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1booksforreading
I received an email today...
It looks like Andrew Hoyem and Diana Ketcham are retiring... The subscription plan has changed slightly in that they are now allowing new subscribers to buy any three available books from the catalog in addition to the current year titles... (Not a huge change in my opinion, but, still this difference is significant and important). They are also allowing subscribers to buy two copies of any book for subscriber's discount.
My main problem with the subscriber model is the same as before: I am not interested in all of their publications, only some of them, so I am not willing to commit to purchasing all of the books.
It looks like Andrew Hoyem and Diana Ketcham are retiring... The subscription plan has changed slightly in that they are now allowing new subscribers to buy any three available books from the catalog in addition to the current year titles... (Not a huge change in my opinion, but, still this difference is significant and important). They are also allowing subscribers to buy two copies of any book for subscriber's discount.
My main problem with the subscriber model is the same as before: I am not interested in all of their publications, only some of them, so I am not willing to commit to purchasing all of the books.
2elenchus
I've only followed Arion from a great remove: discovered them here on this group, then looked at individual titles as far as they piqued my interest. Primarily I'm unable to purchase any of their titles at their price points, but should that ever change I would also be interested primarily in single publications, not all of them.
So, a sincere question: has Arion Press found a valid financial model, that other fine presses could emulate? It's not ideal for me, though I've always considered it allows for the possibility of finding an individual title on the secondhand market. I ask this question from an interest in the state of the book-making craft, and not so much for the story of individual presses.
So, a sincere question: has Arion Press found a valid financial model, that other fine presses could emulate? It's not ideal for me, though I've always considered it allows for the possibility of finding an individual title on the secondhand market. I ask this question from an interest in the state of the book-making craft, and not so much for the story of individual presses.
3dlphcoracl
>2 elenchus:
The viability of a subscription model for a given private press depends primarily on the private press itself, not the actual subscription model. In the case of the Arion Press it has proven to be a disaster because it greatly limited their choices in what they published. It resulted in a barbell approach to their publications in order to manage the yearly cost for a subscriber. In any given year it resulted in 2 or 3 inexpensive and unappealing books to counterbalance an overpriced, ultra-expensive edition. This was a classic case of "Lose-Lose" because very few of their books were appealing to non-subscribers. The relatively inexpensive books were STILL overpriced and they did not live up to the Arion Press standards of their first two decades whereas the expensive books ($1,500 to $2,500) were ridiculously overpriced, especially since several were not appealing in their choice of literature, poetry or illustrations.
By contrast, the subscription model for the Barbarian Press has been a "Win-Win" model for Crispin and Jan Elsted AND their subscribers. Why? Because the Elsteds have had unerring taste in their choices of what to publish and how to properly illustrate it. As a result, nearly all of their recent books have been acquisitions I would have chosen to purchase even if I were not required to as a subscriber. Additionally, Barbarian Press books in the same range as the inexpensive Arion Press books ($600 to $800) are superior in quality.
The viability of a subscription model for a given private press depends primarily on the private press itself, not the actual subscription model. In the case of the Arion Press it has proven to be a disaster because it greatly limited their choices in what they published. It resulted in a barbell approach to their publications in order to manage the yearly cost for a subscriber. In any given year it resulted in 2 or 3 inexpensive and unappealing books to counterbalance an overpriced, ultra-expensive edition. This was a classic case of "Lose-Lose" because very few of their books were appealing to non-subscribers. The relatively inexpensive books were STILL overpriced and they did not live up to the Arion Press standards of their first two decades whereas the expensive books ($1,500 to $2,500) were ridiculously overpriced, especially since several were not appealing in their choice of literature, poetry or illustrations.
By contrast, the subscription model for the Barbarian Press has been a "Win-Win" model for Crispin and Jan Elsted AND their subscribers. Why? Because the Elsteds have had unerring taste in their choices of what to publish and how to properly illustrate it. As a result, nearly all of their recent books have been acquisitions I would have chosen to purchase even if I were not required to as a subscriber. Additionally, Barbarian Press books in the same range as the inexpensive Arion Press books ($600 to $800) are superior in quality.
5Sorion
When I initially signed up for an AP subscription I requested my sign up with the caveat that I would not do so if forced to purchase all of that years books. I hated one of them and would not sign up if forced to purchase it. Apparently the sales manager had to ask Mr. Hoyem but it was in the end given the ok. So I consider this a big step forward as far as new subscribers go.
The big question and the as yet unanswered question is who will be taking charge and what will the creative direction of AP look like in the future? I think most of us have been waiting for this to happen and not that it's here there is just more uncertainty.
