What to expect kit - Distribution
What to Expect after the Contract
We look forward to distributing your titles to national wholesale and retail accounts. Thank you for sending the contract to our attention. With the contract signed it is now time to think about your overall sales strategy. There are three goals that Book Hub Inc is confident we can impact to increase sales success this year for your company, to elevate the relationship between each publisher and the national accounts, to help each publisher realized the importance of trade timeframes, and to help each publisher sell their titles to national accounts within trade timeframes.
Our Mission Statement:
To sustain profitable programs for publishers and with national accounts through successful sales, marketing, and operations
The selling environment for the trade book publisher has changed. In today’s market sales to the largest book trade accounts and special markets may amount to 70% of overall sales. Book Hub Inc. offers a unique distribution program formulated to generate sales to the largest accounts routinely available to trade, educational, and mass market publishers.
We are different from other books distributors, 1) we specialize in selling to national accounts, and 2) we help publishers support their titles with co-op marketing programs, publicity, and online social networking, and 3) we provide subsidiary rights agency services. These distinct activities save substantial time and money for the publisher and create sales opportunities.
How it Works:
• Book Hub Inc. charges no setup fees, and may pay for up to 66% of initial inbound freight for startup accounts
• Book Hub Inc. pays publishers promptly upon receiving accounts receivable from customers
• Exclusivity, we only represent those accounts mutually agreed upon
• Non-exclusivity, we encourage publishers to sell through house lists, with the publisher’s website, and to accounts, and associations that don’t interfere with exclusive accounts
• Provide comprehensive secure title management to all account data servers
• Secure title data from publishers with proprietary MS Access forms
• Use iPub powerful sales operations software to process purchase orders, control inventory, create invoices, provide monthly reports, and integrate accounts receivable to Quickbooks
• We secure sales solely from the largest retail and wholesale accounts, concentrating our efforts on the publisher’s largest revenue sources
• Our understanding of industry time frames and specific account procedures allows us to make the best possible sales presentation and to secure purchase orders, in a timely manner, that coincide with the publisher’s production and marketing programs
• Consistency is crucial to success, we make sales presentations to key buyers for the Fall and Spring Seasons, and follow up on purchase orders routinely
• Fulfillment of purchase orders are shipped direct from our distribution center in Ann Arbor MI
• Provide cost saving co-op marketing and publicity programs as value added support
• Help stabilize cash flow by keeping an eye print processing and inventory in iPub
Look Through the Website
In the Book Hub Inc website you will find information describing the array of services we offer, a list of accounts for which scheduled presentations are made each season, Book Hub Incorporated company contact information, and MS Access database form we require to be filled out completely for each title/product by your company. In addition, we list channels we serve, and additional marketing and book production services we provide by contract. Through the Distribution Agreement, your publishing company has a great opportunity to be stocked competitively by an array of bookselling wholesalers and retailers in participating with Book Hub Inc.
Here are the updated timeframes for sales presentation for the calendar year. There is no padding in this timeframe. Currently, Book Hub Inc has found that selling in two seasons meets the greatest flexibility for publishers. We normally sell in two seasons, spring and fall. The schedule below is used to help service larger publishers needing year round on-sale dates.
Sales Collateral Presentation Schedule for 2009
(Import Table Here)
Currently, title information due April 15, 2009, covers due April 20, 2009 for 2009 Fall Catalog, call for minor extension.
Note: For planning purposes the ship date from the Book Hub Inc. distribution center and the on sale date are the same. Plans for marketing a title should include a spread of approximately two weeks to one month between the on sales date and the publication date.
Please be aware that title information, book covers/mockups, and galleys/excerpts received after those dates listed above are late. After this date we are busy producing sales materials in advance of sales presentations to accounts. Your titles may not be prepared to be presented to buyers, and, therefore, we may ask that you delay publication to coincide with the next available sales presentation schedule.
