Half-off and on the floor, book stores are using older Star Wars novels to try to sell items on their dedicated “High Republic” shelf spaces.
Barnes and Nobles, the large book store and pop culture retail chain, has prominent shelf space dedicated to selling Star Wars: The High Republic novels and merchandise. High Republic is the new young adult series for Star Wars that has created a number of risqué controversies already. From a sentient rock having a sex talk with a young person to Lando fantasizing about polyamorous robot interludes to authors laughing about what they’ve been able to get into the books, it’s quite the mess.
And despite what many in the media might try to say, it’s been a disaster for Lucasfilm and Disney. It’s a disaster they so far have refused to cancel, but it’s a disaster nonetheless. So how bad is it?
Earlier this week we were tipped off that Barnes and Noble likely has a contractual obligation with Lucasfilm and Disney to provide prominent shelf space with a graphic marquee in order to sell The High Republic goods. We were also tipped off, however, that this has been an utter failure for selling the books, and so Barnes and Noble has taken to a different strategy altogether. Although the new books Disney wants to push are available on the shelf-space made available to them, they have been pushed down towards the floor. And, we’re told this is purposeful. Apparently there’s no language in the contract that forbids Barnes and Noble from putting other Star Wars content on the shelving space, and so they’re doing exactly that. Instead of pushing High Republic on the High Republic section, which wasn’t working, they’re not using the area for decades-old Star Wars novels that are more popular.
Note Timothy Zahn novels are at the very top. It would seem bookstores know the Extended Universe for Star Wars, now relegated to non-canon, are better sellers than brand-new Star Wars novels.
The majority of the books in the High Republic reserved space are not High Republic. Those that are have been moved to the bottom.
Like seeing Lightyear toys in clearance aisles, there can be no better way of seeing consumer rejection than retail strategies. Perhaps just as sad, all the Star Wars novels in this section are 50% off. How far the franchise has fallen… only propped up by a corporation with money to burn on reserved spaces, but not the foresight to create content consumers would want.
Thank you to a reader wishing to be anonymous for sending us the tip that made this article possible. That Park Place readers are the very best!
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