Publishing Question #2 - Distribution

[Diane]

I found this question on another site and figured I'd use it to broach this continuing problem of distribution. Please add your comments and views below.

Comment by Satin Sheet Memoirs Publishing 1 day ago
I desparately need help understanding the benefits of going with a distribution company. I sell them my book at a deep discount then buy back what doesn't sell? Do I buy it back at the face value or what they paid me for it? And how do the books come back to me? I worked at a book store where when we pulled items form the shelves, we ripped the cover's off before we sent them back. I don't want a bunch of books to come back to me sans covers....lol. I am very confused. I'm also struggling to come up with an "image" - a look that allows me to brand my work. Any help / advise from those of you who do this as a living would really be of great benefit.
Thanks in advance :-). Much success to you all!

[Dyahnne]

Distributing companies are the thorns in my side! lol In answer to the questions, though, you buy your books back at the discounted price, but then you have to pay to have them shipped back so you end up on the losing end. And yes, sometimes the books are damaged (if they were displayed or sold and returned) and you have no recourse. Most distributors will not distribute your books if you will not accept returns. You might want to take a look at this article:
http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e...

Dyahnne

[Therone Shellman]

There are pros and cons when dealing with a distributor. I guess you're talking about a mainstream distributor as opposed to the AA ones who primarily deal with black bookstores.

The plus, when dealing with a mainstream distributor is that you'll be able to get your titles into the chain retail market a whole lot quicker than you would be able to do if you tried to reach out to these stores on your own. This is especially so when you're and unknown without a brand. Borders/Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble/B. Dalton, BooksAMillion etc carry thousands of books and it would take too much man power and time to deal with all these publishers individually. So they prefer that you deal with a distributor or wholesaler within their network.

The downside of dealing with a mainstream distributor and producing AA novels etc is that they do not understand the African American market, black peoples buying habits based on location (city, region etc), economic and social class etc. With all this said they may wind up selling your books to store buyors where their stores do not service a customer base which may be inclined to buy your books. Or it could be that you developed a buzz in your region like the midwest. But instead of concentrating on the midwest, they are sending your books all over the place. With no marketing in them regions your books will sit on the shelf. And in the long run be returned right back to the distributors warehouse.


When your deal with a distributor your returns will be subtracted from your upcoming payments. Whatever you discount the books to them for is the price the deduction will be per book. Your books will come back with the covers etc and in most cases in good condition. Borders/Waldenbooks be messing books up in their warehouses b/c I had an issue before with crushed boxes and damaged books being returned to a distributor.I started off with no distributor Oct 2005. I moved my first book "Love Don't Live Here" (Revised Edition) for the first 2 months hand to hand, and during this time I joined the publisher partnership with Baker & Taylor wholesalers www.btol.com so I could be able to booksignings in the chain retail stores. They do not have sales reps who sell your title to stores, they merely act as a go between. But nevertheless it was a starting piont for me to get in the stores. A year later I signed on with Biblio Distribution and they helped me expand what i started by doing signings along the east coast, and getting to know the store managers. As of Dec 2007 Biblio closed down and Atlas/BookMasters took over there contracts. I knew out the gate I did not want them to distribute their books b/c up until now Biblio has been the premier distributor for dealing with AA titles in the chain retail market. Most of these other companies are clueless. Realizing this a few weeks after they took over the contracts I let them know i did not want to deal with. To make a long story short I almost had to take them to court, They started to distribute my companies titles even though I told them I did not want them to. I had to write several people and even contact Biblio to let them know I was having a problem. Well, anyway to make a long story short 7 months later the matter has been revsolved. It cost me some money, and some books. But it's what I wanted. After being in the industry for 3yrs and being very hands on I have built store contacts and I don't need a distributor playing banker with my money. They don't market the books, all they do is serve as sales reps and distribution points. So now I'm back with Baker & Taylor, we generate the sales and they send the books based on sales demands. With this returns are minimal and the books are going where they need to be.

For those folks who are starting out, dealing with a distributor if you can deal with one can be a good start just as long as you are aware of the pitfalls and things to look out for. They can put your books everywhere. But do you have the marketing/publicity power behind it to generate the sales? If not be very hands on about where your books go.

On the issue of branding. I think its important first to get out there and get your feet wet. My company Third Eye Publishing by the end of Dec of this year will have 11 titles. This is all within 3 years. I haven't done a whole lot of marketing because, my focus throughout the last three years has been getting to know the market, stores, peoples buying habits based on their social status, regions and learning just who is my customer base based around all I mentioned. Once you find all this out then you can go back and develop a marketing/publicity plan based around your demographics. Otherwise you will just be spending a lot of unecessary money like alot of authors, publishers do and have done. This money can instead go into projects, hustle, build your company and then you can go back and take care of all the backend work. Now I'm at the point where in 2009 I will concentrate on marketing, branding and getting our work alot more exposure since we have a catalog to work from now.

I cover a lot of what I spoke about here in my booklet The Secrets of Self Publishing. It's available on amazon.com and www.thirdeyepublishing.org the company site Its easy to understand and will help you out mfor sure.

Therone Shellman

[Assuanta Collins]

The benefits of going with a distribution is having your books on the shelves of a bookstore and to reach a broader audience. In regards to returns, they should come back in sellable condition, but as you pointed out that is not guaranteed. Distributors rates range from 55% to 60% and if your books don't sell you are responsible for the cost of shipping, etc. The ultimate goal is to get readers to the stores to purchase your book so that they will not be returned. H