Stone Bridge Press :

Stone Bridge Press Founder Reacquires Publishing House

January 12, 2010 (Berkeley, CA) — Stone Bridge Press, Inc., has announced that Peter Goodman, who founded the book publisher in 1989, has reacquired 100% of the company’s shares from its Japanese owner, IBC Publishing of Tokyo. Goodman sold Stone Bridge to Yohan, Inc., a Japanese book distributor, in 2005. Ownership of Stone Bridge passed to IBC, formerly a Yohan subsidiary, just prior to Yohan’s declaration of bankruptcy in 2008. Goodman remained as an executive at Stone Bridge throughout and will continue to lead the company as publisher and editor-in-chief.

Yohan, Inc. purchased struggling Cody’s Books of Berkeley and San Francisco in 2006 but was unable to prevent the bookstore from closing in 2008. “Money that had been planned for Stone Bridge operations instead got diverted to Cody’s,” Goodman explains, “leaving Stone Bridge with a shortfall just when it was expanding production to grow. Over  time it became clear that IBC needed to concentrate on its own operations in Japan.”

Goodman is taking on Stone Bridge at a time when changing reading habits and a prolonged economic downturn are reshaping the publishing industry. Stone Bridge, which has national sales representation through Consortium Book Sales & Distribution of Minneapolis, currently has close to 150 English-language books in print, almost all with an Asian,  primarily Japanese, focus. The press has received numerous awards for excellence in design and translation.

Speaking of his decision to reacquire Stone Bridge, Goodman says, “Obviously I was concerned about the company’s future. I started Stone Bridge. These authors are like family; many are my friends; their books are of great value to them personally and to the people who depend on them for information and entertainment.  In the end, the best strategy was for me to step in and resume ownership.”

Goodman’s plans for Stone Bridge are to maintain quality and explore new areas, particularly in fiction and inspirational writing, and to develop new kinds of author relationships. The company's current publishing season includes new releases in the Gardening/Design, Green Living, and Pop Culture subject areas.

Goodman is also planning on refreshing some backlist titles and branching out beyond Japan and Asia. “A lot of the sensibilities and creative possibilities that drew me to Japan 30 years ago are now visible throughout world cultures,” he says. “It’s a good time for exploring and stretching concepts of art and taste.”

Goodman points out that the company has recently revamped its website, has an increasing number of titles available as ebooks, and has joined the social-networking revolution with Twitter and Facebook accounts and author blogs.

Stone Bridge Press will remain at its offices near North Berkeley. “I’ve been in charge throughout the period of Japanese ownership, so not much is going to change,” says Goodman. “The Japanese owners at IBC have always been generous in spirit, and they did the best they could in very tough circumstances. I’m grateful that they agreed to allow the company to pass back to me and remain intact, and we have plans to continue to work with them in the future, as partners.”


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