Wedding Bells -
Michael Horan, vice president of sales for World Publications, married Jennifer Smee, vice president of operations for Hampstead House in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.  Hampstead House is a family run mail order catalogue business.  When pressed as to how all of this came about, Michael’s reply was, “I was just pretty much impressed that she said yes.”  Congratulations to Michael and Jennifer – we wish you the best.
 
Borders purchases Hawley - Cooke Booksellers
In the competitive Louisville, Kentucky market another independent is gone.  Hawley – Cooke booksellers has sold its two stores in Louisville to Borders. The stores will close and re-open in the fall as Border Outlet stores. Borders has announced they plan to keep all 83 Hawley-Cooke employees.  Source: www.bookweb.org.
 
Catholic Publisher to add imprints -
Ave Maria Press has added two new imprints, Thomas Moore and Christian Classics along with Forest of Peace Publishing. The purchase of these two companies will give Ave Maria Press approximately 400 titles.
Source: www.publishersweekly.com.
 
 
AOL Time Warner, Inc. seeking to become AOL and Time Warner-
Executives from both entities want to separate their names from the other’s image.
AOL has been brewed in controversy since the SEC began investigating accounting issues at the company. Earnings have fallen and subscribers are leaving in large numbers.  AOL Time Warner is one of the world’s largest media conglomerates.
Source: www.aol.com.news.
 
Zondervan helps parent company post gains -
Zondervan, a division of Harper Collins, helped its parent company post strong gains for the fiscal year that ended June 30.  Harper Collins posted gains of nearly 8% while being led by Zondervan’s 12% gain in sales and 8% increase in profits. The Christian publisher was led by Rick Warren’s, The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold between 4 and 5 million copies. Harper wasn’t hurt by the latest Harry Potter book either.
Source: www.publishersweekly.com.
 
Eldridge is “wild in sales” for Nelson –
“Wild at Heart,” by John Eldridge has sold over one million copies.  Wild at Heart has been on the CBA bestseller list and PW Religious Best Sellers list since 2001.  Eldridge has released a new book, “Waking the Dead,” which has sold nearly 200,000 copies since its July release.
Source: Strang Communications.
 
Online book sales to double –
According to Forrester Research, online book sales could reach 5 – 6 billion by 2008.  Although online book sales will double, their market share will decrease because of greater sales in other merchandise categories such as music, video and sporting good sales.  Books will generate approximately 2.5% of online sales in 2008.  Source: Bookselling This Week, US e-commerce overview.
 
Overnite Transport to sell –
One of the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA) leading freight carriers is to be sold by its parent company.  Union Pacific Corporation, the nation’s largest railroad company is moving to spin off Overnite Transport. One year ago another carrier associated with the ABA freight program – Consolidated Freightways (CF)-- declared bankruptcy and shut down Labor Day weekend 2002.  Source: Transport Topics.