The challenge of maintaining an increased level of sales has been enthusiastically embraced by socialist workers, young socialists, and supporters of the communist movement internationally. Part of the drive is campaigning with the newly released From the Escambray to the Congo, by Cuban revolutionary Víctor Dreke, and Cuba and the Coming American Revolution, by Socialist Workers Party leader Jack Barnes. So far 148 copies of the latter title have been sold as part of the international subscription effort for the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial.
Pathfinder supporters in Canada and the United Kingdom have weighed in with some impressive results in the overall campaign to meet the $500,000 goal. Pathfinder representatives in Canada more than doubled sales so far this year and efforts in the United Kingdom have led to a 10 percent jump in sales.
Sales from Pathfinder bookstores
Pathfinder bookstores are the largest source of sales of titles distributed by the revolutionary publishing house. Many have recently relocated to communities where supporters anticipate a greater receptivity to books and pamphlets on Marxism, struggles of the oppressed and exploited, and speeches by revolutionary leaders. Regular sales tables in working-class areas surrounding the bookstores have netted increased sales--especially since the weather is getting better.
The reach of Pathfinder will be extended in the coming months with the opening of two new Pathfinder bookstores--one in the Hazleton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania and the other in Tampa, Florida.
Many bookstores are reporting brisk sales of titles relating to the struggle of Palestinians for their rights and the Jewish question. Janice Lynn, the Washington, D.C., bookstore director, reported that nearly $650 of the $900 April sales were at demonstrations and teach-ins in support of the resistance of the Palestinian people against attacks by Israel. In New York City the bookstores in the Garment District and Upper Manhattan reported selling $1,400 and $1,000 respectively in April, in part a result of numerous demonstrations and protests in that city in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The London bookstore reported sales of £1,028 ($1,645) last month, with titles on the Palestinian struggle being four out of the five best sellers. Cuba and the Coming American Revolution by Jack Barnes was also at the top of the list. London also sold 60 Pathfinder pamphlets to a Palestinian group in Belfast after the group quickly sold out their first order of 20.
Spring is traditionally the time book fairs and trade shows are scheduled, and Pathfinder supporters around the world are getting a good response at them. For example, people attending the Los Angeles Times Book Fair in late April bought $2,000 worth of books and pamphlets. A team is staffing a booth for Pathfinder at the Teheran Book Fair. Supporters are also gearing up for the Printers’ Row Fair in Chicago, Book Expo in Toronto, and the Book Fair in Edinburgh, Scotland, next month.
About 20 volunteer Pathfinder sales representatives staffed a large and attractive Pathfinder booth at the giant Book Expo May 3–5 in New York City. More than 100 people gave the sales reps there business cards for follow-up calls and/or visits. The Pathfinder volunteers made a real push to introduce book buyers to the new Pathfinder website at www.pathfinderpress.com and registered close to 40 book buyers as online customers who will be able to place orders and check their accounts electronically. The website, which has itself been a source of sales during the campaign, can now be used by commercial customers to help streamline ordering and order fulfillment.
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