|
|
 |
| |
Frances Lincoln |
The triumph of an independent literary legacy
Thirty years after it started in a small bedroom-come-office, Frances Lincoln Publishers is celebrating both its success and the memory of its visionary founder, writes Gerald Isaaman
BUSINESS life began with the spare bedroom being turned into a temporary office. Hampstead-born Frances Lincoln, once the toast of Balliol during her Oxford days, then a junior editor at publishers Studio Vista, Highgate, set up her own firm at her home in Anson Road, Tufnell Park.
Not that it was much her publishing company. Backed by Lord Weidenfeld, she held just 10 per cent of the stock – cost: £10 – eventually buying out the rest to reclaim her name, moving first to Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia, then to an old piano factory tucked away in Torriano Mews, Kentish Town.
That’s where the company, now expanded to a staff of 35, still exists as it currently celebrates its 30th birthday with record sales and profits, and the prospect of a further boom in its fortunes in the coming year.
Indeed, it is literal proof that small independents can beat the big boys in today’s harsh world of cut-throat book-selling. But, alas, without the formidable personal presence of Frances.
She died unexpectedly from pneumonia six years ago, aged only 55, after believing she had but a nasty cold, and the name of Frances Lincoln was fortunately taken over by her publisher husband, John Nicoll, then in charge of the notable Yale University Press.
And in a toast to absent friends at last week’s birthday party, he poignantly told some 500 guests: “Well, of course there is one very special one, though in some ways she doesn’t seem very absent at all. I can still hear her voice over my shoulder, constantly asking: Are you sure? Will it work? Do you really think so?
“Of course, I replied that I had no idea really, but I hope so. So far the show is still on the road. And to a very great degree that is because of her imagination, her drive, and, almost as important, her careful nurturing of staff, of authors and of resources.”
The early days were hard, almost perilous, as Frances geared her company towards overseas sales. Her love of beauty combined with quality, and her passion for gardening, produced much-admired books that sold in huge numbers round the world.
One milestone was the sale of more than a million copies of Mary Hoffman’s Amazing Grace, mainly in America.
However, that success, and others, were only at small margins, which were made all the more difficult by currency exchange rates, making the firm’s future investment hazardous.
That policy was already materially changing to more profitable results when 63-year-old John took over, and has progressed to the point that this October was the best month ever in the history of the company.
That new horizon followed annual results up to March this year of a 10 per cent increase in turnover – to £5.7 million – with profits jumping from £104,000 to £288,000.
It is Frances Lincoln’s concentration in healthy niche markets that has produced the magical results, with one area in particular showing that small firms with imagination can beat publishers as big as Penguin.
When Penguin decided to stop publishing the extraordinary guides of the late Cumbrian fell- walker Alfred Wainwright, 40 publishers bid for the rights.
It was Cumbrian-born John, thanks to the backing of Wainwright’s widow Betty who was chosen. Now Wainwright sales since Easter have passed 100,000 and have been responsible for £1million in revenue.
There have been two niche multicultural books dedicated to helping immigrant children, plus revived classics such Edward Ardizzone’s Little Tim books and exceptional children’s books on subjects exploring art and explaining Down’s Syndrome.
“Any company that has survived and grown for 30 years has to have been doing a few things right,” John eventually admits. “Frances was a great publisher and the spirit of Frances is still there with us. So are the many special people we have writing for us and our staff, half of whom are immigrants of one sort or another from all over the world.”
But it was not with champagne that John and his three children, his staff, authors and guests celebrated the birthday of Frances Lincoln.
Thwaites Brewery of Blackburn produced a limited edition of their newly launched Wainwright Ale to mark the event.
“When a publisher’s books start to be celebrated by brewers who pay royalties for every pint sold, it seems to be time to stop talking and just offer a toast to the next 30 years,” John told the triumphant throng.
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
