Bookhugger.co.uk

The new service is designed to allow publishers to get the maximum value out of their investment in the creation of web content by showcasing it on a multi-publisher magazine-style website and reaching the broadest possible audience.

The website has been designed to compliment publisher’s existing websites, blogs and social media activity, and launches alongside one of the UK’s largest independent publishers, Faber and Faber who has given the channel much support.

John Murray, Canongate, Sceptre and Gallic Books also gave support and advice in launching the digital channel.

How will Bookhugger work?

Publishers will supply content for publication, which the Bookhugger Editors will schedule to ensure a regular flow of content alternating between all participating publishers.

Cross-publisher content will be prepared and scheduled by the Bookhugger Editors in conjunction with the marketing and editorial teams of participating publishers

The Bookhugger Editors will take responsibility for a number of routine tasks: comment moderation, seeding content (linking to it from other sites), and maintenance of links into the site from other websites and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Publishers will pay for inclusion of content on the site, selecting from monthly packages.

The site was founded by Simon Appleby and Matthew F. Riley. Together they have over 20 years digital experience in the media and a strong association with the public sector.

They also developed the book review blog Bookgeeks.co.ukabout which Andrea See, Online Marketing Executive at Canongate said, “We have been working closely with Bookgeeks on online marketing and PR and the resulting reviews, interview and discussions have always been thoughtful and thought-provoking.”

Founder, Appleby said, “Inspired by the Independent Alliance, we believe that smaller publishers can get more out of the Internet if they work together.

“We see considerable benefits for both publishers and consumers in the Bookhugger model. By using content that is already being created, we will help our publishers reach as many potential bookbuyers as possible, while our ability to create exclusive cross-publisher content is particularly important and adds a great deal of value.”

The focus is firmly on the general trade, covering both fiction and non-fiction. Genre publications will be covered by periodic new-release round-ups, author panels and features.

Joanna Ellis, Marketing Director at Faber, says, “From working with them in their agency capacity we know that Simon and Mathew have an excellent understanding of publishers’ needs and constraints. Bookhugger is an exciting way of broadening Faber’s digital marketing activity in a cost-effective way.”

The British department store chain, John Lewis, is planning up to 50 specialist home stores to target middle-class shoppers in smaller towns across the UK and Ireland.

Currently, the store have yet to name the chain of new shops, but the first is scheduled to open in October at a retail park in Poole, Dorset. The shop will stock two-thirds of the usual furnishings, homewares and electronics but will  be just 5.1000 sq metres, making it about a third of the size of a standard John Lewis store.

The Poole outlet will be monitored closely and if successful the idea will be rapidly extended around the country.  John Lewis managing director, Andy Street said:”We will act at pace. “This is a significant departure for our business. Poole will be our first new-format shop for 20 years.”

Each of these new stores will create more than 100 jobs, although only 30% will be full-time. Gareth Thomas, retail director, said he had identified “30 to 50 sites that could sustain this sort of shop” – which, he said, would have the look and feel of a John Lewis outlet, not an Ikea-style shed.

Last week, figures released by John Lewis showed that sales of homewares across the group are down more than 12% so far this year, while electricals and technology takings are down 7.4%. Sales at 16 of the department stores have sunk more than 10% on 2008 levels.

Additionally, several high-profile homewares retailers have collapsed, including MFI, New Heights and Land of Leather.  The new John Lewis store – which will cost £6m to open – will be located in former Courts furniture store, which has been empty since Courts went under in 2004.

Thomas admitted that the move into home stores – which will sell furniture, electrical goods, linens, cookware, gifts and haberdashery – was “counter-intuitive” in the current economic circumstances. Sales of homewares have been low as economising Britons have cut back frivolous spending and the housing market has taken a dive.

The company have acknowledged that the new chain is serving as a type of Plan B for the department store business, which currently has 27 outlets.  Previously, the group had announced plans to open at least 10 new full-size department stores and a number of smaller stores. However the housing market crash has put almost all  expansion plans on hold.

