I had planned to try to write something profound and meaningful.
I had a whole Murmur outlined in my head about the unsung heroes of Palladium: My wonderful staff, the equally wonderful freelancers, the faith and aspirations people hold for Palladium; how I think 2010 could be the year Palladium turns around (and possibly in a big way); as well as about friends and family, inspiration and imagination, and about how much you -- our fans -- mean to me . . . to all of us at Palladium . . . and how much your support and kind words (the Christmas Surprise Package comment sections are almost always brimming with words of appreciation, encouragement and warm regards) keeps us going. That was the plan.
I’m sorry to say, I’m just too darn tired to write it.
I’m not down or feeling blue, I am just tired. Physically and emotionally drained, I think. I’ve put in several long days this week (7:00 AM to about 9:00 PM), been fighting a cold, and I think writing today’s Press Release (even though I wrote it over the last few days with a dozen revisions in an attempt to get it right) also took a lot out of me.
We all worked hard to get The Rifter® #49 finished and to the printer. Which we accomplished.
Wayne just emailed the Palladium Press Release, and Julius and Alex are doing an end of year inventory count even as I write this.
I need to pay what bills I can, finish this email and go home early for a change. Shooting for 6 or 7 PM. I have no New Year’s Eve plans or parties to attend, and I feel so tuckered out that going home, taking a nap and watching a DVD sounds really good right now.
I hope the Press Release sounds reasonably positive, because though we face some challenges going into 2010, we are feeling positive.
I’m also back into the writing groove. It’s a weird thing, but the “writing groove” for me, is a sort of energy and desire to write more than inspirations and ideas. It’s more like chomping at the bit to cut loose and do it. Which is good and fun. A sort of adrenaline rush that can often lead to extreme productivity. I got it writing the Press Release and especially writing all the full book descriptions of the many titles we have planned for the first six months of 2010. I had to write them for The Rifter #49.
I’m also excited about the 2010 Open House, which I think will be another amazing and fun event. A lot of people are starting to place their admission orders and inquire about it, and many of Palladium’s freelance writers and artists are committing to attending. Nice. And then we just have a lot to celebrate, so I’m going to try to make this Open House even more special than in the past.
Last week of December 2009 Sales Update
October sales were good for us and the month showed a modest increase of 3% over last year. November was better, with an impressive 8% increase. December blew our socks off with an amazing 18% increase from last year. With retail holiday season sales up only 1% for most retailers this year (granted, Palladium isn’t exactly a retail store), it means Palladium’s sales were 18x higher than the national average and double the 9% increase seen in general online sales. Wow. Thank you everyone.
As noted in another Murmur, the Christmas sales season is at an end, so online sales have dropped considerably compared to the first three weeks of December, but they are still strong. Are we on a roll or what?!
Unfortunately, roller coaster sales were back this week.
Monday Weekend sales were down 10% from last year.
Tuesday sales shot back up an impressive 200% higher than last year.
Wednesday sales dropped back down, and were 25% less than last year.
Thursday sales were only down 5% from the previous year.
Overall sales for the week were good, and as noted, December sales were GREAT -- 18% higher than the previous year. Nice.
We are hoping strong sales and excitement continues into the New Year.
Oh, don't forget, you only have 15 days left to get your Christmas Surprise Package.
http://www.palladiumbooks.com/Merchant2 ... _Code=XMAS
I hope all of you are doing well or at least hanging in there the best you can. Remember you are not alone, and remember that you are loved by your friends and families (and appreciated by all of us at Palladium Books). Don’t give in to despair or fear. Fight the good fight, keep the faith, enjoy all the little but important things life has to offer, and please, have a wonderful, healthy and joyful New Year.
Until next year . . .
Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Game Designer, and Surrogate Santa
Palladium Books®, Inc. – 28 years of RPG Publishing
© Copyright December 31, 2009 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, Dimensional Outbreak, Fleets of the Three Galaxies, Mysteries of Magic, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.