Deconstructing Distribution
In its 2006 “Book Industry Trends” report, BISG forecasts that wholesalers’ 2006 sales to retailers would account for $3.6 billion—or 20 percent of publisher sales to booksellers. (To libraries and institutions: $2 billion.) Since wholesalers also handle books of the “big 10” (who themselves may account for 50 percent to 60 percent of bookstore sales), the health and vitality of these distribution channels are critical to the entire industry—top tier as well as small and independent publishers.
Eugene G. Schwartz is editor at large for ForeWord Reviews, an industry observer and an occasional columnist for Book Business magazine. In an earlier career, he was in the printing business and held production management positions at Random House, Prentice-Hall/Goodyear and CRM Books/Psychology Today. A former PMA (IBPA) board member, he has headed his own publishing consultancy, Consortium House. He is also Co-Founder of Worthy Shorts Inc., a development stage online private press and publication service for professionals as well as an online back office publication service for publishers and associations. He is on the Publishing Business Conference and Expo Advisory Board.