Thursday, September 29, 2011

Super Thursday

You may not know this, but today is “Super Thursday” in Great Britain, according to The Independent paper. This is the day publishers “release hundreds of titles in a bid to win a place on customers' Christmas shopping lists.” In one day, over 200 titles will be released.

As a result of last year’s one-day release, ten hardbacks went on to earn more than one million pounds over the Christmas holidays.
Century publishing director Ben Dunn said a "significant number" of releases would be non-fiction, reflecting wider trends within the industry. "Now more than ever, selling non-fiction outside the Christmas window is becoming impossible," he said.

Graeme Neill, news editor of The Bookseller, said: "Publishers see it as critical as a means of establishing their book in the public eye as early as possible.
Over in the UK, book sales are down overall, just like they are here in the states. Even so, I’m thinking, man, the push to buy for Christmas just keeps coming earlier and earlier. Here in central Texas, we’re still reaching in the 100+ degrees, so buying for Christmas is far from my mind.

How about you?

17 comments:

  1. Wow, I wonder if they have a day like that here in the US. Our family is small and getting older, so I don't have to do much Christmas shopping. :(

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  2. I don't even want to think about Christmas Shopping yet, but it's probably a good idea to get those titles out so that people will hear about them early enough.

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  3. Christmas decor is in the stores now before Halloween. I guess the retail outlets are getting excited about all the money they make from the season. I'd be interested in knowing how book sales do this year at Christmas.

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  4. Christmas seems like so far away...but if I wait until I feel like it's time to start with stuff then I run out of time! Ha! I'm about to start shopping, yes...to get things ordered online and shipped in lots of time to wrap,etc.

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  5. We're still in summer mode here. I am starting to plan for Christmas though. Shopping in December is no fun.

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  6. Trying to entice Christmas shoppers now? Must be cooler in the UK than it is here.

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  7. You are so right about the Texas heat making it hard to think about Christmas. I put a fall wreath on my front door yesterday and it felt...well, almost comical! I am looking forward to some new fall book releases, however, like novels from Charles Frazier and Michael Ondaatje.

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  8. Groan, I am off the UK to celebrate the arrival of Seren. I am not looking forward to all the Christmas items I remember being pushed out in October. I prefer Cyprus. Here Christmas items trickle in mid-November and go on sale two weeks prior to Christmas. Then they are packed away.

    I don't mind books being promoted early though! :D

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  9. I used to be the planner. I'd figure out what to get family members way early and get the shopping done. Now, I rather dread the whole ordeal since it's so hard to figure out what the kids, who are no longer kids, want. Plus, I do hate seeing Christmas stuff in the stores in September.

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  10. Interesting. I do remember that when I first moved to the U.S. and sent Christmas packages to England the surface mail deadline was the beginning of October. That was in the days where no Christmas items were on the shelves before Thanksgiving. How things have changed.
    Ann

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  11. Wow - that seems early! I always try to do some shopping early, but I never really succeed. Maybe one of these years I'll manage it somehow. :)

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  12. We're trying not drown this fall so I can't even imagine Christmas yet.
    I think the economy has hurt book sales like it has everything else.

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  13. I'm one of those hateful people who shop all year for just the right Christmas gifts. But I love the idea of a "Super Thursday" -- not for holiday shopping, but just having 200+ new books to page through!

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  14. Hi Helen .. thanks for telling me! I expect the weekend paper will have its full share of details .. some people love reading these previews of books .. and I've bought occasionally for myself from them!

    A cheapy Christmas shop is already up here .. it's terrible - I'd rather like to be in Cyprus .. enjoy that season and live it to the full, rather than drip feed constantly ..

    Cheers - thanks again for letting me know! I do shop as I see for people I must say .. but we're a small family too .. Hilary

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  15. Christmas?? *smacks head* Isn't that like 15 months away or something?

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  16. Laura, I wish it were! Even then, I'd still not be ready for Christmas.

    Karen, you are like my sister. She's looking all year long for presents.

    Jemi, I say I'll shop all year round. And each year, I fail to do it. My real problem is figuring out what to get friends and relatives.

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