New Client Accounts and Backlist Titles: New titles as well as previously published titles are presented to buyers within the same sales presentation schedule after receipt of contract, title information, and any upload to account servers. (Publishers are required to supply sales history, competitive/comparative analysis, and marketing plan information in support of all titles.) Be aware that buyer’s purchase decisions usually require 90-120 days after receipt of sales presentations and collateral. Frontlist titles that are presented as indicated in the schedule above allow buyers to make purchase decisions to coincide with printing schedules and launch marketing.
Publishers will need to adjust their production, marketing, and shipping schedules accordingly to ensure that sales presentations, production, and fulfillment from the Book Hub distribution center meet the target on sale date. In the past small presses received reasonable latitude. The present policies and procedures by the major retailers and wholesalers has become increasingly bottom line driven resulting in less tolerance for late rollout schedules by publishers.
Roll-out schedules meeting established timeframes offer the strongest possible initial stocking orders for titles into major accounts, This allows for solid support by the accounts, shows that your company is capable of being consistent and dependable, thus allowing for the possibility of a long term relationship with the accounts. This will allow buyers to support your company’s publishing program by offer the strongest possible initial stocking orders and for competitive backlist titles into their locations.
Required Title Information Please note the attached Title Information Form. This is a guideline for submitting title information in the provided MS Access Title Information Form. This is a list of requisite information needed by the various accounts. Several fields have been added to help us with sales presentations. All required information must be complete and supplied within the Sales Presentation Schedule for all new or backlist titles or products.
Overall, use of the title/product information will help us to generate title sheets with a book profile (sales tip & marketing handles) to supplement our catalog. This combination of information will support the buyer’s memory of the title after the presentation, and when they process the purchase order.
Book Covers & Galleys/Excerpts Book covers can be a very touchy subject for publishers while in the process of design for an upcoming season. It must be noted from the start that covers sell books and all major publishers have either jackets, or color photocopies for examination by the buyers. A title sheet without a cover does not have the same impact, and may result in lower initial stocking order quantity.
Computer generated color mockups of planned covers are relatively easy to produce in the early production stages provided that the publisher has selected artwork. Publishers will need to supply a digital file of all frontlist covers, to our office, on or before the date listed in the Sales Presentation Schedule above coinciding with the publisher’s cover due date. In addition, all backlist covers must be furnished for management to accounts soon after signing the contract. Cooperation in furnishing the highest quality covers is to your greatest benefit.
Please note, covers are required for data processing of title information into the various account’s computer systems, and result in an additional marketing and sales support to the publisher as a listing in the account’s website. Each sales kit will contain a book profile, cover, title sheet, catalog (if available) and galley or excerpt (required by Book Hub Inc. on buyer’s strong recommendation).
We request publisher’s cooperation concerning the following:
• Strong interior design and standout excellence in cover design
• Ongoing production and print capacity to fill orders
• Support demand of titles with creative marketing plans using traditional and online means
• Use of Book Hub marketing team for those publishers requiring extra help through cost effective co-op marketing and publicity programs
• Capability of publisher to meet industry timeframes, with book production and, marketing
• Attention to monthly sales and inventory reports to recap sales per title per customer
• Depend on Book Hub green book production and printing programs (with Malloy Inc)
• Consider use of Book Hub Inc Subsidiary Rights Agency for secondary rights licensing
* Creating the Sales Collateral, Presentations, Sales Operations
The following is a list of the sales and sales operations services we provide including:
• Furnish MS Access disc to publisher for accurate transmittal of title information
• Compile title information into client server system by our staff, paper output
• Complete, and submit title sheets for each account to database administrator
• Furnish copy of front list title sheets to publisher as produced by our office
• Complete, and submit title change (postponement, cancellation, out-of-print) for each account to database administrator
• Production of sales collateral including title or product sheets, profile, portfolios, and other sales and marketing material as necessary
• Sales presentations to all major book trade accounts 2-4 times annually including: B&N, Borders, Books-A-Million, Hastings, Ingram, B&T
• Sales presentations to other strong book trade accounts twice annually including: Hastings, Quality, Brodart, Unique, Follets, the distributors, Indigo/Chapters (Canada), Book Source, Bookazine, Hudson Booksellers
• Sales presentations to mass market accounts as required given current publisher’s list including: Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, Target, Walmart, K-mart, Andersons, Levy
