Book distribution for small publishers

The majority of new titles issued by self publishers will never be stocked by the chain superstores, not even for a threemonth tryout. We like to call itasca books our sister company, and itasca offers print distribution to the trade for small and indie publishers, as well as. Most bookstores wont bother with a book that isnt listed in ingram. Wherever you are in the process of writing or publishing your book, you ve. We do this by offering book distribution, information services, and public advocacy programs to hundreds of small literary publishers. Consortium has an overseas office to assist publishers located outside the us and canada with their american and canadian distribution. List of book distributors and wholesalers nonfiction authors. Below is a list of distributors and wholesalers that might be helpful to independent publishers. Publishing businesses for sale, 54 available to buy now in. When a customer purchases your book on one of these sites, the book is printed and shipped to the customer. List of book distributors and wholesalers nonfiction.

Ipg operates six different distribution programs to meet the particular needs of various kinds of publishers and market segments. If your book has been published by an established publishing house they will already have distribution contacts. Being able to sell your printed books in stores is great, but being able to sell them in the biggest bookstores all over the world is the dream of every writer. Jun 25, 2018 in my annual chart, the key book publishing paths, there is one column that is most vexing and problematic for writers to navigate. They wait until an order comes in, then send out the book, allowing bookstores to place orders for many publishers books in one batch. It would be far too difficult for a bookstore to keep track of every book produced by every author or publisher in the world, then order the interesting ones and figure out how to pay a thousand different small vendors. Thus, if youre looking for national distribution to major retail channels, you generally have to be set up with a major wholesaler. Demystifying book distribution for small to midsized publishers.

The following list of book distributors and wholesalers features the largest distributors at the top, followed by distributors in alphabetic order scroll down for book. We have the backing and resources of ingram publisher services, the largest hub of independent publishing, providing international distribution for both print and digital. Small press distribution spd is a nonprofit literary arts organization located in berkeley, california. And thats just what bookbaby delivers with our print on demand book distribution services. Retailers do this because its easier for them to order from a small number of trusted sources wholesalers rather than hundreds of individual authors and publishers you. Theyll often work with small publishers and indies who have books. Amazons kindle direct publishing kdp is a fast, easy and free way for authors and publishers to keep control and publish their books worldwide on the kindle and kindle reading apps. Btps welcomes all inquiries but is very selective when evaluating potential publishers. Interested in book warehousing and fulfillment with btps. So many choices so how does book distribution work.

Print on demand book distribution sell books on amazon. The majority of new titles issued by self publishers. The two most common book distribution solutions for publishers are a full service or a wholesale distributor. The ibs bookmaster book publishing software erp solution is used by over 100 publishers worldwide. Many new publishers thus believe that gaining access to trade distribution would be the holy grail of their publishing. Gain insight into what bookstores are looking for and how to set your book up for retail. Jun 10, 2010 big distribution companies have not been eager to work with selfpublishers, but thats changing. For publishers who are just not there yet, there are other options. As their name indicates, the core of their mission is to act as an umbrella distributor and marketer for hundreds of smaller literary publishers. Into this category falls some of the most prestigious publishers you can imagine, that can boast of new york times bestsellers, and that writers dream of working with. Small press distribution spd forges a pathway to the book marketplace for independently published literary voices often excluded from and underrepresented in the culture at large. And it was published in a jul 6, 2010 blog titled what does distribution really mean for selfpublishers.

How to evaluate small publishersplus digitalonly presses. Distributors and wholesalers independent book publishers. New york 718 5914525 cardinal publishers group distribution for print and digital books. Distribution services independent publishers group. National book network an independent, fullservice sales, marketing, and distribution company serving book publishers from around the world.

We like to call itasca books our sister company, and itasca offers print distribution to the trade for small and indie publishers, as well as warehousing and fulfillment services. Spu provides quick access to the book trade and can bypass the traditional long lead times needed to get books into the market. Aug 14, 2018 if a book is not published with advance notice and its by an unknown author and an unknown publisher, thats three strikes for most major accounts and youre not even considered. Bookbaby has two different book distribution networks. It is known for its best of breed warehouse management and distribution software in addition to fast implementations. Book distribution for selfpublishers no mistakes publishing. This makes life very hard for the new or struggling small press. The difference between retail, wholesale, and distribution. This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it an endorsement of any one distributor or wholesaler over another.

