Answers
JennaGlatzer said:
Hi Dan, I've never heard the term "Master Distributor" before (and have no idea why it would be capitalized), but I'd classify both Baker & Taylor and Ingram as wholesalers. Maybe B&T can act as a distributor-- but it's usually misleading when vanity presses claim to have "distribution" through "the world's largest distributors, Ingram and Baker & Taylor!" So it's important for us to make that distinction here... we're trying to help new writers understand what a distributor does, as opposed to wholesalers, and why it means basically nothing to be listed with Ingram and B&T.
Now, as for Mundania, I've always had the impression that you guys are POD. Respectable POD with a selection process, but POD nonetheless, with many of the inherent problems that other POD-based presses have-- translating primarily to lack of bookstore distribution and low sales. But I could certainly be wrong.
Would you answer a few questions for me? And I honestly don't mean this to be antagonistic-- I'm just trying to figure out if my impressions are wrong.
-Are the majority of Mundania's titles in bookstores nationwide?
-Do the majority of Mundania's titles sell at least 2,000 copies?
-Do all Mundania titles have an active sales force (what you're calling a "master" distributor) marketing them?
Thanks in advance.
-Are the majority of Mundania's titles in bookstores nationwide?
Only a few at the moment. "The Saint's Bones" is carried in B&N and I think Borders too. This is one of our imprints and is distributed by a master distributor (who produces catalogs, has sales people, and contacts stores). Borders has also recently approved our entire erotica line (another imprint) for stocking on shelves. That literally occurred this past week. The erotic line was started in December 2005. Most are ebooks, and five have gone into print. Those five are carried.
-Do the majority of Mundania's titles sell at least 2,000 copies?
We do not release sales numbers, but generally many of our titles sell more than that number. Depends if it's a new author, or one that has a good fan base established already. New authors must do promotions, such as booksignings, etc., to get their name out there.
-Do all Mundania titles have an active sales force (what you're calling a "master" distributor) marketing them?
Master distributor is the industry standard term for the distributors that completely handle all a publisher's books. Ingram's and B&T are more databases of availability that bookstores may order from. Ingram's does produce a catalog that goes out monthly to over 20,000 brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries. Our new releases are listed in those catalogs. Liekwise B&T has various mailings. In addition, we below to PMA (Publishers Marketing Association) which does many mailings and promotional efforts for publishers. We have had advertisements appearing in several trade magazines, such as Romantic Times, Realms of Fantasy, Cemetary Dance, Locus, etc. These all help with promotion of our books.
As I mentioned above, no, not all Mundania titles are under a master distributor. One is already out there, and we are working with another master distributor for an additional line of books. Also as I mentioned, we are planning on eventually moving all our books to a master distributor. That requires print runs on each book. Since we have over one hundred currently available, that process will take time.
We do stock directly to several Borders and Barnes & Noble stores. When an author is having a booksigning, or a reader special orders a book, we get requests to fill those orders all the time.
Yes, we are a small publisher and we've only been around for 3 1/2 years. Our business continues to grow and wit the additional of audio books, we're moving beyond the norm for a small publisher.
Unfortunately, there is an industry prejudice towards POD, created by poorly produced books early on. Most of today's POD are top quality and I would boast that all of our books' quality stacks up to anything you can find on any shelf, and many times are better. This statement is backed up by every bookstore that has seen our books.
B&N and Borders automatically mark all POD books are non-returnable, which effectively kills them for stocking, although all of our books are clearly marked returnable by books-in-print, Ingram's and B&T. It has taken a lot of effort on our part to get our books changed in their systems, but it is happening.
By the way, most Borders will have computer stands around that you can look up our books, click a button to print the one you want, and hand it to the clerk. Works like a charm.
Finally, for those authors that want to hit the "big time" with a big NY publishing house, then go for it. Many authors, especially first-timers, are finding it easier to be accepted by small publishers. Author promotion and marketing can make a big difference in the sales of a book and whether it gets requested by bookstores. It's one thing to get a book on a bookstore shelf. It's another thing to get it sold off that shelf so it doesn't end up as a return. With hundreds of thousands of books released each year, an author has a lot of competition for the reader's entertainment dollar. Arranging things like book signings, visiting libraries, starting a yahoo author group, and getting word of mouth going to spread the fact that you (and your book) exist go a long way to increasing book sales. We see this all the time as the authors who actively promote their books have sales much higher then those who sit back and do nothing. Even the big publishing houses no longer put huge budgets for ads and author tours behind every book. An author could find that their next book won't be accepted as the first one didn't sell well.
I hope this answers your questions.
Dan