of Idealog has long been arguing that commerce in books needs to go ‘vertical’—that readers will gather at sites where their interests are served. Publisher branding doesn’t matter as much as putting the right combination of books together for a one-stop shopping experience.
Tor Books has effective done just that with their new online store.
Giving It Away: Book Summit 2009
The number of book professionals and students gathered at Harbourfront today for Giving It Away, the Humber College/BPC eighth annual Book Summit suggested that with or without BEC, there’s a strong desire to congregate and share ideas.
New Publishing Business Model #2: Scribd
O’Reilly’s doing it. Simon and Schuster’s doing it. The New York Times, Harvard and Ford are doing it.
Whatever it is you might be guessing (the twist? the dew? the nike corporate schill?), if you didn’t guess selling content through Scribd, then you don’t get the blue ribbon.
Leaving BookNet Canada: Farewells, Thank-Yous (and What's Next!)
It’s true. After six years, three months and twelve days, I’m passing on the torch at BookNet Canada. It is bittersweet. I am leaving a group of people who are gifted, committed and tremendously capable. But I leave with complete faith that BookNet will continue to deliver on its mandate to drive innovation and smooth out the rough patches of the book industry supply chain.
New Publishing Business Model #1: Symtext
Reaching Readers: Thoughts from BookCamp TO
BookCamp TO: Moving to The How
Bookcamp: An Unreview
So it is inevitable that when you are involved in an unconference that it is impossible to adequately provide a synopsis of what was covered. There are too many threads, not to mention dead-ends that many of the conversations can take. But there was an enviable comraderie where everyone present felt invested in solving the problems at hand in the publishing industry. And maybe classifying them as problems is unfair when really what they are is something the human race is pretty good at solving—challenges.
The Bearable Inanity of Twitter: Why It's Still Very Much Worth It
As a Twitter user, a common comment I hear from non-users, or those who have dabbled but can’t commit, is a variation along “what’s the point of hearing inane babble from strangers? if I want that, I’ll ride the TTC/hang out in coffee shops near loud talkers/stand at a street corner like an absent minded busker without a music maker”.
It’s a point that isn’t quick or easy to counter but given my general stubbornness and willingness to argue (cajun-style), it’s one that I’ve been pondering for quite some time.