Will we see a return to form or will they disappear gradually without Mr. Hoyem there as the inspiration behind the press?
The big question and the as yet unanswered question is who will be taking charge and what will the creative direction of AP look like in the future? I think most of us have been waiting for this to happen and not that it's here there is just more uncertainty.
Will we see a return to form or will they disappear gradually without Mr. Hoyem there as the inspiration behind the press?
6gmacaree
I'm not in a position to do an Arion Press subscription (nor am I very much inclined to for the reasons >3 dlphcoracl: mentioned) but the prospect of getting discounts on books like the Don Quixote makes it far more appealing than being forced into buying a specific set of three. I very much admire SOME of Arion's books, and wish it were more straightforward to collect them.
7dlphcoracl
>5 Sorion:
Two comments on your comments:
"......and now that it's here there is just more uncertainty."
Well, not really, because the past decade of Arion Press offerings have been so unappealing and poorly priced that they have fallen off of my private press book collecting radar screen. Only 2 or 3 of their last twenty publications have held any interest or appeal for me. In essence, it is as if they had already ceased publication so, going forward, it will be difficult to make the present situation much worse.
"Will we see a return to form or will they disappear gradually without Mr. Hoyem there as the inspiration behind the press?"
Andrew Hoyem has ceased to be an "inspiration" for Arion Press publications nearly two decades ago following the publication of the Arion Press 'Holy Bible' in 2000, the 60th Arion Press publication. In the ensuing eighteen years and 54 subsequent publications, only one dozen books were sufficiently appealing with regard to the combination of literary work chosen, choice of illustrations and price point for me to purchase. For a private press selling limited edition high-end books that sort of batting average is a prescription for bankruptcy. Frankly, the Arion Press has nowhere to go but "Up".
Two comments on your comments:
"......and now that it's here there is just more uncertainty."
Well, not really, because the past decade of Arion Press offerings have been so unappealing and poorly priced that they have fallen off of my private press book collecting radar screen. Only 2 or 3 of their last twenty publications have held any interest or appeal for me. In essence, it is as if they had already ceased publication so, going forward, it will be difficult to make the present situation much worse.
"Will we see a return to form or will they disappear gradually without Mr. Hoyem there as the inspiration behind the press?"
Andrew Hoyem has ceased to be an "inspiration" for Arion Press publications nearly two decades ago following the publication of the Arion Press 'Holy Bible' in 2000, the 60th Arion Press publication. In the ensuing eighteen years and 54 subsequent publications, only one dozen books were sufficiently appealing with regard to the combination of literary work chosen, choice of illustrations and price point for me to purchase. For a private press selling limited edition high-end books that sort of batting average is a prescription for bankruptcy. Frankly, the Arion Press has nowhere to go but "Up".
8Sorion
>7 dlphcoracl: I completely understand where you're coming from. The uncertainty would stem from whether or not the press can even survive as an entity without Hoyem himself being the driving force. Or whether as you have hinted at they are in fact a spent force and have been for a while now.
I guess I can summarize as is Andrew Hoyem Arion Press or is Arion Press an entity that can survive outside of his influence.
I guess I can summarize as is Andrew Hoyem Arion Press or is Arion Press an entity that can survive outside of his influence.
9jveezer
This is exciting news. There are talented people there that could turn out some fabulous books with the right direction. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this change will be for the better and we will get some amazing titles that tempt us all. They are really one of the few private presses that can turn out the longer works regularly. I'll submit my resume. ;)
10dlphcoracl
>9 jveezer:
Can you imagine what proprietors/owners similar to Crispin and Jan Elsted (Barbarian Press) or Larry Van Velzer and Peggy Gotthold (Foolscap Press) could do with the Arion Press - its gifted staff and its unique resources, i.e., the Mackenzie & Harris typefoundry ?? One can only dream.
Can you imagine what proprietors/owners similar to Crispin and Jan Elsted (Barbarian Press) or Larry Van Velzer and Peggy Gotthold (Foolscap Press) could do with the Arion Press - its gifted staff and its unique resources, i.e., the Mackenzie & Harris typefoundry ?? One can only dream.
11ultrarightist
>10 dlphcoracl: Indeed!
You probably already know this, but Larry and Peggy both worked for Arion Press once upon a time.
You probably already know this, but Larry and Peggy both worked for Arion Press once upon a time.
12Sorion
>11 ultrarightist: At last a piece of trivia I knew!
>9 jveezer: I would heartily endorse your candidacy for director at AP Jveezer.
>9 jveezer: I would heartily endorse your candidacy for director at AP Jveezer.
