Krug
Newshound
http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews...lay=breakingNews&publication=publishersweekly
An increased interest in works of fantasy helped to propel sales at the Wizards of the Coast publishing group in 2002. Revenue at the book group, which is a unit of the trading card, role-playing game company that has been owned by Hasbro since 1999, rose 17%, to more than $12 million, last year. Peter Archer, director of book publishing for Wizards, said the publisher has benefited from higher levels of interest in fantasy books that has been created by the success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. "I don't think there is any doubt that Harry Potter and Rings have helped all fantasy publishers," Archer said.
But Wizards' success in 2002 wasn't just linked to the Potter carryover effect. Liz Schuh, director of marketing for books, gave a great deal of the credit for the improved performance to Wizards' distributor, the Holtzbrinck Group. Wizards moved its distribution to Holtzbrinck in fall of 2000, and after a dip in sales in 2001 as the Holtzbrinck sales force familiarized themselves with the line, sales bounced back in 2002. "We reaped the fruits of Holtzbrinck's sales effort last year," Schuh said, adding that Wizards also did a better job of coordinating its publicity and marketing efforts in 2002.
An increased interest in works of fantasy helped to propel sales at the Wizards of the Coast publishing group in 2002. Revenue at the book group, which is a unit of the trading card, role-playing game company that has been owned by Hasbro since 1999, rose 17%, to more than $12 million, last year. Peter Archer, director of book publishing for Wizards, said the publisher has benefited from higher levels of interest in fantasy books that has been created by the success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. "I don't think there is any doubt that Harry Potter and Rings have helped all fantasy publishers," Archer said.
But Wizards' success in 2002 wasn't just linked to the Potter carryover effect. Liz Schuh, director of marketing for books, gave a great deal of the credit for the improved performance to Wizards' distributor, the Holtzbrinck Group. Wizards moved its distribution to Holtzbrinck in fall of 2000, and after a dip in sales in 2001 as the Holtzbrinck sales force familiarized themselves with the line, sales bounced back in 2002. "We reaped the fruits of Holtzbrinck's sales effort last year," Schuh said, adding that Wizards also did a better job of coordinating its publicity and marketing efforts in 2002.
Thanks for the gumball, Newshound! 
