Sublime

Mike’s father, Leonard Shatzkin, introduced a different way to sell backlist in 1955, by which Doubleday automated backlist replenishment for the stores in response to inventory counts the reps reported after their visits. This technique propelled Doubleday from one of many publishers to an industry leader, particularly for backlist.

Bookstore and other retail shelf space is shrinking at the same time that total title output is rising. The shift to online sales combined with the shrinking retail shelf space hurts the biggest publishers the most because their competitive advantage is largely built on their ability to put books on shelves at scale. Sales moving online could ultim