• Sales presentations to foreign distributors: Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand
• Request title listing/stock on hand/model information for publisher annually from accounts
• Review accuracy of backlist title information with publisher, per account
• Review models per customer with publisher strategically upgrade where possible
• Follow up spreadsheets, and written reports on front list sales meetings per account
• Follow up with buyers via phone, fax, and e-mail to ensure PO processing
• Negotiate with AR/AP department with accounts on behalf of publisher
• Negotiate with account concerning receipt of shipments (POD) as necessary
• Negotiate paid Coop w/major book trade accounts as requested by publisher and buyer
• Pass along the best possible trade advertising rates, and publicity when possible
• Will review jacket copy, cover design, and marketing plans/PR with publisher and to help with advise on specific titles and marketing programs
• All orders sent from distribution center within 24-48 hours of receipt
• Best practices in customer service to every publisher, customers, and staff alike
Book Hub Inc process current and backlist title information from a MS Access form provided to publishers. All fields in the form that are in the disc must be filled in completely and returned within the Sales Presentation Schedule.
Additional Services:
• Matrix marketing plans and execution including trade shows/events, advertising (copy, design, print ready), mailings, PR, custom marketing per title/channel
• Coming soon, upscale online marketing services, web marketing, blogs, online book club, chat room title support, social networking sales/marketing, VOIP productions
• Subsidiary-right representation national and international
• Distribution to foreign markets
• Inhouse admin support $32/hr, skilled support $52, consulting services, $200/hr
• In house marketing production services writing and graphic design, $52/hr. plus expenses
We look forward to distributing your titles to national wholesalers and retail accounts and to readers. Please feel free to contact Book Hub Inc if you have questions and comments at 831.466.0145 or news@book-hub.com.
We look forward to distributing your titles to national wholesale and retail accounts. Thank you for sending the contract to our attention. With the contract signed it is now time to think about your overall sales strategy. There are three goals that Book Hub Inc is confident we can impact to increase sales success this year for your company, to elevate the relationship between each publisher and the national accounts, to help each publisher realized the importance of trade timeframes, and to help each publisher sell their titles to national accounts within trade timeframes.
Our Mission Statement:
To sustain profitable programs for publishers and with national accounts through successful sales, marketing, and operations
The selling environment for the trade book publisher has changed. In today’s market sales to the largest book trade accounts and special markets may amount to 70% of overall sales. Book Hub Inc. offers a unique distribution program formulated to generate sales to the largest accounts routinely available to trade, educational, and mass market publishers.
We are different from other books distributors, 1) we specialize in selling to national accounts, and 2) we help publishers support their titles with co-op marketing programs, publicity, and online social networking, and 3) we provide subsidiary rights agency services. These distinct activities save substantial time and money for the publisher and create sales opportunities.
How it Works:
• Book Hub Inc. charges no setup fees, and may pay for up to 66% of initial inbound freight for startup accounts
• Book Hub Inc. pays publishers promptly upon receiving accounts receivable from customers
• Exclusivity, we only represent those accounts mutually agreed upon
• Non-exclusivity, we encourage publishers to sell through house lists, with the publisher’s website, and to accounts, and associations that don’t interfere with exclusive accounts
• Provide comprehensive secure title management to all account data servers
• Secure title data from publishers with proprietary MS Access forms
• Use iPub powerful sales operations software to process purchase orders, control inventory, create invoices, provide monthly reports, and integrate accounts receivable to Quickbooks
• We secure sales solely from the largest retail and wholesale accounts, concentrating our efforts on the publisher’s largest revenue sources
• Our understanding of industry time frames and specific account procedures allows us to make the best possible sales presentation and to secure purchase orders, in a timely manner, that coincide with the publisher’s production and marketing programs
• Consistency is crucial to success, we make sales presentations to key buyers for the Fall and Spring Seasons, and follow up on purchase orders routinely
• Fulfillment of purchase orders are shipped direct from our distribution center in Ann Arbor MI
• Provide cost saving co-op marketing and publicity programs as value added support
• Help stabilize cash flow by keeping an eye print processing and inventory in iPub
Look Through the Website
In the Book Hub Inc website you will find information describing the array of services we offer, a list of accounts for which scheduled presentations are made each season, Book Hub Incorporated company contact information, and MS Access database form we require to be filled out completely for each title/product by your company. In addition, we list channels we serve, and additional marketing and book production services we provide by contract. Through the Distribution Agreement, your publishing company has a great opportunity to be stocked competitively by an array of bookselling wholesalers and retailers in participating with Book Hub Inc.
