SUBMITTED BY Neville Longbottom

May 29, 2002 — from the Calgary Herald:

Harry Potter is working his retail wizardry once again, this time in the home video market.

Canadian video retailers reported selling "tens of thousands" of copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on Tuesday, its first day of release, with strong signs the special DVD edition of last year's film hit is outpacing the VHS version.

"We've already sold thousands of copies across the country," said Katie Bennison, spokeswoman for the 265-store Rogers Video chain, conceding precise numbers aren't yet available and likely won't be for competitive reasons.

"All the stores reported that their phones were ringing the minute they walked in the door this morning," marketing manager Kerry Pennycook said of sales that numbered in the hundreds by midday.

"It's done really well today. And it's only going to get better throughout the week as we get towards the weekend."

"People haven't exactly been beating down the doors, but we've had a very consistent flow of purchasers," Bill Kuzik, manager of the Deer Valley store, said late Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm expecting sales to pick up tonight. And the weekend will be mayhem, I'm sure."

In the U.S. some store chains, including Wal-Mart, Blockbuster and Kmart, stayed open late Monday or opened at midnight to be the first to sell copies. Fans showed up just as they did when the film was screened last fall and when the most recent book in the best-selling J.K. Rowling series -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- went on sale.

To read the full article, check out the Calgary Herald website below.

Thanks to Squirk!