Bentley Publishing Group Raises Prices

Art Business News, April, 2001

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Bentley Publishing Group will be raising the prices of all prints sized 8 by 10 inches or under, effective April 1.

Four price codes will be affected, and in most cases, 5- by 7-inch prints will now carry retail prices of $4, and 8- by 10-inch prints will carry retail prices of $5. Newly released images in larger sizes will also be priced approximately 5 percent higher than in the past. The increases will affect prints and posters sold by Rinehart Fine Arts, Bentley House and Leslie Levy Publishing.

According to company officials, increasing costs of labor and materials, as well as the shorter life cycle of prints, are cited as primary reasons for the price adjustments.

Robert Sher, president of Bentley, said, "We've postponed a price increase for a long time, working diligently on increasing efficiency and cost reduction programs. Yet labor costs have soared, and other costs are marching upward, as well. In addition, we are investing very heavily in product development and other areas so we can supply the best possible imagery to drive our customers' businesses forward. Over the years, our prices have increased much less than inflation. The 5 percent increase is the smallest we could make and still remain a first-class vendor now and into the future."