HarperPerennial Relaunch Features New Book Sense Gift Card

HarperPerennial is relaunching this summer with a new logo, new jackets, most titles with P.S. sections, and an in-store display kit. Also included in this campaign is HarperPerennial's limited edition To Kill a Mockingbird Book Sense Gift Card and coordinating presenter. This new gift card design has room to add bookstore information and makes a great gift idea for teachers, librarians, students, and book lovers.

The HarperPerennial kits and the first new books will arrive in stores around July 5. The kits contain bookmarks, coasters, a consumer newsletter to give away, and a sign holder for a table display. Over 500 independent booksellers are expected to participate with HarperPerennial table displays this summer. News of a display contest will be forthcoming.

"This relaunch is unique in my experience," said Carl Lennertz, vice president of independent retailing for HarperCollins. "It's part of a larger paperback strategy, and also of an international strategy. Central to the new HarperPerennial is the P.S. section, which is not a reading group question section. It contains original material written by the author -- think the extras on a DVD. The idea came from our U.K. friends, and booksellers here are already noting the difference in the P.S. editions already out."

Booksellers can request kits via their sales rep or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Book Sense Gift Card Program participants can order the HarperPerennial gift cards and presenters now through booksenseorders.givex.com while supplies last. (Booksellers must use their ID/password for store.givex.com to gain access.)

"I think one of the most exciting aspects of the HarperPerennial gift card promotion is that it allows booksellers to join the Book Sense Gift Card Program at a reduced start-up cost," noted Book Sense Marketing Director Jill Perlstein. "If no equipment is needed (generally none is needed for those using the WebPOS -- except possibly a $70 swipe), booksellers can order 250 To Kill a Mockingbird cards with their store information imprinted and 250 matching presenters for only $47.50 (usually a $222.50 value). HarperPerennial has paid for the 50 per card transaction fee, the cost of the card, and the presenter. Increments of 30 per card will be charged as per the Book Sense Gift Card Program agreement. All other program fees, handling charges, and shipping costs will apply." (For more about gift card program fees, go to www.bookweb.org/read/6388.)

Booksellers must have a Book Sense Letter of Agreement and a Book Sense Gift Card Agreement on file with ABA in order to sell and redeem Book Sense Gift Cards.

For more information, or to join the Book Sense Gift Card program, booksellers should send an e-mail to Perlstein at [email protected] or call (800) 637-0037, ext. 1283. More information is also available at www.BookWeb.org/read/6303. Logos and text treatments should be e-mailed to ABA's Linda Ford at [email protected].