Here are the updated timeframes for sales presentation for the calendar year. There is no padding in this timeframe. Currently, Book Hub Inc has found that selling in two seasons meets the greatest flexibility for publishers. We normally sell in two seasons, spring and fall. The schedule below is used to help service larger publishers needing year round on-sale dates.
Sales Collateral Presentation Schedule for 2009
(Import Table Here)
Currently, title information due April 15, 2009, covers due April 20, 2009 for 2009 Fall Catalog, call for minor extension.
Note: For planning purposes the ship date from the Book Hub Inc. distribution center and the on sale date are the same. Plans for marketing a title should include a spread of approximately two weeks to one month between the on sales date and the publication date.
Please be aware that title information, book covers/mockups, and galleys/excerpts received after those dates listed above are late. After this date we are busy producing sales materials in advance of sales presentations to accounts. Your titles may not be prepared to be presented to buyers, and, therefore, we may ask that you delay publication to coincide with the next available sales presentation schedule.
New Client Accounts and Backlist Titles: New titles as well as previously published titles are presented to buyers within the same sales presentation schedule after receipt of contract, title information, and any upload to account servers. (Publishers are required to supply sales history, competitive/comparative analysis, and marketing plan information in support of all titles.) Be aware that buyer’s purchase decisions usually require 90-120 days after receipt of sales presentations and collateral. Frontlist titles that are presented as indicated in the schedule above allow buyers to make purchase decisions to coincide with printing schedules and launch marketing.
Publishers will need to adjust their production, marketing, and shipping schedules accordingly to ensure that sales presentations, production, and fulfillment from the Book Hub distribution center meet the target on sale date. In the past small presses received reasonable latitude. The present policies and procedures by the major retailers and wholesalers has become increasingly bottom line driven resulting in less tolerance for late rollout schedules by publishers.
Roll-out schedules meeting established timeframes offer the strongest possible initial stocking orders for titles into major accounts, This allows for solid support by the accounts, shows that your company is capable of being consistent and dependable, thus allowing for the possibility of a long term relationship with the accounts. This will allow buyers to support your company’s publishing program by offer the strongest possible initial stocking orders and for competitive backlist titles into their locations.
Required Title Information Please note the attached Title Information Form. This is a guideline for submitting title information in the provided MS Access Title Information Form. This is a list of requisite information needed by the various accounts. Several fields have been added to help us with sales presentations. All required information must be complete and supplied within the Sales Presentation Schedule for all new or backlist titles or products.
Overall, use of the title/product information will help us to generate title sheets with a book profile (sales tip & marketing handles) to supplement our catalog. This combination of information will support the buyer’s memory of the title after the presentation, and when they process the purchase order.
Book Covers & Galleys/Excerpts Book covers can be a very touchy subject for publishers while in the process of design for an upcoming season. It must be noted from the start that covers sell books and all major publishers have either jackets, or color photocopies for examination by the buyers. A title sheet without a cover does not have the same impact, and may result in lower initial stocking order quantity.
