Harlequin Digital Sales Skyrocket , While US Sales Weaken
Wondering about the future role of ebooks in the marketplace? Well, Harlequin just announced that it’s digital sales jumped 70 percent in the first nine months of 2010.
At the same time, according to parent company Torstar, Harlequin also experienced weaker U.S. retail sales in the period between April and June of this year. The company does not break its digital sales down by region so there’s no telling how much of their ebook action came from U.S. readers.
Along with ebook sales, Harlequin’s direct sales to consumers as well as its overseas business increased. Overall, its book publishing revenues rose $1.4 million in the third quarter – the period between April 1 and June 30, 2010.
However, Torstar said it expects sales for the entire year to be down compared to 2009, because of diminished U.S. retail sales.
The news comes as Harlequin prepares to shelve its Silhouette and Steeple Hill imprints. The series will now be called Harlequin. Otherwise all of the books series will remain the same. The company believes the stronger Harlequin branding will make it easier for consumers to find their products.
