The Chongqing Publishing Group ranked No. 19 in China’s book market in 2009, moving advancing 18 positions from the previous year. In 2009, the Group published 920 types of books and distributed another 3,264 books. The total sales of the Group exceeded 300 million yuan (US$42 million).

Fu Nanqin, the group’s vice president, said the stellar sales should be attributed a series of best-selling books, including the 2-million-copy Tibet Code as well as the one-million-copy cartoon books, Mole and QQ Pets. With support from these popular books, the Group has increased its effective sales ratio 62% in 2009, Fu said.

The sales of the Chongqing Publishing Group increased by 20% in 2009 with return rates falling sharply. According to statistics from the Zhejiang Xinhua Bookstore, the Chongqing Publishing Group has a higher-than-average sales performance. In the Chongqing market, the Group has jumped to the top market player from the eighth position 2 years ago.

The group established a book distribution company with a independent legal entity status to promote sales. At the opening ceremony of the company, Deputy General Manager Chen Hao unveiled the marketing programs for 2010, which include the Spring Festival Season, the Summer Children’s Day Season, and Movie-Ties for Fall and Winter Season. Chen said the marketing seasons will offer readers different bookstore experiences and will explore new models in promoting books to residents.