Computer generated color mockups of planned covers are relatively easy to produce in the early production stages provided that the publisher has selected artwork. Publishers will need to supply a digital file of all frontlist covers, to our office, on or before the date listed in the Sales Presentation Schedule above coinciding with the publisher’s cover due date. In addition, all backlist covers must be furnished for management to accounts soon after signing the contract. Cooperation in furnishing the highest quality covers is to your greatest benefit.
Please note, covers are required for data processing of title information into the various account’s computer systems, and result in an additional marketing and sales support to the publisher as a listing in the account’s website. Each sales kit will contain a book profile, cover, title sheet, catalog (if available) and galley or excerpt (required by Book Hub Inc. on buyer’s strong recommendation).
We request publisher’s cooperation concerning the following:
• Strong interior design and standout excellence in cover design
• Ongoing production and print capacity to fill orders
• Support demand of titles with creative marketing plans using traditional and online means
• Use of Book Hub marketing team for those publishers requiring extra help through cost effective co-op marketing and publicity programs
• Capability of publisher to meet industry timeframes, with book production and, marketing
• Attention to monthly sales and inventory reports to recap sales per title per customer
• Depend on Book Hub green book production and printing programs (with Malloy Inc)
• Consider use of Book Hub Inc Subsidiary Rights Agency for secondary rights licensing
* Creating the Sales Collateral, Presentations, Sales Operations
The following is a list of the sales and sales operations services we provide including:
• Furnish MS Access disc to publisher for accurate transmittal of title information
• Compile title information into client server system by our staff, paper output
• Complete, and submit title sheets for each account to database administrator
• Furnish copy of front list title sheets to publisher as produced by our office
• Complete, and submit title change (postponement, cancellation, out-of-print) for each account to database administrator
• Production of sales collateral including title or product sheets, profile, portfolios, and other sales and marketing material as necessary
• Sales presentations to all major book trade accounts 2-4 times annually including: B&N, Borders, Books-A-Million, Hastings, Ingram, B&T
• Sales presentations to other strong book trade accounts twice annually including: Hastings, Quality, Brodart, Unique, Follets, the distributors, Indigo/Chapters (Canada), Book Source, Bookazine, Hudson Booksellers
• Sales presentations to mass market accounts as required given current publisher’s list including: Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, Target, Walmart, K-mart, Andersons, Levy
• Sales presentations to foreign distributors: Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand
• Request title listing/stock on hand/model information for publisher annually from accounts
• Review accuracy of backlist title information with publisher, per account
• Review models per customer with publisher strategically upgrade where possible
• Follow up spreadsheets, and written reports on front list sales meetings per account
• Follow up with buyers via phone, fax, and e-mail to ensure PO processing
• Negotiate with AR/AP department with accounts on behalf of publisher
• Negotiate with account concerning receipt of shipments (POD) as necessary
• Negotiate paid Coop w/major book trade accounts as requested by publisher and buyer
• Pass along the best possible trade advertising rates, and publicity when possible
• Will review jacket copy, cover design, and marketing plans/PR with publisher and to help with advise on specific titles and marketing programs
• All orders sent from distribution center within 24-48 hours of receipt
• Best practices in customer service to every publisher, customers, and staff alike
Book Hub Inc process current and backlist title information from a MS Access form provided to publishers. All fields in the form that are in the disc must be filled in completely and returned within the Sales Presentation Schedule.
Additional Services:
• Matrix marketing plans and execution including trade shows/events, advertising (copy, design, print ready), mailings, PR, custom marketing per title/channel
• Coming soon, upscale online marketing services, web marketing, blogs, online book club, chat room title support, social networking sales/marketing, VOIP productions
• Subsidiary-right representation national and international
• Distribution to foreign markets
• Inhouse admin support $32/hr, skilled support $52, consulting services, $200/hr
• In house marketing production services writing and graphic design, $52/hr. plus expenses
We look forward to distributing your titles to national wholesalers and retail accounts and to readers. Please feel free to contact Book Hub Inc if you have questions and comments at 831.466.0145 or news@book-hub.com.