tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post1940269593619858657..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: A Modest Proposal for the Supermarkets - Lucy CoatsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-50959159054240958382013-07-22T17:10:43.377+01:002013-07-22T17:10:43.377+01:00Today I remembered to look in our local Tesco, and...Today I remembered to look in our local Tesco, and they have NO sweets or other foodstuffs at the checkouts, only small leaflets - so I'm wondering whether other supermarkets are now the same? Is it a diminishing problem? (And come to think of it, I haven't seen a child throwing a tantrum in Tesco, either!)Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-14621531806040022892013-07-21T13:23:03.431+01:002013-07-21T13:23:03.431+01:00In the US, books are sometimes produced for breakf...In the US, books are sometimes produced for breakfast cereal boxes or fast food restaraunt giveaways, so there must be ways to produce books more cheaply. When I was growing p, I remember Little Golden Books at the check out- today these run 2.35 GBP, but seemed cheaper back then! Hope you can get this idea spread!Ms. Yinglinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805324364289597178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-69972596177594009972013-07-20T22:22:04.691+01:002013-07-20T22:22:04.691+01:00Great idea - but won't people just read them w...Great idea - but won't people just read them while they stand in the queue and then put them back? Like I do with the supermarket magazine...Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-25724211269243347662013-07-19T18:47:18.384+01:002013-07-19T18:47:18.384+01:00I was working in Tesco as their Clubcard and Recip...I was working in Tesco as their Clubcard and Recipe magazine publishing manager in the 90's - they removed the sweets from the tills then in the supermarkets because parents said they didn't want them there. They used the space to promote the Tesco brand instead like putting the in-house magazines there and they used to fly off the shelves. Today the space is used to promote Tesco services like banking and insurance... although it's true that in the small formats like Express and Metro the sweet aisle is close to the till queue. <br />I agree with the point you make, a retailer like WHS that does so much to promote literacy could do more if they replaced the walkway of chocolate with something less fattening and more educational - it's just such a key sales area for them that trying to secure the space is like winning the lottery. Worth doing for such a good cause though - even if it's just for a promotion, like Christmas or School Holidays - after all, happy parents = happy customers!Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-34779439838217344582013-07-19T15:31:47.206+01:002013-07-19T15:31:47.206+01:00As the supermarkets are such big players publisher...As the supermarkets are such big players publishers could prepare whole runs for them based on a super-economic format, with the supermarket's own branding? Smaller versions of existing books, or even specially commissioned new series formatted and priced for the checkout area, with their own point-of-sale material. Books that concentrate on healthy nutrition might be favoured? Brava lucy! <br />Michelle Lovric posting as anonymous as blogger doesn't like people posting from Venice today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-48971059692384275762013-07-19T15:31:12.860+01:002013-07-19T15:31:12.860+01:00As the supermarkets are such big players publisher...As the supermarkets are such big players publishers could prepare whole runs for them based on a super-economic format, with the supermarket's own branding? Smaller versions of existing books, or even specially commissioned new series formatted and priced for the checkout area, with their own point-of-sale material. Books that concentrate on healthy nutrition might be favoured? Brava lucy! <br />michelle lovrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01026972300195225090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-24583093098724285352013-07-19T14:46:47.740+01:002013-07-19T14:46:47.740+01:00This is a thoroughly good idea. I say that as a pa...This is a thoroughly good idea. I say that as a parent, not just as a children's author! Definitely worth following up in whatever way you can.Stephen Davieshttp://www.voiceinthedesert.org.uk/weblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-43847049925753670072013-07-19T13:15:19.968+01:002013-07-19T13:15:19.968+01:00An idea whose time has definitely come! (Get Malor...An idea whose time has definitely come! (Get Malorie Blackman on the case...)Catherine Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693526864905868829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-80184050666263770002013-07-19T13:13:33.851+01:002013-07-19T13:13:33.851+01:00Something along World Book Day lines, a short '...Something along World Book Day lines, a short 'taster' that is cheap but might encourage more exploration - whether via libraries or bookshops - would be brilliant! I'd write one! Way to go, publishers and supermarkets - brainstorm now!!C.J.Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12288574235370421625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-47208673734491390742013-07-19T11:34:34.425+01:002013-07-19T11:34:34.425+01:00I think it's a great idea! Also agree with yo...I think it's a great idea! Also agree with your comment re bookshops. Jackie Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567038737470422449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-35793281092419980402013-07-19T11:07:19.053+01:002013-07-19T11:07:19.053+01:00I'm just starting to get the 'threat to bo...I'm just starting to get the 'threat to bookshops' comments on Twitter now. I'd like to say that it's absolutely NOT my intention to take away custom from our brilliant booksellers with this idea. There is a large segment of society who NEVER enter a bookshop. All of them go to supermarkets. This is about broadening the appeal of books, widening the market. I agree absolutely with Cat that authors need to be rewarded properly - but it doesn't have to be on a royalty basis here. A generous flat fee is often acceptable - I've taken flat fees in the past for books which sold a lot of copies, and never regretted it. Lucy Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774389681477698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-32989456515909237872013-07-19T10:56:06.382+01:002013-07-19T10:56:06.382+01:00I think it is an excellent idea. Small books at a ...I think it is an excellent idea. Small books at a reasonable price - but also books of good quality content please! And authors still need to be properly rewarded!<br />I suspect many parents would welcome the idea. catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-80224259843795410532013-07-19T10:54:16.286+01:002013-07-19T10:54:16.286+01:00I cannot tell you how much I agree .I've also ...I cannot tell you how much I agree .I've also been banging on for DECADES about this and about putting YA books into places like TOPSHOP! Well done you!adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-14552500883698849092013-07-19T10:26:10.596+01:002013-07-19T10:26:10.596+01:00Yes, keeping the expense down is a given here. I&...Yes, keeping the expense down is a given here. I'm thinking board books, small picture books, World Book Day-sized short fiction. I'd love publishers/government/supermarkets/chains to work together on this with authors/illustrators/National Literacy co-ordinators/Book Trust etc. This post is only a small pebble, but I hope it creates an avalanche. Lucy Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774389681477698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-59644241236742729772013-07-19T09:37:02.702+01:002013-07-19T09:37:02.702+01:00Brilliant idea! Though I agree with Jo about the e...Brilliant idea! Though I agree with Jo about the expense; the books would need to be small and cheap. When I was young and skint with two under-fives I used to buy those little Ladybird books in the local newsagent's. All other books were borrowed from the library.Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-71924533253584981932013-07-19T09:07:45.000+01:002013-07-19T09:07:45.000+01:00What a wonderful idea - kids pestering for books! ...What a wonderful idea - kids pestering for books! My one thought - those mums on limited incomes, having to say no, they can barely afford one children's book a month - even so, much better than all those sweets!JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.com