Writers at the time maintained that the distribution system needed to. How to get book distribution for a selfpublished book book distribution is the main dividing line between selfpublishing and publishing with a traditional publisher. Still, its easiest to get in through membership in the independent book publishers association ibpa or the small publishers association of north america span. We notice you are using a browser version that we do not support. We have a book distributor for small publishers next door. Biblio distribution a division of national book network. Also includes detailed information on 30 distributors, 4 library book distributors, 89 book publishers who also distribute for other publishers, 3 sales reps to the major book chains, 27 bookstore wholesalers, 34 library book wholesalers, and 23 spanishlanguage. Distributes titles for many small publishers, including book strokes books and spinsters ink. While full service distribution usually includes a wholesale element, wholesale distribution can be an effective standalone solution for extending the market reach of your books. Book distributors help publishers get their books placed into bookstores, libraries, specialty stores, schools and other markets. Raincoast books offers fullservice sales, marketing and logistics for publishers needing canadian book distribution. It was also published in an aug 17, 2010 blog titled. Leading seller of christian books, bibles, gifts, homeschool products, church supplies, dvds, toys and more. Wherever you are in the process of writing or publishing your book, youve.

Also includes detailed information on 30 distributors, 4 library book distributors, 89 book publishers who also distribute for other publishers, 3 sales reps to the major book chains, 27 bookstore wholesalers, 34 library book. How to get book distribution for a selfpublished book self. Both are worthwhile organizations for selfpublishers thanks to their seminars. What does distribution really mean for selfpublishers. Our family of brands offers publishers fullservice solutions that span sales and distribution across all categories, powered by technology that is instep with the modern, fastpaced book market. Book distribution is the main dividing line between self publishing and publishing with a traditional publisher. Writers at the time maintained that the distribution system needed to be completely rethought if the industry was to continue to grow.

Then as now, small and midsize publishers had great difficulties selling their books effectively because they could not attract the services of good sales reps and. If you are interested in applying for distribution with ipg, please view our publisher contact information or send us a message and we will contact you shortly. With traditional publishing a publisher prints thousands of copies of a book and sells them to stores and distributors. As with most businesses that require some type of order fulfillment, when it comes to getting your book products to market, you need to match with a distribution method that best fits your business model. As an author of three books, i find it very cost effective for what i do.

Oct 21, 2016 maybe you dont need this reminder, but bookmobiles nextdoor neighbor is a book distributor for small publishers. Aug, 2018 national book network an independent, fullservice sales, marketing, and distribution company serving book publishers from around the world. If you selfpublish or publish with a very small house that does not have distribution set up, you will need to make this contact on your own. But if you want people to find your title on the shelves of your local bookstore, you need a distributor. Big publishers have their own distribution, small publishers use trade. Ipgs many means of reaching the full book market are used. Once a book has been published it will need a distributor. In fact, the options for book distribution for self publishers has exploded over the years. When i first got involved in book publishing i read a lot about the book distribution system in the united states and how it was broken.

Book systems plus was incorporated in 1989, initially providing consultancy to the publishing industry and then quickly moving into book distribution and marketing for small independent publishers both in the uk and overseas. Spds primary mission is to get the books of their publishers out to bookstores, libraries, book. Well, its not directly from the producersauthors or publishers. Understanding the book distribution channels by jacqueline c. The following list of book distributors and wholesalers features the largest distributors at the top, followed by distributors in alphabetic order scroll down for book distributors in canada and uk.

If a book is not published with advance notice and its by an unknown author and an unknown publisher, thats three strikes for most major accounts and youre not even considered. Small press united is a book distribution service created to meet the needs of small and startup publishers. This is a list of book distributors, companies that act as distributors for book publishers, selling primarily to the book trade. Even with fewer bricksandmortar bookstores and less shelf space, dedicated distributors and publishers that. Small press united is a division of ipg, one of the oldest and largest book distributors in north america. Distribution and fulfillment services for small presses with under 10 titles, lots of. Independent publishers group ipg invented the concept of a trade distributor for independent presses in 1971.

