MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
May 15 – May 22, 2008 Edition
HarperCollins Unveils
First Interactive
Sales Catalogue
NEW YORK, NY/5/12/08–HarperCollins Publishers today announced the development of an interactive, electronic sales catalog, the most advanced catalog available from a major publisher. The catalog will offer booksellers an up-to-the minute online tool enabling them to order books. The catalog will also significantly reduce HarperCollins’ paper output, which is a major part of an ongoing effort to reduce the publishers’ carbon footprint. HarperCollins will preview the catalog at Book Expo America, May 29-June 1, 2008, and will launch a beta version in six to twelve months.
Working with the latest in Content Management System technology, the catalog will use a dynamic application linked to all HarperCollins’ publishing data systems. Book covers, prices, on-sale dates, reviews, quotes and important media alerts will be updated in real time as soon as they have been entered. Booksellers will be able to create lists and place orders online as they review front list book pages, and an author’s entire backlist will be visible as well.
The catalog pages will feature links to rich media content including author interviews, promotional videos and audio samples for many titles. With HarperCollins’ 15,000 title Digital Warehouse and Browse Inside application, booksellers will be able to read a portion of a large selection of galleys and complete Advance Reader Editions for certain titles.
"I am trilled to announce the creation of an electronic catalog," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publisher Worldwide. "It has been clear to me for some time that catalogs are out of date as soon as they are printed. So much of what we do today is in real time. Why not our catalogs? In addition, an electronic version reduces a tremendous amount of waste in all areas, paper, production and shipping. I feel this is a win-win situation for our customers and for us."
"Today both our customers and our salespeople need a selling tool that offers the most up-to-date information about our titles delivered in the most efficient and sustainable way possible," said Josh Marwell, President of Sales, HarperCollins. "The electronic catalog is the solution we have been waiting for. We look forward to the ongoing feedback from all of our customers as we develop this exciting new tool."
About HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, mystery, romance, reference, religious and spiritual books.
