BTW News Briefs

Harper Reveals Transition Plans for Regan Imprint

On January 17, HarperCollins Publishers announced it will close its Regan office in Los Angeles as of March 1, and the Regan name will no longer be used. An interim logo, HC, will appear on books published through summer 2007. In September, the HC logo will be discontinued, and books will be assigned to different HarperCollins imprints.

Cal Morgan and several senior members of the LA office including Cassie Jones, executive managing editor/senior editor; Gregg Sullivan, marketing director; and Richard Ljoenes, senior art director will return to the HarperCollins New York office and join the current New York staff which remains as is. Suzanne Wickham will stay on as publicity director based in LA.

"We feel our authors will be best served by being integrated into HarperCollins," said Michael Morrison, president and group publisher of Harper/Morrow, in a release.

NRF Forecasts 4.8 Percent Retail Sales Growth in 2007

On January 16, the National Retail Federation (NRF) released its 2007 forecast, predicting that retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.8 percent from last year. According to its quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, NRF expects a restrained first half economic growth to give way to increased sales in the second half.

Retail sales increased 6.3 percent in 2006. The surge was the result of active consumer spending in the first half of the year. As was expected, the sales picture weakened in the second half as consumer spending power was challenged by the housing slowdown, high energy costs, and lackluster employment growth.

Current retail trends will persist throughout the year. Luxury retailers are expected to continue to outperform. Online shopping will continue to escalate. Retailers catering to the lower and mid-level income consumer will find achieving sales gains more challenging. Demand for merchandise related to the home will be impacted by a soft housing market.

James Gray Named President & CEO of Ingram Digital Ventures

On Thursday, January 18, James R. Gray, chief executive officer of Coutts Information Services and MyiLibrary, which were acquired by Ingram in December 2006, was named president and chief executive officer of Ingram Digital Ventures. Gray succeeds Michael F. Lovett, who will become chief operating officer for Ingram Digital.

As CEO of Ingram Digital, Gray will oversee all of Ingram's digital distribution businesses, including MyiLibrary and Vital Source Technologies, Inc. Ingram Digital will continue to be headquartered in LaVergne, Tennessee.