Chekhov's Mistress
So much depends upon a red wheel barrel…
filled with books.
I’ve yet to figure out the economics of publishing and the closer I look the less I understand, but if I’ve learned anything it’s about the importance of indie presses, not as some sort of farm team for the big guys, but as a (hopefully) viable alternative to what can only be marketed on a larger scale – but the small companies still need to achieve economies of scale so rely on service companies for certain functions like distribution. The bankruptcy of Advanced Marketing Services, a custom publisher and wholesaler that the NY Times says “acts as a middleman between publishers and booksellers, obtaining books directly from the publishers and distributing them to retailers like Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club” threatens a whole bunch of publishers. Richard ‘Soft Skull’ Nash commented at the NBCC blog that “There’s a high likelihood that a cascade of publisher bankruptcies will follow, due to the fact that the monies in effect impounded by the bankruptcy likely amount to between 35% and 50% of each company’s ANNUAL revenue…Given that we typically survive on 0-8% profit margins, it’s simply enormous.”
Meanwhile in the NY TImes one “publishing executive said that while authors and readers were unlikely to be affected by the bankruptcy filing, many publishers might not recover much of what they were owed.” Last I checked authors and readers were ineluctably linked to the companies that published the books that authors wrote and readers read. This story is worth following even if you don’t normally follow the publishing industry – for that go to GalleyCat.
comments
This dependence on distributors is, if possible, even greater on the periodicals publishing side.
I blogged news that Independent mags, zines and even art poster publishers have had the rug pulled out from under them as the Independent Press Association folds (first in San Francisco, but with the NY office forced to follow in its wake) HERE.
– Cy (01/10 at 05:48 PM)
OOOOps The ‘HERE’ link is a dud. For what was posted either just click on Cy or paste in the following (sorry again):
http://cheap-priceless-editions.blogspot.com/2007/01/independent-press-association-ceases.html
– Cy (01/10 at 05:56 PM)
In lieu of it being “DELURKING” week (or so I’ve heard, over in blog land) You are supposed to comment on blogs you read all the time but never say anything.
I have never commented, so, I wanted to take the time and let you know even though I don’t comment, I READ you all the time, and LOVE THIS BLOG! so, um, thanks.
– meleah rebeccah (01/10 at 09:55 PM)
I think one powerful factor that’s furthering the absymal situation of publishing economics is the monopoly of Amazon.com. I loved them when they first came out because finally it was possible to find anything immediately! But as a newly published author I’ve been shocked to find that they list many books as “new” when in fact they’re just hardcover copies they’ve bought for nothing from review houses. I kid you not, I asked them specifically as I was schocked that many friends who ordered my book from them said they could’t get it, but many new copies were constantly being offered. I really encourage all of you out there in this blogosphere to stay with local bookstores or small press websites as much as possible. Our direct contribution to these places is what’s going to determine whether large conglomerates have anything at all to sell! They’re like this huge virus that destroys the host that they’re sucking on, while pretending to throw it a bone with the benefit of their sophisticated internet campaigns. Booklovers, support bookstores and authors. Buy from the corner book store or from the local press, keep the tradition alive!
– David Salvage (01/14 at 06:21 PM)
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About this Post
- Posted by: Bud Parr
- Date: January 07, 2007
- Filed Under:
You're Nobody Until Somebody Loves You: Publishing
- Comments:4
- Links to this Post: Technorati