Only the John Lewis stores in Cardiff and Stratford, east London, are now certain to go ahead in the next two years. Ambitions to open in Leeds, Sheffield, Oxford, Portsmouth, Crawley, are no longer a priority.

Despite these setbacks, the retailer has not been deterred and worked fast on the new format – the first shop will open just a year after research started for the idea.

The new video channel will host Endemol’s digital series, ‘The Gap Year,’ which was produced and featured on social networking site, Bebo.

‘The Gap Year’ is a multiplatform digital series which follows six students around the world on their glob-trotting travel adventures. The series see the six travellers face challenges, experience new cultures and meet local celebrities.

The first series will be broadcast on The Independent’s online student section, despite already being documented on Bebo’s social networking site via video diaries, blogs and photographs.

Complimentary sponsors of the online video site will be organised by The Web TV Enterprise. Through the sponsor, advertisers will receive in-paper promotional branding, on-site exposure, and pre-roll ads around the content.

Bill Swanson, Managing Director of Independent.co.uk, said, “It is key that Independent.co.uk continues to seek content that is relevant to its audiences.

“The brand fit is fantastic, while the content will provide a regular destination for our users.”

The series is due to run from June to August 2009, in the build up to the university clearing process in 2009; the busiest time for the Independent.co.uk student section.

Promotion of the series will be ran through the newspaper, website, allowing the content to be used as a travel guide.

Endemol specifically created and developed the series ‘The Gap Year’ for Bebo to offer a fully interactive online video entertainment experience. The contestants for the series were carefully selected from the Bebo community, from all around the world, including, UK, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. On a weekly basis, viewers are able to vote on decisions about the group’s journey.

Peter Cowley, Managing Director of Digital Media at Endemol, said, “We are delighted that The Independent will be carrying the first series of ‘The Gap Year.’

“We are very proud of the success the show garnered on Bebo and the extensive catalogue of travel content it created that deserves a wider audience.”

James Estrin, MD of The Web TV Enterprise, said, “The Web TV Enterprise has brought ‘The Gap Year’ to a whole new audience due to its partnership with The Independent.

“The Endemol series will complement existing online content on The Independent, which includes guidance and advice for students looking to find accommodation, research courses and plan a gap year.

“In my opinion, ‘The Gap Year’ is one of the best examples of how compelling short-form content works best on the web.

Jobs will vary across all sectors including, marketing, media and PR, planning, regeneration, environmental and renewable energy and capitalises on Management Today’s position as the UK’s leading monthly business magazine brand. 

Management Today are one of the UK’s leading resources for top executives and decision makers, and have designed their new website to integrate to the needs of job hunters in the digital age. 

Visitors to the site can receive jobs via email, RSS feeds, apply for jobs online, and save shortlists of their favourite vacancies.

Recruiters posting their job openings online, are able to manage and take advantage of the featured recruiter sections, as well as the 24-hour job posting by credit card.

Simon Lees, Management Today’s publishing director, said, “Management Today jobs harnesses market-leading job board technology to provide the best functionality for executive job seekers.

“At a time when hight quality business leadership and prudent design making have never been more important, managementtodayjobs.com will provide our C suite audience with direct access to hundreds of management jobs.

“We are also confident that our marketing programme for the next 12 months, coupled with the strength of Management Today brand in print, will deliver fantastic response for advertisers.”

The launch of the job website, is just another mark on the map to the growing trend in the development of specialised job sites by Haymarket, who also own Brand Republic and BrandRepublicJobs.com.

“Management Today jobs is another example of Haymarket’s commitment to providing high quality websites that complement our print titles,” Lees said. “The website provides a fantastic service for job seekers and advertisers alike.”

Management Today currently has the widest readership among Britain’s top executives and decision makers. Currently, their portfolio features, a monthly magazine circulation of over 100,000, a news analysis website and a range of events, seminars and industry awards programmes. 

The Management Today jobs, expands their portfolio further into the digital world.

Zavvi Relaunches Online To Sell Knickers And Perfume

Zavvi has been saved from administration and is due to be relaunched as an online retail store selling underwear and other lifestyle products, as www.zavvi.co.uk.

