1) Tell
us about the history of Consortium Book Sales.
We grew out of a small wholesale
cooperative in 1985 – so we have lots of experience in selling books and
getting them out there. We’ve developed an expertise in advocating for
independent publishers, and we now represent more than 100 independent
publishers from around the world. We have been careful to grow and evolve in
ways that matter to small publishers – offering an e-book partnership,
developing our marketing offerings, and expanding into social media. We like to
be at the forefront of what’s next in publishing!
2) What
is a book distributor?
Succinctly, we sell publishers’ books
to a broad national audience and function as the print and digital “back
office” for publishers so they can focus on acquisition, editing, and
marketing.
Think of it this way: an individual
publisher doesn’t have as much clout individually as they can with a
distributor. Frequently they can’t get book buyers at major chains like Target
or Barnes & Noble to pay attention to them. By joining forces with other
small publishers, we can help them all get representation at bookstores,
online, in media and in advertising. Two heads are better than one and many
hands make light work!
3) What
genres do you represent?
Our publishers cross all genres –
fiction, nonfiction, mystery, kids, poetry, self-help, and more. Many of them
have achieved national and international recognition for their books, and they
all have unique identities. You can see a full list of our publishers here.
4) What
are the benefits of working with a book distributor?
As mentioned before, the main benefit
of working with a distributor is joining forces to take advantage of economies
of scale. Our publishers also benefit from working with us because we are
constantly trying to improve conversation and awareness around independent
publishing, letting readers know that these books exist as an excellent
alternative to mainstream publishing. People flock to independent films and
music – why not books?
5) How
is Consortium Book Sales different from other distributors?
We believe that our commitment to
serving our publishers really sets us apart. Each person on staff treats their
job as what it really is: a customer service position. We are happy to work
with publishers to share our thoughts on cover treatments, coach them on
marketing pitches, advise them on print runs and reprints, and celebrate their
successes. We consider each book published by each of our publishers to be
*our* book as well.
6) What
services do you provide beyond distribution?
In addition to the nuts and bolts of
distribution (warehousing, shipping, sales) we offer marketing services, a
beautiful four-color catalog, social media, representation at trade shows and
conferences, and e-book merchandising and sales with our partner Constellation.
We also encourage our publishers to talk with one another, creating a network
of colleagues who can help one another solve their unique problems.
7) What
submission guidelines must publishers meet before you work with them?
We work with independent publishers
who have a structured, ongoing publishing program with plans to continue
publishing well into the future. A publisher interested in distribution through
Consortium should follow the submission instructions here.
8) What
does a partnership agreement with Consortium Book Sales look like?
Consortium
offers a full-service, exclusive distribution agreement to publisher
clients. Our fee structure is a sliding scale based on net sales, with
optional additions based on publisher needs and preference. A publisher joining
the Consortium team can expect the full participation of our entire staff, from
production to marketing to sales.
9) Who
are some of the authors that appear in your catalogs?
Our publishers’ authors include Tomas
Tranströmer, Andrew Krivak, Adam Mansbach, Lucille Clifton, Noam Chomsky,
Charles Bukowski, Paul Harding, Che Guevara, Tony Kushner, Pablo Neruda, and
Arundhati Roy, and their honors include Pulitzer Prizes, National Book Awards,
and Nobel Prizes (to name a few).
10) Where may readers
purchase the books you distribute?
Wherever books are sold!
11)
What do you expect to accomplish in 2012?
In 2011, we
had a Nobel Prize winner, a #1 New York Times bestseller, and a National Book
Award Nominee on our publishers’ lists. We expect to see even greater things
this coming year. We expect to make some strong connections with bloggers via
social media and real life in 2012, leveraging the power of the reader to bring
awareness to our publishers’ books. We look forward to sharing one of the
strongest fiction lists we’ve ever had, and we are hopeful about the future of
e-books as a means of expanding readership even more broadly.
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