Subject category:
Knowledge, Information and Communication Systems Management
Published by:
Stanford Business School
Version: 21 March 2000
Length: 17 pages
Data source: Field research
Notes: This item is part of a free case collection. For terms & conditions go to www.thecasecentre.org/freecaseterms
Abstract
This business case study describes the issues Karen Brown Hebert, publisher of Karen Brown Guides, had to assess in mid-1999 when she was considering an offer from a major on-line travel site to distribute her high quality travel guides over the Internet. The case describes the changes in the industry in both the on-line and off-line world: the increasing shift of book sales away from small, independently owned bookstores to large superstores and the challenges the web presented to traditional publishers of books, magazines and newspapers. The growth of on-line travel sites and the web distribution of travel information by travel publishers Moon Travel Guidebooks, Lonely Planet and Fodor's is presented along with the options available to Karen Brown Hebert at the time of the case. To make her decision, Karen needed to determine how delivery of her content would alter her existing business model, what revenues she could expect to generate from an agreement with a major on-line travel site, what length of contract she should sign and what other alternatives were available. This case is part of the Stanford Graduate School of Business free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/stanfordfreecases for more information on the collection).
Location:
Industry:
Size:
3 employees, USD1 million annual gross revenues
Other setting(s):
1999
About
Abstract
This business case study describes the issues Karen Brown Hebert, publisher of Karen Brown Guides, had to assess in mid-1999 when she was considering an offer from a major on-line travel site to distribute her high quality travel guides over the Internet. The case describes the changes in the industry in both the on-line and off-line world: the increasing shift of book sales away from small, independently owned bookstores to large superstores and the challenges the web presented to traditional publishers of books, magazines and newspapers. The growth of on-line travel sites and the web distribution of travel information by travel publishers Moon Travel Guidebooks, Lonely Planet and Fodor's is presented along with the options available to Karen Brown Hebert at the time of the case. To make her decision, Karen needed to determine how delivery of her content would alter her existing business model, what revenues she could expect to generate from an agreement with a major on-line travel site, what length of contract she should sign and what other alternatives were available. This case is part of the Stanford Graduate School of Business free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/stanfordfreecases for more information on the collection).
Settings
Location:
Industry:
Size:
3 employees, USD1 million annual gross revenues
Other setting(s):
1999