Comments on: Branding: The Future of Publishing? http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/ Independent Bookstore Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:10:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Introducing Ruby http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-16689 Introducing Ruby Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:07:15 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-16689 [...] nearly every major literary award.  I frequently made embarrassing homonym errors.  I pissed off Seth Godin.  And my first post was about [...] [...] nearly every major literary award.  I frequently made embarrassing homonym errors.  I pissed off Seth Godin.  And my first post was about [...]

]]> By: beyondwords | a blog for professional writers, editors, and designers » Blog Archive » 140+ Tweet Feed http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-9474 beyondwords | a blog for professional writers, editors, and designers » Blog Archive » 140+ Tweet Feed Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:12:22 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-9474 [...] Branding: The Future of Publishing?: X poses an interesting branding strategy — organizing bookstores by publishing company rather than genre. The conversation in the comments is worth reading through. [...] [...] Branding: The Future of Publishing?: X poses an interesting branding strategy — organizing bookstores by publishing company rather than genre. The conversation in the comments is worth reading through. [...]

]]> By: Book branding/curation | Tomorrow Museum http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-9218 Book branding/curation | Tomorrow Museum Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:14:43 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-9218 [...] He uses the example of Criterion Collection DVDs in one shelf together, regardless of genre. Patrick Brown at Vroman’s further explains, “[If] Melville House publishes it, I will likely give it a shot. Why? [...] [...] He uses the example of Criterion Collection DVDs in one shelf together, regardless of genre. Patrick Brown at Vroman’s further explains, “[If] Melville House publishes it, I will likely give it a shot. Why? [...]

]]> By: susie http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-9141 susie Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:04:38 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-9141 I agree with Tosh when he says good publishers are like good record labels--or good directors, fashion designers, curators, etc. The idea applies to taste in every kind of media, not just books. If an editor or publisher are making products that are consistently awesome, observant people will take note. I will categorically pick up any New Directions book I find at a used bookstore, whether I recognize the author or not. If you're a reader and you scan your bookshelves, I bet you'll find a trend of publishers; it's just something that sorts itself out, whether you're aware of it or not. These days, it seems like the super huge houses like Random House, Simon and Schuster, and esp. St. Martins have become so obsessed with publicity and hype, the Today Show, and Oprah that the brand is really irrelevant. But, then there's always FSG, Vintage, Picador, and Norton, who're all pretty ace. So maybe it's an issue of scale. Family Books in LA, McSweeney's in SF, Graywolf in Mnpls, and Archipelago in NY all have amazing brands. So what if the indie booksellers organized by publisher? Not everything, necessarily, but in some cases, using their good judgment? That's a nod to publishers who're doing their job well, and an asset to their customers. Just like Sublime Frequencies, Luaka Bop, or Rough Trade compilations, I'd welcome a collection of picks from particular publishers, all in one place. Bring it on. I agree with Tosh when he says good publishers are like good record labels–or good directors, fashion designers, curators, etc. The idea applies to taste in every kind of media, not just books. If an editor or publisher are making products that are consistently awesome, observant people will take note.

I will categorically pick up any New Directions book I find at a used bookstore, whether I recognize the author or not. If you’re a reader and you scan your bookshelves, I bet you’ll find a trend of publishers; it’s just something that sorts itself out, whether you’re aware of it or not.

These days, it seems like the super huge houses like Random House, Simon and Schuster, and esp. St. Martins have become so obsessed with publicity and hype, the Today Show, and Oprah that the brand is really irrelevant. But, then there’s always FSG, Vintage, Picador, and Norton, who’re all pretty ace.

So maybe it’s an issue of scale. Family Books in LA, McSweeney’s in SF, Graywolf in Mnpls, and Archipelago in NY all have amazing brands. So what if the indie booksellers organized by publisher? Not everything, necessarily, but in some cases, using their good judgment? That’s a nod to publishers who’re doing their job well, and an asset to their customers.

