Pottermore sales and profits rise with 'strong' Harry Potter sales

Pottermore, the digital company for J K Rowling’s Wizarding World, saw revenues rise 3.2% and profits increase 23.2% in the 12 months to 31st March 2020.

The company, which has not yet made its accounts public at Companies House, said revenue increased to £32.5m from £31.5m the previous year. Pretax profits were up to £8.5m from £6.9m.

Pottermore said it had continued to perform “above expectations" thanks to strong sales from Harry Potter e-books and digital audio.

It added: “Pottermore Publishing continued to benefit from the open commerce strategy initiated in 2015, making its content available globally through online retail and library partners such as Amazon, Apple, Audible, Google, Storytel, Bookbeat and Overdrive as well as through local distribution in key markets.”

For the first part of the current financial year, trading has been in line with management expectations despite the impact of lockdowns, with “strong” sales.

Neil Blair, Pottermore chairman, said: “Pottermore continues to deliver good results. The company has seen strong sales as readers continue to engage with these classic stories.

“During lockdown, we were proud to launch the Harry Potter At Home campaign, through Wizarding World Digita, l and Pottermore Publishing worked with partners to provide open access to the first book in the Harry Potter series, allowing fans to escape into the fiction during this unusual time.”