This page features the sites of the best independent book publishers in the united states as selected by john kremer, author of 1001 ways to market your books. The cadence group book distribution for self publishers. Get distributed association of canadian publishers. In the more than 20 years pw has been doing its fastgrowing independent publishers feature, it is hard to find another year when publishers on the list reported such impressive growth rates. As a selfpublished author, finding the right book distributors can be overwhelming. The awb way american west books history in 1993, at age 19, american west book s founder joshua blake mettee took a local california publisher. It was also published in an aug 17, 2010 blog titled 20 facts about the world of college. For you to have the best experience on, we recommend using the current versions of firefox, chrome, safari, or. The list includes defunct and mergedacquired companies, and distributors whose primary business is not books, such as comic books. The companies may provide exclusive distribution rights, or act as a wholesaler or warehouser of publishers. On tuesday, june 21, the latest in the digital book world publishers weekly webcast series featured a discussion about e book distribution for small publishers.

Our on demand printing and book distribution service means that we only print a book when a retailer or wholesaler orders it. And it was published in a jul 6, 2010 blog titled what does distribution really mean for self publishers. Ipg operates six different distribution programs to meet the particular needs of various kinds of publishers. Authors can now self distribute, print and distribute using a pod company, use a traditional small press distributor or selfdistribute their ebook. Apr, 2012 distribution has always been about maximizing warehouses, people, and technology. Independent publishers group was founded in 1971, the first organization specifically created for the purpose of representing titles from independent presses to the book trade. If you are interested in applying for distribution with ipg, please view our publisher contact information or send us a message and we will contact you shortly distribution programs. Top independent book distributors john kremer, book marketing. Small press distribution, better known as spd, has for five decades connected readers with writers by providing dynamic access to independently published literature getting small press books. Spds primary mission is to get the books of their publishers out to bookstores, libraries, book wholesalers, and directly to readers and writers. I am not interested in paying a lot of money back to a publisher. Many people associate self publishing with ebooks only, but there are other formats that many self publishers.

In addition to selling printed books print on demand, bookbaby ebook distribution allows you to publish and sell your book digitally, through the largest ebook stores online, for ereader devices such as kindle, ipad, and nook. The book publisher must publish books with great cover designs and interior text designs. Simonds authors and publishers need to be clear on how theyll get their books into the hands of customersbut many dont understand distributors versus wholesalers, and what each can do. As the owner of an author business consider the marketing youll need to do to get the word out about your book and help you recoup your investment when you begin the publishing. Dedicated to independent publishing for 40 years, pgw is one of the top book distribution companies in the world, backed by largest and most efficient sales network. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019 in addition to being a columnist for publishers. This vital 96page miniguide includes criteria for deciding how you will distribute your books. Btps would serve as a publishing partner under a warehousing and fulfillment agreement, handling practical operational functions such as order processing, invoicing, collecting, and customer service. Many new publishers thus believe that gaining access to trade distribution would be the holy grail of their publishing quest. Small press united independent book publishers association. Whether youre pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the small presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact.

Ebook distribution webcast gives advice for small publishers. Small press united is a distribution program created expressly to accommodate the unique issues that confront small and startup publishers. Book distribution costs for publishers small publishers often publish books without giving much thought to where those books will eventually be sold or how much distribution will cost. Spu provides quick access to the book trade and can bypass the traditional long lead times needed to get books. Book distribution for self publishers book distribution for self publishers ebook distribution. How to get book distribution for a selfpublished book. Books in this program are shipped and billed with titles from all of ipgs distribution lines, creating efficiencies for buyers and eliminating barriers of entry to. Publishing a book and setting it for distribution will sell some books organically, but it takes more than that to sell a substantial amount of books. Biblio was formed in early 2001 to provide a new approach to effectively representing books published by small trade publishers by offering warehousing, distribution, sales and other operation services. Many publishers have found success maximizing their book sales with wholesale distribution. Small press united uses the highly regarded ipg back office systems, data feeds, and sales force for aggressive sales and excellent shipping, billing, and customer service. Book distributors help publishers get their books placed into bookstores. The largest publication of its type in the united states and mexico has opened for resale the distribution.