Following its fall into administration in December 2008, the company has been bought back by Cheshire-based online retail company The Hut Group. The company will continue to sell music, games and DVDs, as well as electrical goods, perfumes and lingerie, in a bid to boost sales and expand the market.

The takeover is expected to create around 100 jobs in the Northwich area, and becomes the second purchase of a high street brand by an online retailer in a month. In February, administrators saw Shopdirect buy the Woolworths brand in the hope to relaunch as an online retailer this year.

Home entertainment retailer, The Hut.com, takes advantage of the tax loophole in the Channel Islands allowing products such as CDs and DVDs to be sold VAT-free. Currently the company claims they hold around 16 per cent of the online home entertainment market.

The growing trend of companies fleeing to online retail has seen many empty stores on the high street and little interest in the companies being bought back as a shop or store.

Administrators, Ernst and Young, have sold a few of the 125 Zavvi stores to other retailers which were originally formed by the Virgin Megastore chain. At present, administrators are looking for buyers to invest in the menswear chain, Principles and Shoe Studio Group, after the collapse of Mosaic, the fashion group owner.

The company was hit hard after the collapse of Icelandic retail group, Baugur, who owned 49 per cent of the company and the decreasing sales of consumer spending.

Oasis, Karen Millen, Warehouse and Coast, all owned by Mosaic, have managed to escape the downward spiral after the group management purchased the brands.

Matthew Moulding, chief executive of The Hut Group, said, “Zavvi is a major player in entertainment retail, both in the UK and Ireland.

“Our aim is to capitalise on this well recognised high street brand and transform the business into a leading class online retailer, not only in entertainment, but also across lifestyle products.

“The new discounted price points, supported by significant future investment in customer driven functionality improvements, should enable us to create an exciting online retailer.”

The Hut Group currently operates online stores The Hut.com, and online brands sites such as LoveFilm, Phones4U, WH Smith and ASDA.

The announcement comes on the back of a 25% increase in pre-tax profits, which is partly attributed to its sponsorship of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent as well as the impact of the recession, with more people staying in and watching the TV whilst also opting for stay intake away meals instead of dining out in expensive restaurants. 

The pizza delivery giant also said that it would be increasing advertising spend to £20m during 2009 – as the recent advertising campaign during Britain’s Got Talent has prompted bosses to increase spends in the advertising department. 

This week it was revealed that KFC is planning to open 300 new restaurants over the next three to five years. The fast food chain, which already has an existing 760 outlets in the UK, is understood to be bucking the trend of the recession, with more consumers purchasing cheaper eat-out deals.

These new stores are part of £150m investment that will create around 9,000 jobs in the UK, which will also help with the current climate of job loss’s and the unemployed rising at a dramatic rate.

The un-employed even if they have high skills in other area’s are relying more on ‘middle-class’ jobs just bar work and waitress/waiter jobs to help top up their wages from pay cuts, a second form of income or even a fill in job whilst the recession takes place, so the rise in sales in the fast food industry meaning more jobs is fantastic news for everyone in this current climate.

White Stuff and M and M Direct are tackling the Chancellor’s 2.5% VAT cut with innovative marketing initiatives. Instead of using the 2.5% VAT cut to discount its product, White Stuff has pledged to donate to 2.5% reduction to Cancer Research or the local charity supported by its individual branches.

White Stuff will make the 2.5% donation on anything purchased in its shops or via its website or catalogue throughout the month of December.

Meanwhile M and M Direct, a huge retailer in fashion specializing in sports and outdoor wear, have slashed the 2.5% off its prices today – days before the cut officially begins. M and M Direct said that to keep its policy of “integrity and fairness” to customers it would also round down any awkward prices, instead of rounding them up.

Chief executive of M and M Direct Steve Robinson said: “We’re successful because we know that every penny does really count to our customers and as a business we are nimble and responsive enough to be able to pass on good news like the Chancellor’s almost immediately. In this case we are delighted to deliver even lower prices to our valued customers a little early.”