A&R Whitcoulls Group is Australia’s largest bookseller (under the name Angus & Robertson). Apparently, they’ve decided to self-destruct, but in a spectacularly foolish manner.
New York-based editor and blogger Teresa Nielsen Hayden has a very nice analysis of a letter Charlie Rimmer (A & R’s Group Commercial Manager) sent to Michael Rakusin (the Director of Australia’s Tower Books Pty Ltd), as well as of Rakusin’s response on her blog.
Nielsen Hayden’s blog points to the original posting of the letter, on the Sydney Morning Herald‘s entertainment blog.
To summarize, A&R’s new management has decided that publishers supplying books which earn A&R less than some magic number will have to pay A&R in order to keep doing business with them. Tower notes that their business has been improving at almost every retailer with which they do business, except A&R. It’s an interesting view into the sometimes less-than-rational world of bookselling.
An hour after posting the above, Dave Fenlon, A&R’s Chief Operating Officer responded on Crikey.com, expressing regret for the tone of Rimmer’s letter. His response is at this link.
It should be interesting watching this situation play out. And SFScope asks our Australian readers to let us know if they see any interesting developments (bare book shelves or soaring profits). Thanks.