Just like Sublime Frequencies, Luaka Bop, or Rough Trade compilations, I’d welcome a collection of picks from particular publishers, all in one place. Bring it on.

]]> By: Bites: Is New York Bad for Writers?, Should Bookstores Rethink Shelving?, East of Eden as Performance, the Death of the Man of Letters, How to Get Rid of Hipsters, and more « Vol. 1 Brooklyn http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-9120 Bites: Is New York Bad for Writers?, Should Bookstores Rethink Shelving?, East of Eden as Performance, the Death of the Man of Letters, How to Get Rid of Hipsters, and more « Vol. 1 Brooklyn Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:50:38 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-9120 [...] bookstores shelve by publisher rather than author? (Thanks, The [...] [...] bookstores shelve by publisher rather than author? (Thanks, The [...]

]]> By: Richard http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-8800 Richard Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:45:48 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-8800 Readers/consumers should brand themselves too. Branding is great for everyone. Years ago, on a northeastern Wyoming cattle ranch, I once branded calves. Most of them ended up being bought as Quarter Pounders, so branding works! Readers/consumers should brand themselves too. Branding is great for everyone. Years ago, on a northeastern Wyoming cattle ranch, I once branded calves. Most of them ended up being bought as Quarter Pounders, so branding works!

]]> By: Tim Brandhorst http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-8594 Tim Brandhorst Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:13:25 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-8594 This post and many of the comments above fit hand-in-glove with the ideas laid out by Mike Shatzkin in his "shift" speech at BEA this year: imprints must become more vertical to reflect the wants/needs of niche online communities. Branding won't be as much about consistency of cover design (where the conversation usually begins and ends today at many publishing houses) as about editorial consistency. Text of Shatzkin's speech: http://www.idealog.com/stay-ahead-of-the-shift-what-publishers-can-do-to-flourish-in-a-community-centric-web-world This post and many of the comments above fit hand-in-glove with the ideas laid out by Mike Shatzkin in his “shift” speech at BEA this year: imprints must become more vertical to reflect the wants/needs of niche online communities. Branding won’t be as much about consistency of cover design (where the conversation usually begins and ends today at many publishing houses) as about editorial consistency.

Text of Shatzkin’s speech: http://www.idealog.com/stay-ahead-of-the-shift-what-publishers-can-do-to-flourish-in-a-community-centric-web-world

]]> By: Bookstores, Branding, & Book Publishing « Red Sofa Literary http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-2/#comment-8476 Bookstores, Branding, & Book Publishing « Red Sofa Literary Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:19:15 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-8476 [...] Branding: The Future of Publishing? [...] [...] Branding: The Future of Publishing? [...]

]]> By: Two Posts on the Future of Bookstores and Book Publishing — Bill Ward http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-8472 Two Posts on the Future of Bookstores and Book Publishing — Bill Ward Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:58:40 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-8472 [...] Brown at the Vroman’s Bookstore Blog points out in his response to Stein’s post, ‘Branding, the Future of Publishing,’ such changes — like banks of monitors in meeting spaces and expensive POD machines [...] [...] Brown at the Vroman’s Bookstore Blog points out in his response to Stein’s post, ‘Branding, the Future of Publishing,’ such changes — like banks of monitors in meeting spaces and expensive POD machines [...]

]]> By: Social Publishing & More Good Stuff | Hometown Pasadena http://blog.vromans.com/branding-the-future-of-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-8390 Social Publishing & More Good Stuff | Hometown Pasadena Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:43:05 +0000 http://blog.vromans.com/?p=1050#comment-8390 [...] Simone makes it clear that he’s not a professional in the sense that he hasn’t worked in publishing before, but it’s clear from his first two posts that he has the general lay of the land.  This should be a great series to follow, especially for those interested in the kind of conversation we’ve had around here these past few days. [...] [...] Simone makes it clear that he’s not a professional in the sense that he hasn’t worked in publishing before, but it’s clear from his first two posts that he has the general lay of the land.  This should be a great series to follow, especially for those interested in the kind of conversation we’ve had around here these past few days. [...]

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