Harper Collins MD Tony Fisk, one of three publishers on the Book Trade Liaison Committee, has assumed the chair of the organisation from Booksellers NZ’s Hamish Wright. The chair will alternate between a bookseller and a publisher member from year to year. The other publishers on the committee are PANZ Councillors, Melanie Laville-Moore and Kevin Chapman.
Amongst a number of other issues the group has focused on, BTLC has worked with NZ Book Month in the set up of this year’s bold initiative, the distribution of four million $5 discount vouchers to be used in participating bookshops towards the purchase of any book selling for $10 or more.
“The promotion will result in a significant increase in book sales right around the country in the traditionally quiet month of March,” Fisk says. “I believe this campaign is the most exciting initiative undertaken by the industry in a very long time and would urge all booksellers and publishers to give it their complete support. All of the larger players in the industry, both publishers and booksellers, are 100% behind it which will ensure a high retail profile for the whole month.”