Friday, April 18, 2008


KIWI KITCHEN - Richard Till
Renaissance Publishing
While out around the traps yesterday I heard two stories about this title published last week.
First that the first printing has sold out and an urgent reprint is underway. Great stuff.I'm thrilled for both author and publisher. And not at all surprised.
Second, surprisingly the title is not available at Whitcoulls. It would seem that their head office buyer, (all their titles are ordered centrally), decided the book was not worth stocking!Someone must have egg on their face.
Imagine the good burghers of Christchurch going in to the Cashel Street Mall branch of Whitcoulls only to be told it was not a title they stock.
What does Christchurch author/chef Till make of this I wonder? Shame on them I say.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post " KIWI KITCHEN - Richard TillRenaissance Publishing...":
This Christchurch Bookseller has sold over 50 copies of Richard Till's book.My understanding is that there was no head office buy-in from either Whitcoulls or Paper Plus. The Warehouse has subscribed a substantial quantity and it is evident in their stores.The Bestseller List this week records the title as being at number two on the non fiction list.
Well done Richard Till and publisher Renee Lang. Given that Whitcoulls, Paper Plus and The Warehouse do not participate with the Bestsellers List this means that independent booksellers are the strength behind sales of this book, which is now into its third printing.
Footnote:
Someone who claims to know has e-mailed me in confidence to say Whitcoulls did place a head office order but it was for only a nominal number so they quickly ran out. I'm getting conflicting reports from around the trade so if anyone from Whitcoulls head office reads this blog they may like to give us the correct situation?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This christchurch Bookseller has sold over 50 copies of Richard Till's book.My understanding is that there was no head office buy-in form either Whitcoulls not Paper Plus.The Warehouse has subscribed a substantial quantity and it is evident in their stores.the Bestseller List this week records the title as being at number two on the non fiction list.Well done Richard Till and publisher Renee Lange. Given that Whitcoulls, Paper Plus and The
Warehouse do not participate with the Bestsellers List this means that independent booksellers are the strength behind sales of this book, which is now into its third printing.

Anonymous said...

I understand that both The Warehouse and Paper Plus contribute to Bookscan on which the bestseller lists are based.