
APRIL 10, 2006 at 11:12 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Guardian Unlimited via Yahoo! News
The success of Harry Potter has made British publisher Bloomsbury the most cash-rich in its industry, writes The Guardian's Matt Seaton in an in-depth company analysis
.
With more than £50 million in its Gringott's vault, Bloomsbury is spending heavily to nab high-profile books from under the noses of competitors, in an effort to ensure that Potter's demise isn't also the end of their golden years:
The fact that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the latest and sixth in the series, is also the penultimate cannot have escaped the attention of Bloomsbury's shareholders. Newton talks about sustaining the franchise with "launches" of Harry Potter products (audiobooks, cloth-bound boxed sets, and so on) until 2011, but the truth is that after the final volume of JK Rowling's series appears, probably in 2007 and then in paperback in 2008, the company has just three more years of mega-bucks revenues.
Company executives are confident they can continue to deliver big returns to stockholders, post-Potter. Founding editor Liz Calder said "the heart and soul" of the publisher will continue to be driven by mass-interest novels, both fiction and non-fiction, but its new strategy will be: "big names, big money."
"We have made a number of big purchases in the last six months," said Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury's chairman. "We're in a position to do so."
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Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4595
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
Cool...but are they going to stop selling Harry Potter books after 2011? That would be devastating!
~Drish~
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:16 PM EST
Insufferable Know-it-all
Points: 5011
Happy Hedwig says:
Wow! That is deep! Bloomsbury could be in trouble without J.K.! And just to think that they had turned her down in the first place! Isn't that ironic!
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:17 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 392
Quidditch_Player says:
It will be sad to me once the last Harry Potter book is released. But I will be happy at the same time to get my hands on the next/final book.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:18 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2429
mar66 says:
wow... ya after Harry they'll have a tough time finding someone to compete with the money that its brought in...
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:18 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2220
Pheonixflames says:
It just goes to show, these large companies want all of the pie once theyve had a taste...but what can you do? Its such a shame that weve come down to the last book.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:18 PM EST
Student
Points: 297
Death Curse says:
That bad but i still think fans will keep on going farther that 2011 but yes it is sad.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 956
harryluvsginny! says:
I have never gotten a bloomsbury book but i guess i should give the a congrats! I just get shcolastic.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:25 PM EST
Sarcastic Sally
Points: 5088
Lucius's Luscious Lady says:
Yay for profits.
Boo for bad HP products like lunchboxes and hair ties.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:26 PM EST
Hermione's House-Elf
Points: 4189
hermioneisahottie says:
Well...with that kind of cash, I would hope they would be able to get some good books on their lable...
I mean, and it probably wouldn't hurt to also publish some classics...
Maybe they should try to just get a tooon of lesser known people, and sooner or later they will strike it rich again...
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:33 PM EST
Points: 21
Kdlfourteen says:
Why stop selling after 2011?
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:46 PM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
Congratulations to Bloomsbury Press!!! They made a great choice when they picked to publish Harry Potter. They deserve all the success they can get.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:47 PM EST
Custodian of Miracles
Points: 3256
MadamDumbledore says:
Well it makes sense that Bloomsbury should 'strike while the irons hot.'
Surely there are other authors out there who are madly writing wondrous stories; stories that will stretch our imaginations and create new worlds as JKR has done. I hope Bloomsbury finds those people. We need them.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:49 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
It's good that Bloomsbury has gotten a lot in reward for publishing the Harry Potter books. I wonder if they knew when they decided to sign with J.K. Rowling that Harry Potter was going to make billions.
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:50 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1457
Lexii*Chiita says:
That sounds great...I can't wait to be sitting in my room and read the last series of Harry Potter books...and later on the film...:P:P:P...really looking forward to see the films...but the books are awsome...I love them...I'm really looking forward to know what happens in the last book...very curius...:D:D:D...I know that it's going to be bloody brilliant...:D:D:D
Posted Apr 10, 2006 at 11:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 701
Kelly Ann Snape says:
No more Harry Potter after 2011. That is nuts and I think they need to rethink that. I will be happy and sad when the final book comes out. The story according to most sources that will be the end. There will be no more anticipation. I just hope that it all ends well.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:01 AM EST
Student
Points: 204
Paper Doll says:
If they were able to catch Harry Potter than they'll be able to catch others I think.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:03 AM EST
Witch
Points: 893
Divadancer4life says:
what no Harry Potter after 2011 they are classics they can't do that!!
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:08 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
Chadick says:
Man, they sure have a lot of money now! I just hope that they use even a tiny bit of it for charity (wishful thinking).
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:09 AM EST
Emma's Darkest Secret
Points: 4530
Firestrike212 says:
Thats so awesome. I wish i was rich!!! I agree no Potter after 2011 they are classic books ahh im going to go insane!!!
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1369
hellothere says:
Oh! Pick me, pick me! I'll write you are book. Even if I'm not British, I'll right you something to keep your stock holders happy.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:10 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1542
Supreme Mugwump says:
Well they gotta make sure that they plan well, and find another set of really good books, there are plenty out there. The road doesn't end at HP.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 12:23 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 93
spitfire007 says:
For the first time, I just realized something. After book seven, there will be hardly any need for this amazing and one fo a kind forum! All thoeries and ideas and "possible" hanneings in the next book will be no more. WHere won't be any more. No more. Just the memory. Nothing more.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 1:03 AM EST
Student
Points: 277
becs_weasley_always says:
Well, jk is only writing one more potter book (as far as we know!) but i am sure that it wont be the last jk writes, she is too good, what a waste of a talent if she only wrote potter books?
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 1:55 AM EST
Student
Points: 277
becs_weasley_always says:
Spitfire007 You are so right! I hadnt thought bout what will happepn to all these forums and stuff, i dunno what i will do! *crys*
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 1:58 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1166
Cornelia Welsh Green says:
I will be sad once the books are finished, but at least we will all have some finilization.
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 2:02 AM EST
Princess of Fantasy
Points: 2538
magiclover13 says:
It'll be so sad once the books are done!
But we still got the last few movies to hold us all through...
Posted Apr 11, 2006 at 2:08 AM EST
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